HARDY BULBS AND TUBERS. 
276 
bulbs; (2) not to disturb the bulbs oftener than once in three 
or four years when grown in borders, and not at all in the case 
of those grown in grass; (3) when lifting is necessary do it 
directly the foliage dies, dry and store the bulbs away in a 
cool place till September, when replant; (4) never cut the 
grass where bulbs are grown in turf till the foliage turns 
yellow in June ; ( 5 ) , and where Narcissi are grown in beds or 
borders where it is necessary the bulbs should be lifted in 
June, always replant them in a spare border to complete 
their growth before drying and storing away ; and (6) always 
plant in dry weather. 
As to propagation, Narcissi are readily obtained by offsets 
at lifting time. These should be planted in nursery beds, and 
those be marked with sticks that flower the next season for 
lifting and replanting permanently. Narcissi are also readily 
reared from seed sown when ripe in sandy soil in cold frames. 
The seedlings have to be grown on in beds for four or five 
years ere they flower. 
Ornithogralurn (Star of Bethlehem).— A genus of S. 
European bulbous plants, suitable for naturalising in the 
grass, woodland borders, wild garden, or growing in groups 
in borders. The species worthy of culture are : O. arabicum, 
bearing large creamy-white flowers with yellow anthers and 
black ovaries in June; O. nutans, white flowers borne in 
drooping racemes in April and May; O. pyramidale, flowers 
white striped with green at the back, and borne in July ; O. 
pyrenaicum, yellow-green flowers striped with green at back, 
July; and O. urabellatum, white, striped green at back, and 
borne in umbels in May. The foregoing from 6 to i8in. 
high. O. arabicum should be grown on a sheltered rockery ; 
the rest massed in grass or shady borders. Plant the bulbs 
3in. deep and 3m. apgrt in September or October. Ordinary 
soil will suffice. The flowers emit a somewhat strong odour. 
Increased by offsets after the foliage has decayed. Lily order 
(Liliaceae). 
Oxa.lis. — For culture of bulbous-rooted kinds see Hardy 
Perennial section. 
Pancratium. — P. illyricum, the only hardy species of 
this genus of bulbous plants, bears white, sweet-scented, 
funnel-shaped flowers in umbels on scapes 1 to 2ft. long, in 
June. It is a graceful lily-like plant, and a native of S. 
Europe. The bulbs should be planted in sandy loam mixed 
with a little leaf-mould in October or November. Plant the 
bulbs 4 to 6in. deep and a foot apart. A W’arm, well-drained 
border at the foot of a south wall is the best position for 
