and when brought into the greenhouse amongst other spring 
flowers it will be found very valuable, and we do not there¬ 
fore wonder that the special certificate should have been 
awarded to it.* 
* "We have been favoured by Messrs. Carter with the following notes 
“ The bulbs from which we raised our stock of OrnitJiogalum thyrsoides 
were sent to us from a correspondent in Natal, and were planted at once in 
pots and placed in a cool vinery. They soon started into a most vigorous 
growth, and about Christmas last some of the forwardest showed signs of 
blooming, throwing up stems from 1 to 1| feet high, having a fine thyrse of 
pure white flowers with a bronze-yellow centre, opening from the bottom, and 
having in most cases 90 to 100 flowers on each spike, two-thirds of which 
were generally expanded at one time, and surpassing in loveliness any known 
white half-hardy bulb. We have seen the bloom continue expanding for three 
weeks if not exposed to too much sunlight, and cut blooms will keep in full 
beauty for a month in water. Tor conservatory decoration we know of no¬ 
thing to equal it if grown three to five bulbs in a pot, and introduced among 
the dark foliage of the Camellias or any groups of conservatory plants, and 
being of a character so distinct from most other plants in bloom at that time 
of year. We believe, with judicious management, it may be had in bloom 
from the end of January to the end of June, and is of most easy culture, suc¬ 
ceeding well in a mixture of sandy loam and leaf-mould; and if potted up in 
autumn and started in a cool vinery, will, without any further extraordinary 
attention, succeed well.” 
Extract from Shirley Hibberd’s ‘ Gardeners’ Weekly Magazine,’ April 23: 
—“We must only mention one more subject, and strangely that ought to 
have been mentioned first instead of last, for it is Messrs. Carter’s Great Gun 
of 1864. Ornitliogalum thyrsoides is a nearly hardy species, with a grand 
spike of snow-white flowers two or three feet high, regally set in the form of 
a sceptre ; the individual blossoms large and neatly formed; the whole plant 
possessed of a superior air, that befits it for the noblest purposes of spring 
decoration. The specimen seen had been drawn longer than its usual habit 
under glass in heat.” 
Extract from ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ May 14, p. 463 :—“There is now in 
bloom here quantities of the showy flowering bulb O. thyrsoides , the great 
conical-shaped snow-white flower-heads of which, borne well up on stout 
stems, are conspicuous even at a distance ; and intermixed with other plants 
on a greenhouse shelf, have a fine effect.” 
