284 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



however, such as the common M. racemosum, may he 

 grown in shade, and under trees, and are therefore 

 suitable for planting in masses in the wild garden. 

 Once planted in a suitable spot, they do not want to 

 he lifted for several years, and only then if the 

 offsets are required for increasing the stock. The 

 most prolific species, however, seed themselves so 

 freely, and propagate themselves so rapidly by 

 bulblets, that it is necessary in mixed borders to lift 

 the bulbs, re-plant the largest, and throw away the 

 rest about every third season. September and 

 October form the best planting-time for Grape 

 Hyacinths ; or, in fact, the sooner after the leaves 

 have died down the better. Seeds of the rarer kinds 

 may be collected, and sown as soon as ripe in a 

 frame, and the seedlings will flower about the third 

 season. There are many species of Muscari known to 

 botanists, but only about a score are worthy of the 

 gardener's attention, and there is such a strong 

 family likeness among these that it requires a 

 practised eye to detect the differences between the 

 so-called species. 



The following are among the best kinds, and 

 as they so nearly resemble each other, no description 

 is necessary : — 



M. Arnienaicum— late, one 



of the finest. 

 M. Atlanticum— early and 



fragrant, clear bine. 

 M. botryoides, and varieties 



album and pallidum. 

 M. comosum monstrosum — 



large featlier-like spikes. 

 M. Heldreichi — clear blue, 



one of the earliest and 



prettiest. 



M. moscbatam— tbe flowers 

 are not showy, but wusk- 

 scented. 



M. neglectiim — one of the 



k darkest blues. 



M. pallens— pale blue. 



M. racemosum — the com- 

 mon deep purple kind. 



M.Szovitsianum — large, and 

 rich in colour, one of the 

 finest. 



Narcissus {Daffodil). — There is now such a be- 

 wildering variety of Narcissi,- that only specialists 

 can hope to grasp the subject thorough^, although, 

 if one knows the principal types or sections under 

 which all the varieties are classified, a fair start 

 may be made in studying them ; therefore it will be 

 advisable to explain the principles of the classifica- 

 tion now generally adopted in this country. 



The genus primarily contains about two dozen 

 species, all distinct in themselves ; and these fall 

 under three main divisions based upon the relative 

 size of the corona, or cup, of the flower, which it 

 need scarcely be said exists in every true Narcissus 

 flower. These three divisions, therefore, are 2Iagn i- 

 coronata, or large crowns, in which the crown or 

 trumpet is as long, or longer than the divisions 

 (sepals) of the flower. The kinds belonging to this 

 division are popularly called Trumpet Daffodils, 

 inasmuch as the crowns, or cups, of the flower are 

 always trumpet-like. The common native Daffodil 

 of the woods is a familiar example of this division. 

 The second divison, called Medio-coronata, or medium- 



sized crown, is characterised by the crown being 

 only about half as long as the sepals. The com- 

 mon Peerless Daffodil (X. incomparabilis), with its 

 numberless varieties, is a familiar example of this 

 division. The third division, Farvi-coronata, or small- 

 cupped, embraces all those kinds in which the cup 

 is very small, sometimes almost absent. The Poet's 

 Narcissus, and the Polyanthus Narcissus, comprise 

 the bulk of this division. 



Selection of Varieties. 

 As in the case of other genera embracing number- 

 less forms, for which there does not exist a standard 

 list of names, it is a difficult matter to name a 

 selection of what are considered the best sorts, because 

 the names under which the varieties are known in 

 one part are different in another ; and more than 

 this, the names in the catalogues of the chief London 

 bulb houses do not correspond. The catalogue gene- 

 rally adopted is that issued by the Messrs. Barr, 

 of Covent Garden, who have done with the Narcissi 

 what the Kelways have done for the Gladioli, and 

 Yeitch for Amaryllis. Taking Barr's catalogue then 

 for a guide, it may be useful to some if a few of the 

 best sorts in the various sections are enumerated. 



Hoop Petticoat Daffodils (N. bulboeodium).-- 

 The Hoop Petticoat Daffodils were formerly classed 

 in the genus Corbularia, and have the cups of the 

 flowers very large, while the sepals are small. They 

 are all of dwarf growth, with grassy foliage, and 

 their flowers vary from bright yellow to sulphur 

 and white. Being natives of South Europe they 

 are not so hardy as other Daffodils, and some even 

 require pot and frame culture. The chief kinds are : 



B. monophyllus — known 

 also as Clusii and albus, is 

 the lovely white Hoop Pet- 

 ticoatNarcissus of Algiers. 

 It is of medium size, and 

 the flowers are of silvery 

 whiteness. A most charm- 

 ing plant, worth much 

 trouble in growing well. 

 Flowers in winter and 

 early spring. Eequires to 

 be grown under a cold 

 frame or hand-light on 

 raised beds, the secret of 

 success being in ripening 

 the bulbs after flowering. 

 White or pale yellow va- 

 rieties are also those 

 named albicans and Canta- 

 bricus, neither being 1 so 

 desirable as monophyllus. 

 B. serotinus— the latest to 



Bulbocodium (typical) — 

 flowers small, bright yel- 

 low ; very narrow, deep 

 green leaves, bence the 

 name tenuif olius, by which 

 it is also known. Nivalis 

 is similar. 



B. citrinus — flowers about as 

 large as in conspicuus, but 

 of a soft primrose-yellow 

 colour ; a very choice and 

 beautiful variety, both for 

 open border and pot-cul- 

 ture. Graellsi is similar 

 in colour, but smaller, and 

 more delicate in growth. 



B. conspicuus — the finest of 

 the group. Flowers thrice 

 the ordinary size, bright 

 yellow, taller in growth, 

 and very robust. Gig-as is 

 similar. Capital for pot- 

 culture, for which purpose 

 bulbs are largely im- 

 ported ; makes a most ef- 

 fective green-house plant, 

 but is hardy enough for 

 outdoor culture. 



flower of the group ; the 

 flowers large, rich yel- 

 low, with long, recurving 

 leaves. Obesus, lobulatus, 

 and aureus are similar, but 

 earlier-flowering. 



Trumpet Daffodils. — This section comprises a 

 large proportion of all cultivated Daffodils. They 



