SNOWDROPS. 



179 



Autumnal-flowering Snowdrops. 



In Greece and the adjacent countries several Snowdrops have 

 been found which flower in the autumn or early winter. They 

 seem to belong to the nivalis section. One peculiarity I have 

 noticed in them is that they have a glaucous line running down 

 the centre of each leaf, and by this they can be at once distin- 

 guished from the spring-flowering forms of nivalis. So far as 

 I can learn, all these Snowdrops grow on high ground, mostly 

 on mountains, and it seems to me that their early flowering may 

 be Nature's instinct hurrying them into bloom before the snow 

 comes. I understand that the Snowdrops on the lower grounds 

 do not flower until early in the year. 



G. Olgce. — This autumnal-flowering Snowdrop was found on 

 Mount Taygetus by Orphanides, the Greek botanist. Mr. Max 

 Leichtlin tried to purchase the stock from the lucky discoverer, 

 but the exorbitant price demanded prevented his doing so. A 

 year or two since Mr. Max Leichtlin informed me that 

 Orphanides was confined in a madhouse, and that the 

 Snowdrop cannot be found in his garden, or traced in any 

 way. From the descriptions given of it, G. Olgce, must have 

 been a fine variety, and it is very unfortunate that it is lost to 

 cultivation. M. Tanka, the Hungarian botanist, asserts that 

 this and G. octobrensis are identical, but I do not think so, and 

 the difference between G. octobrensis and G. BachelcB confirms 

 my opinion. 



G. octobrensis. — Lord Walsingham, when travelling in 

 Albania about the year 1875, collected some bulbs on one of the 

 mountains and sent them to the late Eev. H. Harpur-Crewe. 

 Amongst these was a bulb which proved to be a Snowdrop 

 flowering in the autumn, usually in October. The first bulb 

 Mr. Harpur-Crewe had to spare he very kindly sent to me, 

 and it has always been true to its autumnal habit. I am sorry 

 to say that it is somewhat delicate and apt to disappear ; it also 

 increases very slowly with me. In Mr. Boyd's garden at 

 Melrose it seems quite at home, a single bulb having given five 

 blooming roots the first year after planting. Mr. Boyd recom- 

 mends that the Snowdrops belonging to this section should be 

 lifted directly the foliage dies down, and not replanted for two 

 or three months. 



