1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



183 



NARCISSUS. 



Among the plants commonly known as 

 Dutch Bulbs none are more valuable for 

 border decoration than the Narcissus in its 

 many species and varieties. Some kinds are 

 among the oldest inhabitants of our gardens. 

 Who is there whose early memories are not 

 associated with the bright-yellow " Daffy- 

 down-Dillies," or the fragrant white Poet's 



ARCISSUS POETICUS. 



"Narcissus, with its rich crimson-circled eye f 

 These and many other species equally good, 

 though not so common, are flowers for the 

 people. They are hardy and sturdy — once 

 planted, they take care of themselves, and 

 the clumps grow stronger year by year. 

 Every spring, in spite of cold winds and late 

 snows, they push up the stout green leaves, 

 between every two of which is the flower- 



2- 



I / / 



DOUBLE NARCISSUS. 



bud, which soon bursts into bloom. They 

 need no special culture, but make them- 

 selves at home anywhere, and nowhere are 

 they out of place. In city yards they give 

 bright and early bloom ; in a rich garden 

 soil they flourish wonderfully, and they are 

 especially adapted for planting on sunny 

 slopes, in woods, or on the borders of shrub- 

 beries. 



Of the Poet's Narcissus there are but two 



varieties, the double and single flowered, of 

 which the latter is preferable ; but of the 

 Daffodil we have many species and varieties, 

 tall and dwarf, very double, or with only a 

 rich golden central hoop, and in color rang- 

 ing from white to the deepest orange. In 

 all these there is not one which is not worth 

 growing, and a collection of Daffodils is a 

 most attractive feature in the spring garden. 



Then there is the Jonquil — bright-yellow, 

 single or double — very free-blooming and 

 deliciously fragrant. The "Hoop-petticoat" 

 Narcissus, well known more than a hundred 

 years ago, is a little gem of a flower ; not as 

 hardy as others, and somewhat rare, but just 

 the plant for one who wishes a pet, which 

 will well repay the care he receives. 



The Polyanthus Narcissus are well worthy 

 of attention, and are especially adapted for 

 forcing. Their profusion of flower, rich 

 fragrance, and fine colors, all recommend 

 them for general culture. The early Roman 

 may be had in bloom in the house by Christ- 

 mas if the bulbs are potted in October. 

 These varieties are a little tender, and if 

 planted out of doors the bulbs should be 

 set at least three inches deep, and the bed 

 should, during the winter, be protected by a 

 thick covering of strawy manure. 



All the Narcissus are suitable for forcing, 

 requiring only to be potted in light, rich 

 soil, kept in the cellar until the roots have 

 developed, and then brought into light from 

 time to time, to insure a succession of bloom. 

 A very small outlay will buy a large collec- 

 tion of the more common kinds ; some of the 

 bulbs cost only a few cents each, and even 

 the rarest varieties are not very expensive. 



Plant the bulbs from October until the 

 ground freezes, and with no further care 

 they will, in April and May, give you a 

 bright spring greeting. 



E. S. Rand, Jr. 



ABOUT HOSES. 



Although Roses will grow under adverse 

 circumstances often, it well repays to give 

 them good treatment. The soil for all kinds 

 of Roses most suitable for their welfare is 

 a good stiff loam well enriched with well-de- 

 composed cow-manure. Unless heavily ma- 

 nured, loose, open soil will not produce gooc 

 Roses. During dry weather in summer a 

 good mulching of some moisture-retaining 

 material is very beneficial, and a good 

 sprinkling of wood-ashes, soot, hen-manure, 

 or guano over the surface of the ground, has 

 a very beneficial effect on the number and 

 quality of the flowers. 



The lifting of Roses in the fall is often a 

 great annoyance to amateurs. Many lift 

 their Roses and try to keep all the top they 

 can, even though three-fourths of the roots 

 are destroyed. Now this is unreasonable to 

 expect. Mutilate the roots of any plant and 

 just in proportion have you to prune back the 

 top, or else the plant will breathe itself to 

 death. The constant evaporation from the 

 leaves is too much for the mutilated roots to 

 supply. As a consequence, wood and leaves 

 shrink and dry, and the plant is destroyed 

 from overwork. In pruning after lifting them 

 cut out as many of the weak shoots as possi- 

 ble, then cut back the strong ones in propor- 

 tion to their strength, the stronger the 

 shoots and the more roots the less should the 

 top be cut back, and vice versa. 



The soil most suitable for potting with is 

 well-decomposed sod and well-rotted manure 

 thoroughly mixed together. Use pots just as 

 small as the plants can be got into, and pack 

 the soil firmly around the roots. The winter 

 treatment of these newly potted Roses is 

 often unsuitable for them. The plants should 

 be kept cool until they make fresh roots. 

 There is no use trying to make Roses grow 



fm 



fill 



NARCISSUS MOSCHATUS. 



without first having roots. If placed in heat 

 in this condition, they produce a few weak 

 shoots proportionate to the strength left in the 

 wood, and then die : the general complaints 

 being that bad luck attended the Roses, when 

 the truth was they had tried to do an impos- 

 sibility — live and grow without the means of 

 absorbing food. 



Roses left in the ground too tender to en- 



POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS. 



dure the cold during winter and requiring 

 protection, should be either covered up with 

 the soil or bent down and covered with leaves. 



Plants in cold frames should be kept as 

 cool as possible during clear weather. It is 

 not advisable to allow the sun to heat up the 

 pit too much, especially after a severe spell 

 of zero weather. — M. Milton, before the Port- 

 age Co. Horticultural Society. 



