1884.] 
the AMERICAN GARDEN. 
231 
SPRING flowering BULBS, 
THE SNOW-DKOP8. 
The pearly white Snow-drop shoots forth 
from the ground almost as soon as tho (irst 
clear whistle of thorohin and tho pure treble 
notes of the bluebird are heard. It is tlio 
leader of the gloriously robed procession of 
flowers whioh follow so closely in tho foot¬ 
prints of ('ho spring. Their tiny bulbs will 
grow in any soil, and oven in the grass-plot 
they will push up their tiny lance-like leaves, 
and tho flower will hang its sweet head very 
often before the snow is all gone. They call 
be planted in clusters of tens or dozens, in 
spots in tho lawn, but as they increase 
rapidly, unless replanted every three or four 
years they will run out and die. Plant tho 
small bulbs at the depth of two inches, and 
one inch apart. The larger variety of Snow¬ 
drop, the Giant, which blooms as early, 
should be planted three inches in depth, and 
foiu- inches apart. Without an edging of 
Snow-drops and Crocuses in the flower gar¬ 
den, or clumps of them in the lawn, one is 
utterly deprived of the joy of gathering the 
first flowers of the spring. 
THE CROCUS. 
The Crocus, clothed in royal purple and 
kingly gold and lilac and blue, with plain or 
striped petals, should always bo planted with 
the Snow-drops. They should be set an inch 
or more apart, and two inches in depth, and 
the last of October or first week of Novem¬ 
ber is the best season to plant them, but 
they can be put in later. The 3 ' need not be 
distiu-bed for three years, and then should 
be replanted in other soil. When ihe leaves 
are yellow and all withered, cut tliem off. 
New varieties are yearly raised from seeds, 
and it is a pleasant occupation to plant 
them in shallow seed-pans, then transplant 
in the beds, and see what shades of color 
will be produced, for it is the delight of 
amateur gardeners to possess something rich 
and rare raised by their own hands. 
a. THE COMMON SNOW-DROP. 
b. THE GIANT SNOW-DROP. 
THE daffodils. 
These are showy bulbs which will flpwei 
wherever you plant them, and bloom yeai 
after year profusely; they are as double as 
Poppies and as yellow as Sunflowers, and as 
no care at your hands until they become roo - 
clogged. Then in autumn remove to auot lei 
place, dividing the roots of the 
ditty, as the children call it. 
THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. 
This fairest and sweetest of all spring 
flowers^ without whioh no garden can e 
hni ? 
oom ” l^auty, and will 
bloom lor a gonorution, even longer, in tho 
Ihey prefer a shady locality, 
same bod. 
whore tho soil 
. and moist, are per¬ 
fectly hardy, and require no protection in 
ho coldest climates. Plant dozens of bulbs 
tins season, and early in the spring you can 
gather quantities of their deliciously fragrant 
flowers. 
THIS NARCISSUS. 
There are numerous varieties of this most 
lovely flower, and tho Daffodil and .Jonquil 
belong to tho same family. Tho PolyaulhuH 
THE AQUILEGU. 
Almost every one who has lived in tho 
country, and gone hunting wild flowers, must 
know our native Aquilegia Canadensis, but 
quite likely under another name,— that of 
wild Honeysuckle. It is given this name be¬ 
cause the spurs of tho peculiarly shaped 
flower contain a drop of sweetness, like that 
found in Clover. 
Our native species — or rather the one 
most frequently met with—is yellow and 
red. For a long time it was neglected, like 
many other meritorious native plants. When 
it was taken in hand it showed a willingness 
to change its colors, and careful crossings of 
different varieties and species have given us 
some very fine new ones. We have them in 
white, scarlet, rich olive, violet, and rose, 
single and double, and many varieties com¬ 
bine these colors very showily. 
The foliage of tho Aquilegia is very 
pretty, being home in dense masses, mostly 
near the gi’ound, from among which the 
flower-stalks are thrown up. It is a very 
hardy herbaceous plant, a most profuse 
bloomer, and is in bloom for a long time. 
Most varieties grow to an average height of 
about three feet. It is a fine plant to use in 
the background among borders of other 
herbaceous plants. It can be grown very 
easily from seed, which is freely produced. 
Sow in the open ground, at the same time 
you sow annuals, keep the soil about the 
plants mellow and clean, and you will have 
strong, healthy plants by fall, from which 
j'ou may expect a fine show of flowers the 
next season. 
Eben E. Eexfoed. 
A THANKSGIVING BOUQUET. 
We have just, this 22d of November, cut 
a pretty bunch of garden flowers, whioh in 
Narcissus, of various kinds, are the prettiest 
of tho species. These bulbs blossom in 
clusters of six to twelve flowers on a single 
stem, and are of every shade, from purest 
white to darkest orange. The cup of the white 
varieties is yellow, and of the yelloiy, it is of 
the darkest orange hue. Poei’s Narcissus is 
the most beautiful of its kind, having pm-e 
white petals, with a crimped white cup 
tinged with crimson and a green center. 
The Double Narcissus is also most desirable 
for its delicious fragrance and its pure white 
flowers. They need the same treatment as 
Hyacinth, and should be planted four inches 
deep and foui‘ inches apart. 
Tho Anemones, Bammctihis, Scillas, Irises, 
Ixias, and Sparaxis are all requii-ed when a 
perfect bed of spring flowering bulbs is 
desired. They need similar treatment as the 
bulbs named, and may be planted among 
them. BammeuVus and Anemones, however, 
are tender bulbs whioh will not bear a 
northern winter, but must be kept in the 
house until the ground does not freeze. In 
milder climates they can be planted m o- 
vember or December. Their colors are very 
brilliant, and they will make charming addi¬ 
tions to any garden of flowers. 
Daisy Eyebright. 
CROCUS VERSICOLOR. 
water will'easily keep fresh till Thanksgiv¬ 
ing day. Not Chrysanthemums which, of 
course, are still in full bloom, but from an¬ 
nuals sown in summer, and we are not sure 
that these belated blossoms, just freeing 
themselves from the white frost of the pre¬ 
vious night, do not afford as much pleasm’o as 
their brilliant sisters of tho summer garden. 
Among those in most perfect condition 
wore Mignonette, Phlox Drummondii, Phace- 
lia tanacetifoUa, Centranthus, or Bed Vale¬ 
rian, Virginian Stock (Malcomia maritima), 
Godetias, Gilias, Clarkias, Swan Biver 
Daisy (Brachycome iberidifoUa), Argemone, 
Bartonia aurea, Oxyura chrysantliemoides, an 
extremely pretty annual, with Chrysanthe- 
mum-like, yellow flowers, tipped with white. 
