234 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



It used to be the custom, in the earlier life of the 



Club, for the retiring President to give an 

 Subject account of all the work undertaken during 



of Address, the currency of the year; but of late years 



this duty has devolved on the Editing 

 Secretary, thus enabling the retiring President to devote 

 more time in his Address to some special subject of 

 interest to members. Now my diflficulty has been to 

 fix upon such a subject. I am really more of a Gardener 

 than a Naturalist, so I have chosen a subject, which has 

 not been studied or specialised, in connection with one 

 of our commonest garden-flowers, that is, the beautiful 

 little early-flowering snowdrop. This flower is a favourite 

 with everyone, blooming as it does among the very 

 first spring-flowers, often in February, always in March. 

 It is a fancy with many that spring-flowers are the most 

 appreciated and interesting, springing into life as they 

 do so soon after the cold and dreary days of winter ; 

 and of these, none is more valued than the lovely white 

 snowdrop. I may take it for granted that everyone is 

 familiar with the habits and culture of the common 

 snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Until about fifty years 

 ago, hardly any other variety was known; but of late 

 years a great impetus has been given to the study of 

 this family, especially since the Snowdrop Conference 

 held in London, in 1891, under the auspices of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society. Both before and since that date, 

 many most interesting species and varieties have origin- 

 ated, or been introduced in the culture of our gardens ; 

 but I propose to confine my remarks specially to those 

 varieties grown in my own garden at Faldonside. 



In the introductory portion of this paper I must draw 



very considerably on a paper written by Mr 

 Area and F. W. Burbidge, who is one of our greatest 

 History of authorities on this subject, and well 

 Cultivation, known to every one who takes an interest 



in choice flowers. It is somewhat doubtful, 



