POLYANTHUS-NARCISSUS. 95 



chiefly for the purpose of being- flowered in 

 pots and glasses for the decoration of drawing- 

 rooms and conservatories. This trade affluence 

 encourages, because it is convenient. The 

 British cultivator, however, whether private or 

 commercial, is not compelled to have recourse 

 to an imported supply, so long as he can obtain 

 from his ow^i management as perfect bulbs as can 

 be had from abroad; always excepting the effect 

 of change of place, which has a very powerful 

 influence on the energies of plants. 



When polyanthus-narcissus are planted in 

 beds or borders it is customary to let them re- 

 main for two or three years, without removal. 

 But this is not the best management ; because 

 the offsets becom.e numerous, and, remaining 

 attached to the system, withdraw a part of the 

 vigour which it is desirable should be expended 

 only in the production of the flower of the present 

 year, or in increasing the size of the successor- 

 bulb of the next. The Dutch florists take them 

 up every year, as they do their other bulbs ; by 



