Part II. GALANTHUS—GAULTHERIA. 215 



GALANTHUS ISOyrhXSB.— Snowdrop. 



Our old friend, the Snowdrop, has long asserted its claim to be 

 included among our most favourite " alpine flowers," by doing 

 annually in our gardens what many plants do on the high Alps — 

 piercing the snow with its flowers. It is almost needless to 

 describe its appearance or speak of its culture, as it grows as 

 freely as any weed, and is happily yet to be seen in many 

 gardens, though the neglect of hardy plants in favour of mixed 

 borders had much reduced its numbers before the recent taste 

 for spring gardening had commenced. In only one point need 

 a remark be made concerning its uses — it is seen to much greater 

 advantage dotted over the grass in pleasure-grounds than in 

 borders or as edgings. The leaves perform their functions so 

 early in the year that it riiay be planted in grass that is re- 

 peatedly mown, as well as on banks in pleasure-ground or half 

 wild places. The bulbs may be inserted a couple of inches into 

 the turf, and the spot afterwards made firm and level, especially 

 if it be on a trimly kept lawn. 



The as yet comparatively scarce Crimean Snowdrop, Galan- 

 thus plicatus, much larger in fohage than the preceding (the 

 leaves being sometimes an inch wide), and also distinguished by 

 a longitudinal fold on both sides of the leaf near the margin, is 

 a fitting subject for sandy soil among the rare bulbs in the 

 rock-garden till sufficiently plentiful to be spared for the fringes 

 of shrubberies and the sides of shady walks, associated with 

 other early spring flowers. 



GAULTHEEIA PEOCUMBENS. — Creeping Wintergreen. 



This plant barely rises above the ground, on which it forms dense 

 tufts of shining oval leaves, with small drooping white flowers in 

 June, which are succeeded by a multitude of bright-red berries 

 about the size of peas, formed by the fleshy calyx of the flower. 

 The neat little shrub is of itself pretty, but the berries give it 

 quite a charm through the autumn" and winter months, when 

 it is, or rather ought to be, one of the most attractive objects on 

 every well-made rockwork. A native of North America, in sandy 

 places and cool damp woods, often in the shade of evergreens, 

 from Canada to Virginia ; and as the leaves, when properly 



