146 
THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
pretty well known as the Feather Hyacinth; its flower-spikes 
are like marabout feathers. M. racemosum is a capital early- 
flowering kind, with deep purplish flowers. 
Myosotis (Forget-me-not).—Though, few in number, and 
most humble in character, the garden is a blank that contains 
no forget-me-nots. Since “ spring bedding ” has been in 
vogue they have been in great request for their early display 
of myriads of light-blue flowers, and the introduction of a 
few newish and extremely beautiful varieties, which, until of 
late were known to botanists only, lias given quite a peculiar 
fillip to forget-me-not culture. As garden plants, they are 
short-lived, and perhaps have a better claim to a place in a 
chapter on annuals than in one on perennials . However, they 
are perennials; but those who would enjoy a perennial dis¬ 
play of their charming flowers must propagate annually by 
seeds, or cuttings, or divisions of the root, and plant all out 
afresh in new, mellow, moist soil. If. azorica is certainly the 
best for the border, being hardy, comparatively robust, flowers 
at first reddish, afterwards deep blue. M. dissitiflora (syn. 
M. montana) is a most valuable species for early flowers, but 
“ miffy,” and therefore needing perpetual renewal. For 
growing in pots in the alpine house it is the best of all. 
M. palustris , the British forget-me-not, is too weedy for the 
border; but wherever there is a brook or half waste tract of 
marshy land, it should be planted, unless nature has taken 
care to locate it there already. 
Narcissus. —As these can be grown anywhere, in sun or 
shade, in rich or poor soil, and multiply fast enough by the 
spread of their roots, we shall content ourselves with a selec¬ 
tion simply. If it is desired to raise plants from seed, the 
proper course is to sow as soon as ripe, and grow in frames 
the first season. Then store away the dry bulbs until October, 
and plant where they are to flower. From the varieties of 
the Polyanthus Narciss, JV. tazetta , we select as the best, 
Sulphurine , yellow and orange; Glorious , white and yellow; 
Sir Isaac Neivton , gold yellow and orange; Golden Beauty , 
yellow and orange ; Grand Prince , white and lemon yellow ; 
Grand Soleil , deep yellow and orange. The double and single 
Jonquils, N. jonquilla, are eminently desirable, both for beauty 
and fragrance. The Poet’s Narciss, N. poeticus , is delight¬ 
fully fragrant, and its hardy and adaptive nature renders it 
suitable to plant in quantity in the shrubbery, and in the 
