BULBOUS FLOWEES, 



41 



Tazetta, and the many varieties derived from it, as florists' 

 flowers. The rest are looked upon as mere border 

 flowers. N. concolor, with white blossoms, runs into* 

 numerous varieties, one of the finest of which is known 

 as the Grand Monarque. The poetic Narcissus, JST. 

 poeticus, with its ring of purple encircling the centre of 

 the flower, is not without a certain elegance. Perhaps 

 the most prepossessing species, on account of its dwarf 

 habit, its less powerful odour, and its graceful mien, is 

 the pretty little Hoop-petticoat Narcissus, JS T . bidbo- 

 codium, which though not a rare, is far from being a 

 vulgar flower, as it increases anything but rapidly by off- 

 sets. Grown in pots, it well deserves a place in spring 

 in every sunshiny parlour- window. It thrives better in 

 warmer and drier soil than the former species. Some 

 botanists make it a separate species, and call it Bulbo- 

 c odium vernum. Is found wild amongst the hills of 

 Dauphiny and Provence. There is also JB. tigrinum, a 

 native of Eussia. 



Polianth narcissuses are annually imported from Hol- 

 land, with tulips, hyacinths, and other Dutch bulbs. It 

 must be owned that the varieties of narcissus, consisting 

 merely of permutations and combinations of two colours 

 only, yellow and white, in single and double-centred 

 flowers, offer much less diversity than other bulbs of 

 similar rank in the seedsman's catalogue. Still they 

 have their steady admirers, attracted by their graceful 

 habit, the ease with which they are forced, and even by 

 their powerful odour, which is sufficiently oppressive to 

 exclude them from the private apartments of many who 

 would otherwise welcome them. Por room-decoration, 

 scentless flowers, as the camellia, are the most advisable 

 to employ, as far as sanitary prudence is concerned. The 

 rose, the violet, and mignonnette are harmless ; certainly 

 in the moderate quantity in which they commonly enter 

 into dwelling-apartments ; others, as the heliotrope and 

 the lily of the valley, often give headache, and even 

 nausea; while many of the liliacea?, notwithstanding 

 their beauty, notoriously exhale an insupportable efllu- 



