NARCISSUS. 



573 



retarded, so as to flower at midsummer or later; 

 and they may be also forced by heat, or put into 

 water glasses, or in fancy pots, with numerous 

 holes, as is commonly seen in the seed shops.* 



The saffron crocus (c. ■vermis), was at one 

 time extensively cultivated in Britain, both for 

 a dye and as a medicine. A cheaper foreign 

 supply has now, however, superseded this cul- 

 ture. As a medicine, though at one time much 

 used and esteemed, it is now entirely disre- 

 garded. 



Narcissus. Natural family amarillidem; hex- 

 . andria, monogynta, of Linnseus. This family 

 of bulbous-rooted plants, contains upwards of 

 fifty species. Most of them are natives of the 

 south of Europe, and the Levant. The common 

 daffodil, and one or two more species, gi-ow 

 wild in woods in Britain. 



The Greeks called them narcissus on account 

 of their odour, causing frequently a stupor and 

 fainting in those who inhaled it. For this reason 

 too, these flowers were consecrated to the Fxiries, 

 who were fabled to have been in the practice of 

 stupifying those victims whom they wished to 

 punish, by ordering them to smell them. 



The best roots are obtained from Holland; and 

 from Naples comes the Italian narcissus, which 

 grows in abundance in the neighbourhood of 

 that city. 



This genus has been divided by florists into 

 daffodils, white narcissus, jonquils, and polyan- 

 thus narcissus. 



Daffodil (pseud/) narcissus). The varieties 

 of this are the common double, the double with 

 white petals and a yellow cup; the two-flowered 

 and two-coloured daffodil, the great yellow 

 Spanish, and others. 



The WTiite Narcissus (ii. posticus), of wliicli 

 there are the early flowered, the musk, the yel- 

 lowish, and large flowered. 



The Jonquil Cjonqmlla ) . The common, 

 double flowered, sweet scented. 



The Polyanthus Narcissus. The common, 

 sulphur coloured, single and double, with numer- 

 ous other varieties. 



The tests of fine plants of narcissus are : strong 

 erect stems, regularity of form and disposition 

 in the petals and nectaries, distinctness and clear- 

 ness of colour; and in the many flowered sorts, 

 the peduncles all of the same length, and coming 

 into flower at once. 



They are propagated by seed for obtaining 

 new varieties, but most commonly by offsets 

 from the bulbs. As these offsets seldom flower 

 the first year, they should be planted in a bed 

 by themselves, composed of light, loamy soil; 

 and they should be put into the ground not later 

 than the end of August, or beginning of Sep- 

 tember. 



* Encyclopedia of Gardening. 



Tlie seeds collected from the choicest plants 

 should be sown in flat pans, filled with fresh, 

 light, sandy earth, about the beginning of August, 

 or soon after the ripening of the seed. These 

 pans should be in a shaded place, and only 

 exposed to the morning sun till October; after 

 that they are to be exposed to the full sun, but 

 protected from heavy rains and frosts, until 

 April. In June the leaves will have decayed, 

 when some fresh earth is to be sifted over the 

 surface of the pans. 



During the second winter the same treatment 

 is to be pursued, and in the following summer, 

 the roots are to be taken up and planted at three 

 inches asunder, in raised, convex beds; in other 

 two years they are again to be moved and re- 

 planted at double the distance in mould, with a 

 little cow dung. In the fifth year after sowing, 

 most of the bulbs will come into flower, and the 

 remainder next year. The flowers frequently 

 improve in beauty in the second or third year, 

 so that no bulbs should be finally discarded until 

 they have had this trial. Those bulbs with a 

 round base, and full sound tops, are the best. 

 The best soil is a fresh, light loam, with a little 

 cow dung, and dug to the depth of three feet; 

 and an eastern aspect is to be preferred. Stining 

 the soil occasionally, and weeding, and watering, 

 are all the requisites in their culture. In winter 

 the beds require the protection of tan or litter. 

 The bulbs should not be taken up oftener than 

 every third year ; for if they are allowed to 

 remain longer, the plant is weakened by the 

 numerous offsets. These bulbs may be forced 

 during winter in pots, or in water glasses, where 

 they become beautiful and odoriferous ornaments 

 for apartments. 



The Iris. Natural family iridece; triandria, 

 monogynia, of Linnfeus. This family of plants, 

 fi-om their varied colours, were called by the 

 ancients after the name of the rainbow. The 

 species are distributed over Europe, Asia, and 

 America. Some are used in medicine, and others 

 cultivated as ornamental flowers. Of the latter, 

 the most admired species are : 



The Persian Iris (i. Persica). This is a 

 very long, bulbous rooted plant, with delicate 

 blue and violet coloured flowers, possessing a. 

 powerful and pleasing odour. As the name 

 implies, it is a native of Persia, and was first 

 cultivated in this country by Parkinson, in 1629. 

 The bulbs are generally imported from Holland; 

 and as they do not thrive well, or ripen their 

 seeds in the open air in this country, they are 

 forced in pots, or in water glasses. 



The Snake's Head (i. tuherosa), has long, 

 narrow, four-cornered leaves, and a dark purple 

 flower, which appears in April. It is a native 

 of the Levant, and also grows wild in England, 

 and Ireland. It is cultivated in warm borders, 

 ill ft light loam. 



