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THE UARDEHINQ WORLD 
January 16, 1904. 
the usual custom in this country, instead of increasing the 
Shasta Daisy by division, so as to keep it true to type, it is 
constantly raised from seeds both in America and in this 
country. 
Seedlings can be bloomed in six monthsi from the time the 
seed is sown, while it is said that the ordinary C. maximum does 
not bloom till the second year. In any case, the plant is 
perfectly hardy, and will grow in any soil, provided it is fairly 
moist in the summer time. Although it may linger in a, dry 
.soil, it succeeds best when accorded good cultural treatment 
in rich soil, like any other hardy Chrysanthemum. 
The illustration, for which we are indebted to Mr. Robert 
Holmes, of Tuckswood Farm, Norwich, shows: the habit of 
the plant when grown in the open and fully exposed on all 
sides, so that it can develop its natural habit and dimensions. 
There is one thing about seed-raising, and that is that it offers 
an opportunity for the raiser to obtain a superior form by 
selection. Anything decidedly superior should be propagated 
by division, so as to keep it perfectly true to the type. By 
sowing the seed in January, the plant shown took eighteen 
months to' reach that stage of flowering in July. These flowers 
are variously termed Chrysanthemums, Oxeye Daisies, Mar¬ 
guerite Daisy, and in this instance the Shasta, Daisy. The 
flowers are extremely serviceable in the cut state, as they are 
very durable in water. The flowers are white, with a, yellow 
eye, and Mr. Holmes is making an endeavour to reduce the 
size of the eye to improve it, for cut flower purposes. 
Snowdrops. 
During comparatively recent years a large number of species 
and varieties of Snowdrops have been introduced, differing 
more or less in matters relating to the size of the flowers and 
their markings and the size, colour, and shape of the leaves. 
Many of these: will mo doubt remain, for a, number of years 
comparatively scarce. Notwithstanding all these additions to 
an undoubtedly beautiful and interesting genus, very few 
establishments show that Snowdrops are really more plentiful 
than they were thirty years ago>. Those that were chiefly 
grown then were confined to: varieties of Galanthus nivalis, but 
chiefly consisted of the type. G. Elwesii was the first distinct 
break that excited fresh interest among cultivators of this 
class of plants, and many cultivators planted out clumps of 
it tentatively. In, some large gardens, but particularly those 
of a public character, Snowdrops, have been planted out in fair 
quantities along with other bulbs 1 , but, speaking generally, in, 
private places, . Snowdrops have not been naturalised to the 
extent which one might have expected. 
In long bygone times our forefathers must have planted the 
common Snowdrop, G. nivalis, plentifully, and in places devoid 
of all formality, and where the flowers would come up strong 
and fresh every spring;. So common were they in the times of 
which I -speak that in the eyes of the planters they seemed to 
lose interest if merely planted in, the ordinary border, where 
they were a trouble to those having to look after and dress 
such borders. Instead of adopting this plan, as with many 
other bulbs they preferred to select out-of-the-way places on 
the estate; it may have been in the neighbourhood of the 
dwelling-house, or at, a, distance, but in all 'oases they selected 
spots where they would not have a, cultivated appearance, but 
seem as if they had sown themselves there, and come up un¬ 
assisted by man. 
In any case, it may correctly be stated that after they were 
planted they received no further attention, and never failed 
to present a cheerful and fresh appearance every spring when 
they came up,, unexpectedly as it were, in places where they 
had been, forgotten. The situations for such bulbs were often 
under deciduous trees, in garden, hedges, where such existed, 
and in woodlands where the path would be shaded during 
summer, but quite clear in spring during the time the Snow¬ 
drops would be in bloom. In some cases bulbs might be 
planted in shady situations close to or under walls in out-of-the- 
way places, or in, undressed portions of the grounds, but, in, all 
oases they would be planted where they would have quite 
sufficient light in order to, mature the foliage, that being a 
point that must not be -overlooked. In all these cases, then, to 
which I refer the Snowdrop® were planted under or near deci¬ 
duous trees, where they would be quite exposed to- light- in the 
spring. 
