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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



single variations ; G. plicatus, the " Crimean Snowdrop," also 

 does well. G. Elwesii is a noble kind as seen at its best, but is 

 very capricious, and dies off on some soils. G. grcecus and G. Olgce 

 appear to be extremely rare, even in herbaria, and we have not 

 as yet had time to test G. Fosteri fairly, but when established it 

 promises to become one of the best of the garden kinds. G. lati- 

 folius forms good, bold clumps, and is very distinct in leafage, 

 but it also takes time to establish, after which it flowers very 

 freely. One of the most fatal of all diseases to which bhe Snow- 

 drop is liable is the Snowdrop fungus (Polyactis galanthina, 

 Berkeley and Broome, Gard. Chron., March 2, 1889, p. 275, with 

 figure). This fungus appears quite suddenly, often after a fall of 

 snow, and affects leaves, scapes, and bulbs also, the latter becom- 

 ing soft and pulpy. It is an ally of the Lily and Tulip fungus, 

 and so far no preventive or remedy has been discovered. Iron 

 sulphate applied as a top dressing, mixed with sifted earth, might 

 possibly prove beneficial, as it certainly has been in the case of 

 the Potato disease. Practically, however, we know nothing of an 

 efficient remedy for this Polyactis, which has proved a great bane 

 to successful Snowdrop culture in England and Scotland. Pos- 

 sibly Mr. Allen, or the Eev. C. Wolley-Dod, may enlighten us on 

 this matter. 



Alphabetical List of the Species and Varieties of 

 Snowdrops. 



1. G. cestivalis. — A late-flowering form of the common Snow- 

 drop — often a month later than G. nivalis. 



2. G. Boydii.- — This is a very fine form of G. Imperati, and 

 generally known in gardens where it is grown as G. Imperati 

 Boydii. 



3. G. caspicus, Euprecht. — A form of G. caucasicus. 



4. G. CathcarticB, Hort. Allen. — A twin-spathed Snowdrop, 

 somewhat similar to G. Scharloki, but having no green markings 

 on the sepals. It is, in fact, a small G. nivalis, but having a leafy 

 twin spathe. 



This was found in Scotland, I believe, by Miss Cathcart, and 

 it was sent to me by Mr. Allen. 



5. G. caucasicus, Baker in Gard. Chron. 1887, p. 312. — A 

 large, late-blooming form of G. nivalis from the Caucasus. Mr. 



