May 5, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
351 
dispelled in a rather rude fashion, as may be gathered from the 
following notes: In 1880 nuts of all kinds were scarcer by 
far than we ever remember to have noticed. Whitethorn was 
unusually shy in flowering, and consequently in fruiting, haws 
thus being conspicuous by their absence. Sloes fruited very 
slightly indeed, which is curious, as it was by no means a bad 
year for Plums. Indeed, but for these the poor wasps would 
have had but a sad time of it, as Apples, Pears, and wall fruits 
were far from plentiful. The only hedge plant that bore even a 
moderate crop of berries was the Privet, which could hardly have 
been designed to eke out the food of the small birds, as but very 
few of these care for Privet berries. — James Buckman (in 
Science Gossip ). 
GRAPE HYACINTHS. 
Several of the beautiful little bulbous plants included in the 
genus Muscari are among the oldest of introduced plants now 
grown in gardens, and are still favourites wherever they are known. 
Clumps of these are often seen in old gardens, where they are 
rarely disturbed except to keep the fast-spreading species within 
suitable bounds, and in such positions flowers are produced so 
freely as to prove useful for cutting, supplying shades of blue that 
can be scarcely equalled w r hen the flowers are at their best, as the 
Scillas are then nearly over. I have memories of Grape Hyacinths 
grown in large beds which in April and May formed masses of the 
loveliest blue tints, invoking the admiration of all who saw them. 
Unfortunately they are now rarely seen in such profusion except 
in a few nurseries, and then the formal lines in which they are 
planted detract from their beauty. They are certainly to some 
extent neglected, but why it is not easy to discover, as their cul¬ 
ture is simple enough to enable anyone to grow them satisfactorily 
wherever a moderately sheltered position and a light rich soil can 
be afforded them, and there are few gardens in which these re¬ 
quirements cannot be provided. By growing the bulbs in pots 
excellent results can be obtained, for if placed in a frame during 
the winter flowers are produced several weeks before the plants 
outside are in bloom. When treated in this way they are ex¬ 
tremely useful for arranging in the greenhouse or conservatory, 
a few pots of M. botryoides and the white variety being charming 
in the front row of plants on the side stages in such structures. 
Another good quality the Muscaris possess is the readiness with 
which they can be increased ; in fact some appear to spread too 
rapidly in particularly favourable positions, and then a little 
difficulty is experienced in restricting them to their proper quar¬ 
ters. However, this is more the exception than the rule. When it 
is desired to increase the stock the old bulbs should be lifted, the 
young offsets being removed and planted in fine soil, where they 
will grow quickly and soon reach flowering size. Except for this 
purpose it will not be found necessary to disturb the beds very 
often unless the plants become crowded, as they flower more freely 
and vigorously ■when they are well established. Some of the most 
beautiful species are briefly described in the following notes. 
M. botryoides .—One of the old forms that were known to Gerard, 
Parkinson, and other writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth 
century. It is an early-flowering species, bearing globose bright 
“ skie coloured ” flowers in comparatively large racemes usually 
about 6 inches in height, the narrow leaves being of similar 
length. There are several varieties, some considerably larger than 
the type; but the best is the white form M. botryoides album, 
which has neat racemes of white flowers, affording a pleasing 
contrast with the ordinary blue form, especially when grown in 
pots as advised above. 
M. comosum .—Another long-known species, rather stronger¬ 
growing than the last, frequently reaching a foot in height, and 
with long racemes of purplish blue flowers. Parkinson describing 
this among the other forms observes, “ The whole stalkewith the 
flower upon it doth somewhat resemble a long purse tassell, and 
thereupon divers gentlewomen have so named it.” It is, however, 
chiefly remarkable for the extraordinary variety known botanically 
as M. comosum monstruosum, and popularly as the Feather Hya¬ 
cinth. This bears a large plume-like raceme of flowers, the corollas 
of which are cut into long narrow divisions, imparting a peculiar 
and yet graceful appearance to the plant. 
M. racemosum .—This is the most commonly seen Muscari, for 
it is one of the cottagers’ favourites, at least in some districts, 
where there is scarcely a garden without it, nearly rivalling in 
abundance another common but much-appreciated plant in small 
gardens, the Thrift. It is known as the Starch Hyacinth from 
the peculiar odour of wet starch which the flowers possess. These 
are borne in compact racemes 6 inches or more in height, and are 
of a deep bluish purple tint. 
M. Szovitsianum .—A comparatively] modem introduction in¬ 
cluded in the same section as the foregoing species—namely, the 
true Grape Hyacinths, or the Botryanthus section of the genus 
Muscari. It has a very compact raceme G inches high, with bright 
blue globular flowers ; the corolla having six small tooth-like 
divisions, which are white, and agreeably relieve the fine blue 
tint of the other portion. This succeeds admirably in pots ; and 
the specimens recently exhibited by Messrs. Osborn & Sons of 
Fulham at Regent’s Park and South Kensington were greatly 
admired by many visitors ; and it was remarked that among all 
the beautiful plants shown on both occasions there was not one 
which possessed flowers of such a bright and pure blue colour. 
At the Fulham Nursery the plants are grown planted out in a 
border with the other species, and the accompanying •woodcut 
represents one of these of the average size. 
Near these are several recent introductions that are as yet 
but little known, and chiefly confined to the large collections of 
hardy plants and bulbs. One of the best is M. Heldreichi, with a 
Fig. 79.—Muscari Szovitsianum. 
conical raceme of bright blue flowers ; it is rather dwarfer than 
M. Szovitsianum. M. armeniacum has fine dark purplish blue 
flowers in a large compact raceme ; it is one of the darkest 
coloured forms. M. neglectum, also very dark blue, almost black 
flowers, in a large raceme. M. conicum, M. compactum, M. 
pallens, and several others are all more or less pretty but rare. 
One form is grown by Messrs. Osborn under the name of M. com- 
mutatum, dwarf, with small light blue globular flowers in a neat 
raceme. It is very pretty, but I do not think it is the M. com- 
mutatum described by Mr. Baker, as that has darker flowers and 
is of stronger growth. 
M. moschatum. —This, though very distinct from the other Grape 
Hyacinths, and much less attractive in colour, deserves notice for 
the powerful and to some persons very agreeable musky odour 
it possesses. The flowers are long, not globose as in the other 
forms, more suggestive of the Lachenalias in form, and the colour 
