THLE SNOWDROP. 139 
objectionable existence. To do justice to it, the planting 
ot the bulbs should take place early in the autumn, for 
they require time to prepare themselves for their early 
flowering. And the next thing is to leare them alone, for 
annual disturbance is fatal to their prosperity. 
A very serious mistake is made in many gardens in the 
tying of the leaves of snowdrops and crocuses, to make 
them look “ tidy.” What an absurd proceeding! Tidy, 
indeed! The leaves fall over in the most graceful lines 
when left alone, and may supply an artist with a subject 
worthy of loving attention; but when tied they are 
hideously ugly and altogether ridiculous. 
The varieties of snowdrops are about half a dozen in 
number. The first to flower is a dwarf sort, called preco.r. 
In about seven days after this has flowered, the common 
nivalis shows its familiar flowers. These are sueceeded by 
the princely ¢mperat/, which rises above all the rest, and pro- 
duces larger flowers. Plicatus is the folded-leaved Crimean 
snowdrop, known by the folding of the edges of its leaves, 
which are larger than the leaves of the common variety. 
The flowers of this, however, are often smaller than those 
of the common snowdrop, and they are always somewhat 
greener. As regards colouring, green is often objectionable 
in a flower, but its combination with white in the sub- 
ject. before us is exquisitely beautiful. A variety with the 
divisions of the perianth bent back is called reflerus. 
In parleur gardening, the snowdrop is occasionally 
grown in water-glasses, in association with crocuses, hya- 
cinths, tulips, and polyanthus-daffodils. These bulbous- 
rooted flowers are all amenable to the water culture, and 
afford agreeable amusement to fireside gardeners. There 
are two points of importance in the management that it 
