FLOWERS OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA. 



97 



The delicate white spikes are sent by hundredweights, at times by 

 tons, and fetch but a poor price on the markets. They certainly 

 cannot compete in northern parts with the same forced in heat 

 on the spot. 



A curious industry, which seems to be developing fast, 

 consists in dyeing white flowers by making them suck up 

 various colouring substances mostly derived from coal-tar. White 

 Hyacinths are peculiarly apt to take dye in this way, and they are 

 now frequently offered for sale in Paris either of a rosy lilac, of a 

 salmon colour, or of a glaucous green quite unknown to nature. 

 The same process was tried last year with white Pinks, but it fell 

 flat after a very short run. Its revival as applied to Roman 

 Hyacinths and to forced Lilac appears to give better promise of 

 permanent success. 



Polyanthus Narcissi are natives of the Riviera. The wild 

 N. Tazetta is found in large numbers on the low-lying meadows 

 all along the coast. Paper- white Narcissus (fig. 9), with its new 

 large-flowered variety, Etoile d'Or, Soleil d'Or, and Grand 

 Monarque, are the most prominent lands, and they flower in the 

 order named, from November to March. 



Daffodils proper, the trumpet and Nonsuch Narcissi, are not 

 yet of common occurrence on the Riviera, although some choice 

 varieties are being introduced by amateurs, and although 

 Narcissus minor is found wild on the hills bordering the coast. 

 The fine garden varieties of Daffodils bloom about three w T eeks 

 earlier there than they do in England, and they will surely gain 

 ground every year. 



The Poet's Narciss is also a native of Provence, and dots the 

 hillside meadows and pastures with its dazzling white stars. 

 On peaty grassland above Grasse it is so plentiful that it blooms 

 in white patches, rods in extent, which are discerned miles away 

 on the dark green grass. Bulbs might be lifted there by cart- 

 loads ; only it is the common late-flowering kind, which is of 

 limited commercial value. 



In gardens only the large early-blooming form, Narcissus 

 poeticus ornatus, is met with. It is a most valuable form of 

 Parisian origin, but now distributed all over the world (fig. 10). 



Narcissus odorus and the single and double Jonquils are 

 plentiful, and spread their fragrance all over the country in 

 March and April. 



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