k'l JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
ground) on an even foundation of ashes. Take care they stand quite 
level, and cover them with about 5 or 6 inches of cocoa fibre refuse, 
except such small growing kinds as Triandrus, Juncifolius, and Minor, 
■which only need about 3 inches. Leave them outside till about the 
middle or end of November ; the boxes will then be full of roots, and some 
of the varieties will have made growth upwards. Eemove them from 
under the cocoa fibre and place in the cold frame, again letting them rest 
on a few inches of ashes, and taking care that they stand quite level. 
, Let any tender young growth which is now exposed be shaded from 
strong light for a few days, until the white shoots turn green; then admit 
full light. A space should be left between the boxes or pots and the 
sides of the frames, and this and any spaces between the boxes and pots 
themselves should be filled in with cocoa fibre ; and about | to \ inch 
of this material may with advantage be strewn over the surface of the 
soil in the boxes and pots. Through the winter the frames should be well 
protected with mats at night and during severe frosty days, so as to 
secure early flowering. Plenty of air must be admitted, except in severe 
weather, for the plants must not be allowed to become drawn. A most 
important point is the watering which must be regularly given (except, of 
course, during frost) after the boxes, &c., are put in the cold frame. At 
first, all that is necessary is to keep the soil nicely moist ; but it should 
;be remembered that the boxes are full of roots. When the plants are 
making strong growth above ground they will need plenty of water in 
increasing supply until as flowering time approaches they get a good 
watering three times a week. In this way remarkably fine flowers may 
'be obtained. Do not neglect watering after the flowers have been cut, or 
the bulbs will dwindle and become worthless, but give moderate supplies 
' until the foliage shows signs of beginning to die down. I ascribe the 
' fineness of the blooms obtained by this method to the regular supplies of 
water, coupled with perfect drainage. 
Growing in Geass. — Almost all the Narcissi look well and do well 
planted in grass, if you can spare them a corner of a lawn or meadow 
which can be left without mowing until the end of June. For the 
Narcissus leaves must not be cut, but left to die away naturally. Any of 
the delicate sorts, which you cannot induce to grow happily in cultivated 
beds, may be dibbled into the grass in holes, filled up with maiden loam, 
and left to themselves. The flowers will not be so large as in the border, 
and the bulbs will make very slow increase, but they will be more 
healthy and happy. 
As TO Cutting the Flowers. — If you want to get the most enjoy- 
ment possible from your Narcissus tiowars, do not leave them to the 
mercy of wind, rain, sun, and dust. Cut them as soon as the perianth 
begins to unrap itself from the crown, and let them open out in water in 
a fairly warm room, or other sheltered place. All the beauty and fresh- 
ness of colour, which are so charming in the Narcissus, will thus be 
preserved. 
The cut flowers never look so graceful as when arranged with their 
own foliage; but as it injures or destroys the bulbs to cut the leaves, you 
should grow patches of the common sorts, so as to have a supply of leaves 
to !3et off the flowers of the choicer kinds. 
