SNOWDROPS. 



175 



flower. As the parent was a large form it is probable this will 

 have a large flower. 



Besides these I have a large number of fine seedlings 

 belonging to this section, which are full of beauty and interest to 

 me, but to mention them would be weariness to you. 



G. plicatus is very distinct in its character, and its best 

 forms possess great beauty, both of flower and of leaf. The 

 foremost place in this section belongs to G. p. maximus, found a 

 few years since in a garden at Chapel, in Berwickshire, by Mr. 

 W. B. Boyd, of Melrose. This wonderful variety, under favour- 

 able conditions, gives flowers the petals of which are fully two 

 inches long ; the w T idth is, perhaps, not quite equal to this great 

 length, but it is without exception the grandest of all Snowdrops. 

 It has the additional recommendations of being a very late 

 bloomer and a good growler. 



In the same garden Mr. Boyd found another good variety, 

 which he named G. p. Chapeli. This is not nearly so large, but 

 it has very broad petals, and is of fine form, and ranks with the 

 best. 



Some years ago I selected a fine form, which I named G. p. 

 elcgans. I have sent this to a great many correspondents, and 

 they place it in the front rank. I regret to say that for several 

 years it has done badly with me, and I have almost lost it. 

 About the same time I selected a variety which had the broadest 

 and handsomest leaves I have ever seen. For several years it 

 grew well ; then got sickly and died out after struggling for two 

 or three seasons. 



G. plicatus usually flowers late, but I have a selected form, 

 G. p. prcecox, which flowers with the early varieties of G. nivalis. 

 This is very distinct. Another selected form, G. p, " Omega," 

 flowers with the very latest. 



G. Elwcsii is one of the most distinct species of Snowdrop we 

 have, and the best varieties of it are very large and handsome, 

 but still it is not a universal favourite. It wants the most 

 sheltered spots in the garden, otherwise the wind is too much 

 for the top-heavy flowers, and their purity and beauty are soon 

 gone. I am trying to get a race of finely shaped flowers, with 

 short, sturdy stems, to enable them to carry their heads erect in 

 the battle of life. Many find G. Ehvesii difficult to manage, but 

 with me it grows very freely, especially in one bed of very light 

 soil, where the seedlings are almost a nuisance. 



