ih^ (Sorter's Panthlg. 



27 



Tke Narcissus. — 01* the several classes of bulbs 

 that make our windows and gardens gay in spring, 

 this is by no means the least interesting. The flow- 

 ers yield a rich perfume, which, however, in a con- 

 fined atmosphere becomes sickly and unbearable. 

 Maund, in his "Botanic Garden," says, "The agree- 

 able perfume of this plant, when diffused through 

 a close apartment, becomes decidedly deleterious by 

 producing headache, giddiness, and other affections 

 of the brain. In the garden, when mingled with a 

 wholesome and exhilarating atmosphere, amidst 

 objects that awaken the most delightful sensations 

 of our nature, these sweets are a part of our grati- 

 fications, and health is promoted as a consequence 

 of enjoyment so pure." 



Ovid informs us that the Narcissus comuTemorates 

 a self-enamoured youth changed into this flower; but 

 Phny says, "It produces dull heavy headache; hence 

 it received its name from narce (torpidity), and not 

 from the youth Narcissus, asmentioned in the fable. 



The section known as the Polyanthus Narcissus 

 (Naicissus Tazetta vars. ), from a similarity of ar- 

 rangement of the flowers on the stalk with those of 

 the Polyanthus, comprises the best of these interest- 

 ing plants. The bulbs are annually imported from 

 Holland in large quantities, and many of the varie- 

 ties are to be obtained at a very reasonable rate. 

 As regards cultivation, ordinary treatment is all they 

 require; in or out of doors they succeed well, and 

 even under most disadvantageous circumstances 

 they wall flourish out of doors. They are, however, 

 apt to suffer from frost, which sometimes makes sad 

 shipwreck of the delicate tints and fragile structure 

 of the flowers. 



In regard to colour, there are yellows, whites, 

 whites with orange cups, and whites with citron and 

 lemon cups. There is not much variety in these 

 divisions of colour; on the contrary, there is a great 

 sameness among many of them; but Dutch growers 

 either do not possess that skill in hybridization 

 which exibt in England, or the results of its appli- 

 cation as regards this flower are very unsatisfactory 

 indeed. Of white flowers there are the Single Italian, 

 a paper white; Grand Souverian, Reine Blanche, and 

 one or two others that appear to Dossess a plurality 

 of names; with the exception of the first, which 

 cannot be too highly recommended, the others are 

 little grown. Of yellows there are Juno, Staaten 

 General, La Favorite, Primo Sterkhoren, and 

 L'Etoile d'Or, but, excepting the two first and the 

 last, they are but httle known. L'Etoile d'Or 

 deserves a larger share of recognition than it has yet 

 received; it is a dwarf kind, being only about twelve 

 inches in height, and in colour deep golden yellow. 



It flowers very freely, and is therefore well adapted 

 for pot culture; it cannot be too stongly recommend- 

 ed. The two largest divisions are those possessing 

 white flowers with orange or with lemon or citron 

 cups. Many of these flowers though denominated 

 white, are not really so, being suffused with a pale 

 sulphur. There has not yet appeared what would in- 

 deed be a great desideratum, viz. , a yellow or orange 

 flower with a pure white cup. This may possibly, 

 however, be in store for us, and that at no distant 

 date, as the demand for new Hyacinths is giving 

 an impetus likewise to the production of newer and 

 better varieties of Polyanthus Narcissus. 



The best of all the varieties having white flowers 

 with 'yellow cups is Bazelman major. From the 

 spathe surmounting the flower-stalk issues seven or 

 eight very large and showy fragrant blossoms. 

 Though this variety does not produce so many indi- 

 vidual flowers as some others, the loss is amply 

 compensated for in the unusul size of the blooms. 

 No variety taxes the energies of our bulb importers 

 to provide a sufficient supply of so much as this, the 

 demand for it being great. Florence Nightingale 

 and General Windham are two fine varieties, having 

 white flowers, with deep yellow cups ; from the last 

 named, and also from Czar Alexander, a sulphur 

 flower with golden cups, have been seen flower- 

 stalks surmounted with eighteen or twenty blos- 

 soms. Other good varieties are Gloriosa, with yel- 

 low cups; Grand Primo and Grand Monarque, 

 both with lemon cups ; and Grootvorst, with citron 

 cups. There are also yellow-flowered varieties of 

 both Grand Monarque and Grand Primo, but it is 

 the white-flowered kinds that generally find their 

 way into the London market. 



Of yellow flowers with lemon or orange cups, we 

 have Soliel d'Or, bright in color, with lemon cups; 

 Lord Canning, sulphur, with deep yellow cups ; Sir 

 Isaac Newton and Sulphurine, both with orange 

 cups ; and Belle Princesse, with bright golden cups. 



In each division of color, sameness is inevitable, 

 and the yellow flowers with orange or lemon cups 

 seem to glide almost imperceptibly, as it were, into 

 self yellow flowers. One half-dozen varieties of 

 Polyanthus Narcissus, carefully selected, may be 

 made to include all the real distinctness that exists 

 among them. 



The Double Roman Polyanthus Narcissus has an 

 individuahty of its own, and there is no great anx- 

 iety on the part of growers of the Narcissus to have 

 an addition to the double flowers, unless these 

 should comprise a great increase of quality as well. 

 The Double Roman blooms very early ; were it not 

 for this it would not be worth cultivation. 



