ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 245 



that time head-gardener at Eslington Park. This 

 variety, however, seems to have had a different origin 

 from the Fowberry Tower form, in that it is a stronger 

 growing plant, with a better constitution and rather 

 brighter coloured flower. This has been named G. 

 flavescens. The third place where the same form was 

 discovered was Howick Hall, by Miss Grey, a cousin 

 of the present Earl Grey ; and this form, I think, cannot 

 be said to differ materially from the one found at 

 Whittingham. The two latter forms are both better 

 growers, better coloured, and of a better constitution 

 than that found at Fowberry Tower, and are all very 

 handsome plants when grown in the garden ; but they 

 will require more care and attention and a lighter soil 

 than the common snowdrop, as they are more delicate 

 plants. The difference between these varieties and the 

 common snowdrop is the entire conversion of all the 

 green markings on the flower, as well as the ovary, 

 and partially of the flower stem, into a rich golden 

 yellow colour, which has the effect of making the flower 

 a very handsome one when seen at its best. Within 

 the last five or six years there has been discovered a 

 very fine double golden variety near Crewe. This plant 

 is the exact counterpart of the three single golden 

 spotted varieties just mentioned, except that the flower 

 is perfectly double. I was fortunate in obtaining a bulb 

 of this form from the owner, and I find it to be a strong 

 and vigorous grower, much more so than the single 

 golden varieties. It has a tendency to revert to the 

 ordinary double in heavy clay soil, but on planting it 

 in lighter soil the plant has returned again to its fine 

 yellow colour, and still preserved its character as one 

 of the showiest of this section. In 1904, however, 

 the crowning discovery in the snowdrop family was 

 made by Mr Oliver, in the shape of an altogether golden 

 snowdrop. Like all the others it is a variety of 0. nivalis, 

 but with all the petals and sepals of a good golden 



