34 BOOK OF OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



snowdrops, have long been among the treasures of English 

 gardens. Naturalised in grassy lawns or orchards, or 

 grown undisturbed in shrubbery borders, the single and 

 double common snowdrops (G. nivalis) almost invariably 

 thrive and increase. The common snowdrop is on the 

 whole the most important and most valuable, but in 

 light warm soil the handsome Galanthus Elwesi should be 

 grown, and in any soil the broad-leaved G. latifolius, and 

 a fragrant hybrid derived from it, G. Alleni, with large 

 flowers and leaves almost like those of the tulip. 



Several of the periwinkles, notably the lilac Vinca 

 acutiloba^ bear flowers during the months of December 

 and January, and in warm sheltered spots violets and 

 roses may often be picked in the open air. 



Among the shrubs, several of the most beautiful 

 bear their flowers in the depth of winter. The fragrant 

 yellowish flowers of the Winter Sweet (Chimonanthus 

 fragrans), which is one of the many gracious gifts of 

 Japan, are among the best of winter blossoms. The 

 Chimonanthus is worth a place against a warm wall 

 facing south. After flowering, the young shoots should 

 be pruned back to the old branches. The variety known 

 as Grandiflora bears somewhat larger flowers. The 

 scarlet flowers of Cydonia japonica (the Japan Quince), 

 are familiar to everyone although it is but a nineteenth 

 century introduction into this country. Other species 

 and varieties of Quince, however, are equally well 

 worth growing. C Mauleii, with orange-red flowers 

 freely produced seemingly over the entire plant, C 

 nivalis, with large white flowers, and C cardinalis are 

 all good. 



When the climate is mild, and the soil not too heavy, 

 the Laurustinus {Viburnum tinus) is of great value in 

 winter and early spring. The yellow Jasmine and 

 the shrubby Honeysuckles, Lonicera fragrantissima and 

 Standishi, are easy to grow, and should be seen in 



