HINTS ON HANDSOME FLOWERS. 
11 
Some amateur florists take up the bulbs every year ; but this 
is not absolutely necessary for any of them. If raised once in 
three or four years, to divest them of offsets for propagation, and 
to place the largest bulbs in fresh soil, is all that is necessary. 
The Narcissus belongs to the sixth class, (Hexandria,) and first 
order, (Monogynia,J of Linnsean botany, and, as already observed, 
to the natural order Amaryllacece . 
3. Alstrjemeria. This is a genus found in South America ; 
and we have had for many years several of the species in our hot 
and greenhouses ; but it has been lately discovered that the 
natives of Chili and Peru, as well as some of the Mexican species, 
will survive our winters very well, if on a warm sheltered border, 
and covered with a mat in severe frost. As some of the flowering 
sorts are climbers, and send up their stems every spring to a con¬ 
siderable height, they are best planted against a wall, to which the 
stems and flowers may be supported. 
As this is a new beauty in our gardens, it is well worthy intro¬ 
duction, especially as the plants require no particular management. 
The tuberous rooted species are tenacious of life; and for them 
any light soil is suitable. 
The Alstrsemerias belong to the first order of the Hexandric 
class, having six stamens and one style, and to the natural order 
as above. 
4. Snow-Flake ( Leucojum vernum ), otherwise called the 
Summer Snowdrop, is a hardy bulbous plant, native of Europe. 
It grows anywhere in the common borders, and is propagated, 
by offsets from the root. There are spring, summer, and autumn 
flowering species of this genus, all of the easiest cultivation. Their 
snowdrop-like flowers are Hexandrious, and belong to Amaryl- 
tacece . 
5. Among that tribe of plants called Bulbs, there are numerous 
genera which are particularly attractive. Many, from the ampli¬ 
tude and vivid colour of their flowers, are magnificent; others 
are remarkable for the graceful form and disposition of the 
blossoms ; and not a few are singularly beautiful from their 
minute simplicity and sparkling elegance. Among the latter, we 
would notice with particular commendation the interesting family 
of the Scillas, which, in the early spring, bespangle with azure 
bells our beds and borders of the parterre. 
' The Scillas, otSquills, of which there are above twenty species, 
