190 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



There is a very pretty late variety doing well here, and just 

 coming into bloom — G. nivalis cestivum, kindly sent me some 

 time ago by Mr. Smith, of Newry. It is a free, robust grower, 

 distinctly later than nivalis, and the green markings are of a 

 deeper colour than usual. 



I need not enumerate here all the known varieties, but may 

 take this opportunity of asking if the rare G. Begince Olgce has 

 been found, or does it still only exist in name ? 



Culture. — The Snowdrop is very accommodating in its require- 

 ments, and will grow in most friable, well-drained soils. A light 

 black loamy soil with a fair mixture of sand perhaps suits it best 

 of all, while a wet clay soil is about the worst for its culture. 

 Where it is cultivated in beds or borders, the addition of leaf- 

 mould, or sand, will sometimes help ground not naturally suited 

 to its requirements. It is, however, when planted in grass 

 or lawns, in quantity, that the value of the Snowdrop for 

 spring gardening is most apparent. When once planted and 

 established in grass in suitable soil, the Snowdrop yields its 

 floral tribute each returning spring, without further labour or 

 trouble ; all it requires is that its foliage be allowed to ripen 

 naturally before the scythe or mower is put over the grass. The 

 foliage is usually ripe by May, so that little inconvenience is 

 experienced in the mowing of the turf. When a large space 

 is to be planted, the best way is to lift the turf thinly about 

 September, or early in October, sow the bulbs over the ground, 

 lightly fork in two or three inches, level and roll the ground; 

 relay the turf, finishing off with the roller. 



If the bulbs do well in four to six years they should yield a 

 crop if required for planting elsewhere, or extending the area, 

 leaving enough in the ground to keep up the stock. 



Another method of stocking a piece of grass, where clumps of 

 Snowdrops can be had on the ground, is to divide the clumps 

 after flowering, making notches with a spade a foot or two apart 

 all over the ground, dropping a few bulbs into each. After a 

 few years the turf may be lifted, the ground lightly forked over, 

 relaying the turf as before after breaking up the clumps, and 

 distributing the bulbs all over the ground. 



Diseases. — The only disease I have found Snowdrops subject 

 to is a species of rot or mould which attacks the young growths 

 as they show above ground. The disease does not appear to 



