22 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 12, 1893. 
Gr. n. Melvillei, a seedling raised at Dunrobin Castle by Mr. D. 
Melville, is a fine variety with stouter and longer leaves and stem 
and large flowers. G. n. pallidus is a pale green marked variety of 
rather earlier habit than the type. G. n. poculiformis was origin¬ 
ally raised at Danrobin, but afterwards found also in Wales. This 
has the inner perianth segments nearly as long as the outer, and the 
green markings are entirely absent. G. n. reflexus does not seem to 
be in cultivation, but I understand the name is given on account of 
the inner segments being partly reflexed. A double form of this 
has been catalogued, but I have found it net forthcoming when 
ordered. G. Scharloki has twin leafy spathes and large green spots 
near the base of the outer sepals. G. n. serotinus, another Dun- 
robin seedling, is a very small form, flowering even later than 
G. aestivalis. G. virescens is more valued as a curiosity than for 
its beauty, the sepals being striped with green near the base and 
the inner petals nearly all green except the margins. The ordinary 
double form of G. nivalis is well known, and in addition there are 
a few seedling doubles which have not yet been distributed. 
There are a considerable number of other forms of G. nivalis, 
varying in form, stature, and markings, and it is highly probable 
that others will be found in gardens now that attention has been 
more widely attracted to the existing varieties. I have heard of 
plants of G. nivalis which were found near Galston in Scotland, 
and which had stems 20 inches in length and with flowers of pro¬ 
portionate size. The bulbs were lifted, and are being grown in 
order to ascertain if this large form will prove permanent, or is 
only due to exceptional soil or position. 
G. Imperati, which is a sub-species of nivalis, has broader leaves 
and larger flowers. It is a native of Naples and Genoa, and, like 
the other sub-species, G. caucasicus, has produced some fine varie¬ 
ties. G. I. Atkinsi is one of the finest of these, being of large 
size and great purity of colour. I am indebted to Mr. Allen for 
this variety, and for some others. G. Imperati Boydi is another 
very fine form, having flowers occasionally IJ inch long. G. cauca¬ 
sicus, which is the Caucasian form of G. nivalis, has broader leaves 
than the type, and is later in flowering. According to Mr. Baker 
this sub-species includes Redoutei, major, and caspicus of Ruprecht. 
Mr. Baker also seems to consider G. virescens a variety of 
G. caucasicus, although Mr. F. W. Burbidge only mentions it as a 
variety of G. nivalis. 
G. latifolius, which flowers in this country in February and 
March, is a very distinct species from the Caucasus, with broad 
shining green—not glaucous—leaves and small white flowers ^ to 
f inches long, with only a green patch in the outside and inside of 
the inner segments. There is a fine variety of this called latifo¬ 
lius major. 
G. Fosteri, introduced from Amasia in the province of Sirwas, 
Asia Minor, and named in honour of the introducer. Professor 
M. Foster, is one of our latest acquisitions, which has been the 
subject of considerable criticism, due to its presenting much varia¬ 
tion. It is supposed to be a hybrid between G. latifolius and 
G. Elwesi, and has broad green leaves with somewhat similar 
markings on the flowers to those of G. Elwesi. The first of this 
which I bloomed gave me considerable disappointment, but other 
flowers caused me to modify my earlier opinions, and the best 
forms are well worthy of cultivation. 
G. plicatus, readily recognised by its plicate leaves, is now 
fairly well known. It is a native of the Crimea, and, although not 
so well formed as some of the others, is valuable from its late 
flowering habit, it being the last in flower. Several varieties are 
now in cultivation, some of these being seedlings and others 
selected forms. Two found by Mr. Boyd of Melrose in a garden 
in Berwickshire are good forms which should be obtained if possible. 
The first, G. p. maximus, has long narrow flowers which in favour¬ 
able conditions are quite 2 inches long. The other, G. p. Chapeli, 
has smaller flowers, but these are of fine form and with broad 
petals. In the Journal in 1892 I noticed several hybrids raised 
between G. plicatus and G. nivalis, by Mr. W. Thomson, of High 
Blantyre were described. Mr. Allan has another seedling, apparently 
of the same origin, but not obtained by artificial fertilisation. 
