168 The Narcissus. 



it. The bulbs that are planted in pots should receive but 

 moderate watering, so as to keep up a slight moisture ; but at the 

 time of their flowering a more plentiful supply of water will 

 greatly assist them. From the end of October to the middle of 

 November is the proper time to place these bulbs in the glasses 

 to flower with hyacinths, and for this purpose the variety called 

 the Cyprus Narcissus is the most desirable. It should be ob- 

 served not to place the same bulbs in water two successive years. 

 After they have flowered, and the leaves are quite decayed, they 

 should be laid in a shady situation to dry, but not where they 

 may receive a draught of air ; in this state they may be preserved 

 until the season for planting them in the natural ground or in 

 pots of earth. 



The Narcissus Jonquilla — Jonquil. This has also a pe- 

 rennial bulbous root. The spathe is one or three-flowered ; 

 segments reflexed, spatulate ; cup much shorter than segments, 

 saucer-shaped, spreading, crenate. This, in floral language, is 

 made the emblem of Desire, and is distinguished from other 

 species of Narcissus by its rush-like foliage, and hence the name 

 derived from juncus, a rush. It is the most fragrant of all the 

 species of Narcissus, generally too much so for some rooms. It 

 flowers well in water, and forms a good figure in the grass 

 with other Narcissuses, as its color is of the brightest yellow. 

 When planted in the open ground, it prospers best in a south- 

 east aspect, and it flowers stronger if an oystershell or tile be 

 put beneath the bulb to prevent the roots running too deep 

 into the earth. The bulbs of a single Jonquil may remain 

 undisturbed in the earth a number of years, but the double 

 variety should be taken out of the ground when the leaves are 

 quite decayed, as it will otherwise return to its natural single 

 state, to the disappointment of the admirers of double-petalled 

 flowers. When planted in the open garden, the Jonquil should 

 be placed in clumps of considerable size, as it then makes an 

 agreeable figure, both by its rushy foliage and its fine yellow 

 flowers, and its roots are less liable to get cut up or injured than 

 when scattered three or four in a bunch in various parts of the 

 border. They should be sheltered from the southwest wind by 

 evergreen shrubs, which will also be found to lengthen the dura- 

 tion of the flowers and improve their appearance, contrasting 

 to advantage with the dark foliage. 



