FLORAL DECORATIONS. 87 
little bells. Next to the Snowdrop is the Crocus in time of 
flowering, but lasting a longer time in bloom. These are 
also, by their hardiness, adapted to every climate—the 
varieties of them including white, blue, striped and yellow, 
and the flowers last through several weeks of the early 
spring when nothing else is in bloom. 
The Hyacinth comes next in order of time and in beauty 
and fragrance it is one of the most desirable of flowers. 
The varieties of it are very numerous and embrace a great 
number of colors. The culture of the Hyacinth is very 
simple, and after they are planted in the fall they may re¬ 
main year after year and will annually produce their 
flowers iu spring, though after the first year the spikes of 
flowers are smaller. 
The Lily-of-the-Valley is a hardy, low-growing peren¬ 
nial which is equisitely delicate, graceful and fragrant, 
and admirably adapted to the purpose under consideration. 
It blooms early in spring or about with the Hyacinths. 
All of the lilies are suitable for grave decorating, but 
the following sorts are most desirable : — Lilium candidum 
or the common white Lily, which produces freely its clear, 
waxen-white, sweet-scented flowers; Lilium Japonicum 
longiflorum with its long, trumpet-shaped, white flowers ; 
Lilium speciosum album with large, showy, pure white 
