342 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



from the earliest times of which we have records of gardens 

 being kept in this country. As pot plants, too, Narcissi excel, 

 and elsewhere in this volume their adaptabihty to such a purpose 

 will be considered. 



In border or on rockery, in shrubbery or in woodland, they 

 are alike ornamental, and are fit associates for the finest of 

 spring flowers. What a wealth of beauty may be had even in 

 the first months of the year by planting in the mixed borders 

 the earlier Daffodils, the bright Chionodoxas and Scillas, and the 

 Snowdrop ! Individually, how different is each ; collectively, what 

 a feast to the eye they present ! Those who know the Daffodil 

 in its native haunts long to plant other varieties equally adapted 



In the borders the bulbs should be planted with no niggard 

 hand, selecting the earliest opportunity for the operation. There 

 is, however, another thing to be remembered : Narcissi must not 

 come in contact with raw manure. Rather should they be 

 planted in quarters from which, say, some earlier crop has been 

 taken, but in a good loam, and sufficiently deep to be out of 

 the reach of ordinary frosts. Some varieties will grow under the 

 shade of trees, and no more effective way exists of displaying 

 the delicate beauties of, say, JV. albicans^ Johnstonii Queen of 

 Spain, Achilles, Von Sion, or J. G. Baker than under lawn trees 

 whose shade is not too intense. Where Narcissi are growing 

 freely in borders or in beds, it is a mistake to disturb them 



Fig. 220. — Narcissus Bulbocodium. 



to grassy slopes and 

 stretches of lawns 

 which are strangers 

 to the gardener's 

 scythe or mowing- 

 machine — at least, 

 until the naturalised 

 plants have com- 

 pleted their growth. 

 Nature leads the 

 way, leaving those 

 who appreciate the 

 truly beautiful and 

 informal to follow in 

 her train. Those who 

 can afford to indulge 

 their tastes thus 

 should dibble in the 

 bulbs in late summer 

 as plentifully as they 

 can : and in the 

 spring the grass will 

 be bejewelled with 

 the yellow gems. 