These notes, although long, are much condensed, and much of 
great interest remains unnoticed. I hope, however, as some of the 
Snowdrops come into flower to have the opportunity of supple¬ 
menting this article. May I, however, ask those who grow 
Snowdrops extensively to pay careful attention when they come 
into flower ? We do not want merely trivial distinctions, but 
varieties of distinct merit. May I also urge those who are raising 
seedlings to adopt names more in keeping with the character of the 
flower than are sometimes applied to flowers ? I do not think such 
titles as Goliath, Champion, or Longshanks would be considered 
appropriate.—S. Aknott. 
ECONOMICAL GARDENING. 
At the beginning of another year the thoughts of all gardeners 
will be largely occupied with plana and prospects concerning the 
future. Some will happily be able to pursue the even tenor of 
their ways with plenty of help and ample pecuniary assistance at 
their command wherewith to maintain in high keeping the gardens 
under their charge. The majority, however, are forcibly reminded 
that rigid economy must still be the order of the day. They know, 
too, to how great an extent this increases their difficulties, as they 
have economic as well as cultural problems to solve. This being 
so, it is no use to ignore the fact that a due regard to economy has 
become a necessary part of a gardener’s training. Many men who 
have proved themselves to be splendid cultivators while every con¬ 
venience was at their command cut but a sorry figure when they 
have to “ garden under difficulties,” and others have the knack of 
producing splendid results under circumstances which would 
bewilder less tenacious individuals. 
One of the best and surest methods of promoting economy is to 
provide suitable work for the weather and occasion. When no 
time is wasted and each man takes a real interest in his work it is 
surprising how much can be accomplished. No one can make 
satisfactory progress with work of any kind while his limbs, if not 
his whole body, is benumbed with cold. In some callings which 
offer but little variety of work it is not easy to apportion the task 
according to the weather ; it is, however, not so with gardening. 
Not a few individuals are possessed with the idea that the autumn 
and winter months are slack times in gardens. Such erroneous 
impressions may be easily dispelled by a year’s sojourn in any well 
managed garden, for in such establishments there are no “slack” 
times. 
If things are to be kept up to the best state possible according 
to the labour at command, a great number of important details 
must receive attention during the winter in order to lighten as far as 
possible the work of summer. The disastrous season of 1892 has 
affected landlords all over the country in a marked degree, so 
much so that economy in the garden will have to be put to severer 
tests than usual in many gardens. Already I have heard of reduc¬ 
tions taking place in several establishments, and in others a 
considerable shortening of hands during the winter months. The 
latter proceeding I think few who have thought much about the 
matter will admit to be a work of real economy. To my mind, a 
far better policy, in cases where the expenditure has to be kept 
within a certain limit, is to keep a given number of regular hands, 
and to do the best that can be done with them, except at especially 
busy times, when a little extra labour is well employed, and work 
is given to men who make a speciality of short terms of service. 
In this way ad who are employed retain a thorough interest in the 
work, and with good management in other respects places which 
are in reality conducted under adverse circumstances are apparently 
well kept. 
Much of the work which in some places is left to the busy 
spring months may with advantage be performed in winter. I am 
a great advocate for giving garden walks more attention during 
the winter than they usually get, as I am confident that a vast 
amount of spring labour is by so doing rendered unnecessary ; and. 
moreover, walks so treated are kept in better condition throughout. 
The keen frosty weather lately experienced has been especially 
suitable for this kind of work, and our own have received a 
thorough clearing, which will do much towards keeping them clean 
and bright for some time to come. Our plan of procedure is to 
go over them with the Dutch hoe, and scrape off the few weeds 
which are found. This is easily done now, as the gravel is as 
hard as a rock and the weeds brittle, which combination of circum¬ 
stances enables the operator to remove them quite down to the 
roots without disturbing the gravel; any parts which have become 
green or discoloured are also scraped. The whole surface is then 