Many of the finer new species and varieties which have 
recently been brought into gardens might with advantage be 
naturalised in such places as above mentioned. They are 
perfectly hardy, and apparently would stand the same amount 
of cold as the common Sno-wdrop. A question might be raised 
whether they would grow in such places as G. nivalis without 
any further attention, but I think if they were planted in 
places such as those above described, where they xvould have 
plenty of light and not much competition with grass and other 
vegetation, they isho-uld be able to give a good account of 
themselves in most parts -of the country. Some of the more 
robust of them might succeed in grass, provided that was 
not cut down before the foliage: of the Snowdrops matures. 
If the grass and Snowdrop leaves were to be cut for some time 
before the leaves matured, naturally the Snowdrops must of 
necessity become- gradually weakened and ultimately die out. 
A better plan would be t-o> naturalise the bulbs, where the leaves 
need not be out d-own at- all, or not, until they have already 
begun to wither. 
There are many pretty and rather distinct forms of G. nivalis, 
but as they are relatively scarce I refrain from mentioning 
them in this article. Amongst the more recent introductions, 
G. Elwesii stands out prominently on account of its broad, 
glaucous leaves and large flowers, with its several characteristic 
dark green blotches on, the inner segments. The latter are 
crisped at the edges, with a green, blotch round the sinus on the 
outer face, and a. very large dark green blotch near the base. 
The greater portion of the inner face is also green. It comes 
from the mountains, of Asia Minor, where it, grows at, elevations 
varying from 2,000 ft. to> 5,000 ft. 
Another beautiful variety getting fairly common in collec¬ 
tions is G. Caucasians, which bears a general resemblance to 
G. nivalis, but has larger flowers and broader, very glaucous 
leaves. The outer 'Segments have rather a strong claw, and 
the inner one® have -a, horseshoe-shaped blotch on the outer 
face. When grown strongly this species lias a fine appear¬ 
ance on account, of this beautiful foliage and large flowers. 
G. Imperati also: differs from the common Snowdrop in 
having large flowers and broader leave®. The outer segments 
of the flower are much more narrowed to the base than in the 
common Snowdrop, with a, long narrow claw, which gives the 
flowers a great spread when -fully -expanded. 
One of the most, distinct of the older species is G. la.ti- 
fo-lius, another specie® from the Caucasus, with remarkably 
broad bright green leaves', differing in this latter respect from 
most of the Snowdrops 'in. cultivation which have glaucous 
leaves. The flowers have a, green blotch on both faces of the 
inner segments, so that they are: similar to the common Snow¬ 
drop, but larger, and the leave® -are certainly strikingly dis¬ 
tinct. 
One off the older species, though not, very widely distri¬ 
buted in gardens, is G. plicatus, which was- introduced from 
tlie Crimea, and flowers rather later than the common Snow¬ 
drop. The inner segments are very deeply notched and green 
on the upper half, but, as in the case of G. latif-olia the leaves 
here again offer a, very strong distinguishing mark. They are 
glaucous, as in most of the species, but towards the margin 
on either’ side -of the midrib -there is a strong plait or fold, as 
is indicated by the specific name. 
G. byzantinus combines the characters of G. plicatus and 
G. Elwe sii. It, has the leave® of the former and the flowers 
of the latter. The markings or green blotches on the inner 
segments are very similar to those of G. Elwesii. They may 
not, however, always be identical in shape and size, a.s im¬ 
ported bulbs iseem to, vary considerably in the markings, as well 
as in the foliage of the plants. In some cases they may merely 
be mixed, though in other instances there is evidence of varia¬ 
tion as if the flowers of two species had been intercrossed. 
G. Ikariae comes from Nikaria in the Aegean Sea, and 
recall® G. lati-folius on account of the great breadth of its 
