THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
35 
dil, or Lent Lily, is, botanically, Narcissus-pseudo-nar- 
cissus. Like all of the family, it is essentially conser¬ 
vative, and is at its best when left undisturbed in the same 
spot for years. Narcissus fanciers divide these flowers 
into three great classes, according to the differing pro¬ 
portions of crown and perianth; thus, Trumpet Daffo¬ 
dils, having the crown longer than the perianth; Mock 
Daffodils, with crown less than half the length of the 
divisions of the perianth; Narcissus proper, flowers with 
the crown half the length of the divisions of the perianth. 
The flowers mentioned above belong to the first class ; 
also the old-fashioned Double Daffodil N. telamonius 
fl.pl. A charming form, with white perianth and sul¬ 
phur trumpet, is N. muticus. 
Of the second class, N. incomparabilis is extremely 
handsome and interesting. Normally, it is a very full 
double white, but there is a yellow form, with nectary 
often differing in color. With deep orange nectary, it has 
the homely English name of “ Eggs and Bacon ; ” with the 
sulphur nectary, it is called “ Codlings and Cream ; ” 
this yellow form feloniously appropriates the name often 
given to our Toad-flax—“ Butter and Eggs.” 
N. odorus is the Campernelle or Fragrant Jonquil, 
fine golden-yellow. N. montanus is a rare variety with 
white flowers, deliciously fragrant. N. juncifolius is a 
pretty little plant from the Pyrenees, with small flowers 
and rush-like leaves. Some of these plants are rather 
overburdened with names — they are descriptive, but 
somewhat exhausting. Here is a sample; Narcissus 
incomparabilis sulphureus aureo-tinctus. I think the 
general public will prefer to call it a Daffodil. 
The third section of the family contains some of the 
very prettiest types. There is N. poeticus , the Poet’s 
Narcissus, or Pheasant’s Eye, a lovely pure white flower, 
with red crown. It runs through many variations, but 
is always of a refined, spirituelle order, very different 
from the more buxom charms of its sisters. N. jon- 
quilla, the Single Jonquil, is a fine yellow, very fragrant; 
N. biflorus, Twin-flowered Narcissus, has pure white 
fragrant blossoms borne in pairs. 
The Tazetta, or Polyanthus Narcissus, bears clusters of 
small flowers. They are very pretty, and very useful 
for forcing. N. Tazelta papyraceus is the Paper White 
Narcissus ; N. Tazetta aureus is a fine yellow. All these 
species are of simple cultivation and quite hardy. They 
have a fine effect, when planted in clumps in grass, and 
all arrive at their highest perfection, when left in one 
position for years without disturbance. The autumn is 
the proper time to plant them; in fact, this rule applies to 
nearly all hardy bulbs. They require rich loamy soil; 
when in beds, they should receive a generous top-dressing 
of good manure in the autumn. 
The Allium family contains some showy members, but 
they are often ignored, on account of their odor ; as one 
botanist says ; “ Scratch a Russian and you find a Tartar; 
but in this case, bruise an Allium and you find an Onion.” 
However, if the leaves are unbroken, there is no offensive 
odor, and the clusters of flowers are often very handsome. 
A. cernuum has red flowers in the autumn ; A. stellatum 
is very firm, with rosy purple flowers ; A. Moly, bright 
yellow flowers, broad leaves. 
The Calochortus tribe is very showy, requiring a rich, 
sandy soil, where water will not collect, though it must 
not be too dry. The handsomest of the family is C. Gun- 
nisoni, the Mariposa Tulip, with pale lilac flowers, banded 
with purple; C. lutens has deep yellow flowers lined with 
brownish purple ; C. Nuttalli is white, tinged with yellow 
and lilac. They should be planted in September or Oc¬ 
tober. We all know the Muscari, or Grape Hyacinth, of 
which the commonest form is M. botryoides , sometimes 
called Baby’s Breath, for some inexplicable reason. Its 
spikes of little round flowers, almost like miniature sleigh- 
bells, dark purple in color, and a familiar object in early 
spring. M. moschatum major has pale blue flowers, 
strongly musk-scented. Muscari comosum atrocceruleum 
monstrosum is an oppressive name, but the plant itself is 
charming, with large plumes of dark purple flowers. This 
genus is of dwarf habit, easily grown, requiring autumn 
planting and similar treatment to the Narcissus. The 
Fritillarias are bulbs with showy flowers, suitable for 
naturalizing in rich light soil. F. imperialis is the popu¬ 
lar Crown Imperial, or “ Cromperial,” as I have heard 
country people call it. F. meleagris is the Guinea-Hen 
Flower, with large bell-shaped flowers curiously checkered 
in white, yellow, black and purple. The Golden Fritil¬ 
lary, F. pudica, is a native of Oregon, with handsome 
golden yellow flowers. F. recurva is a very fine Ameri¬ 
can species, with bright scarlet flowers, but it is not quite 
hardy in the latitude of New York. F. Thunbergii is a 
hardy Japanese, with red and white bell-shaped flowers. 
What can we say of the hardy Lilies ? They are the 
aristocracy among bulbs ; more graceful in habit than 
Iris or Gladiolus, more varied and beautiful in flower. 
If care is taken in selection of varieties, one may have a 
fine show of flowers from June to October. Some species 
form a gorgeous relief when planted among shrubs; 
others, such as Canadense and its allies grow finely in 
swampy places. In planting Lilies the bed must be care¬ 
fully prepared beforehand. First, it must be properly 
underdrained, that water may not collect around the 
roots; then deeply and thoroughly enriched with well- 
rotted stable manure. One-third of leaf-mould or peat 
might be added to advantage; in heavy soil the same 
proportion of sand will render it more suitable. Late in 
the fall a mulching of leaves or hay is benefic al to any 
bulbs. Lilies, like all bulbs, are at their best when left 
undisturbed for some years. 
Lilium auratum, the Golden Lily of Japan, is one of 
the grandest varieties; flowers white, spotted with ma¬ 
roon, and banded with gold. It grows to a superb height 
and form, when well established. It varies in color con¬ 
siderably ; a charming form is L. auratum var. pictum, 
with the upper half of petals rosy-tinted; another is L. 
auratum var. virginale , pure white, banded with gold. 
L. japonicum Krameri, Kramer’s Lily, is a rarely 
beautiful variety, with delicate rose-pink flowers. L. 
speciosum albumprcecox is a pure white species, easily 
grown. L. speciosum rubrum is a red-spotted form. 
The pure-white Easter Lily, L. longiflorum , is too 
familiar to need description. It is hardy, and easily 
grown. 
Perhaps the grandest of all is L. tigrinum splendens. 
