MUSGAEIS AND NERINES. 135 



may be freely increased by the removal and transplantation of 

 offsets in early autumn, wliich is the proper time for lifting and 

 removal, when this is either necessary or desirable. 



^ Taken as a class, the Muscaris are not at all particular as to 

 soil, though they appreciate a good sandy loam as well as most 

 things. As regards position they are equally accommodating ; 

 in addition to situations already indicated, they should find a place 

 on the rockery, in the flower border, or among low grass. But 

 lest anything that has been said may frighten some bulb loving 

 brother, we hasten to add that if he cannot grow the Muscaris by 

 the 4 acre then by all means grow them by the half hundred, and 

 rather than not have any at all obtain half a dozen to start with, 

 for it is perfectly certain that, like Oliver Twist he will, within 

 a year, be asking for more. 



Lest any reader should be at all puzzled by the dissociation 

 of popular names from scientific ones, let it be stated that the 

 Grape Hyacinth is botryoides ; the Feather Hyacinth comosum 

 monstrosum ; the Musk Hyacinth moschatum (but it is too shy in 

 flowering to suit most folk), and the Starch Hyacinth racemosum. 



Selection of Muscaris. 

 botryoides, blue. comosum, blue. There is 



conicum, deep blue. Several a rare white form of 

 varieties, of which the one this ; monstrosum is a 

 named Heavenly Blue is pretty and interesting 

 by far the best variety, variety. 



racemosum, dark blue. 



Narcissi, see Daffodils. 



Cftapter XClIl -Serines* 



Although there is a general agreement that N'erines, including 

 Guernsey Lilies, are easily grown, it is nevertheless a curious fact that 

 while in some gardens they merely exist one may see splendidly 

 flowered specimens in the front window of a neighbouring cottage. 

 The secret of success lies in the water pot. Water Serines according 

 to requirements when they are either flowering or producing and 

 maturing their leaves, but directly the leaves turn yellow withhold 

 water until flower spikes appear the following season. Nerines 

 are all too frequently killed by mistaken kindness. Bat once the 

 true principles underlying their successful culture are understood 

 and acted upon, then all is plain sailing. Directly a good batch 

 of Nerines has been grown, the self-satisfied grower sets himself up 

 as an authority and with affected superiority wonders why in the 

 world any one fails with " such easily grown plants." 



It is usual for^the bulb merchants to supply thoroughly matured 

 Nerine bulbs early in the autumn, and as these will soon come 



