the wood
hyacinth, but it is more rigid, not so broad, and slightly glaucous.

It seems to do best in light earth, and the flowers are finer in colour
when grown in shade, but not too much. Where quantities are available,
they may be used as an edging, nothing looking better in a spring
garden.

[Illustration: FIG. 65. MUSCARI BOTRYOIDES.

(One-eighth natural size.)]

_M. b. alba_ varies only in the colour of its flowers; the white is
somewhat creamy for a time; it becomes much clearer after a few days,
and remains in perfection for two weeks in ordinary weather. This is a
charming variety; grown by the side of the different blues its beauty is
enhanced. It is very effective as a cut flower, though rather stiff, but
if sparingly used it is attractive for bouquets, whilst for a buttonhole
one or two spikes answer admirably.

Flowering period, March to May.

Muscari Racemosum.

_Nat. Ord._ LILIACEAE.

This is the commonest species, and although very pleasing, suffers by a
comparison with the above blue kind, being more dwarf and the flowers
less bright. The best time to transplant the bulbs is when the tops have
died off, and the choicer sorts of these, as well as all other bulbs
whose foliage dies off early in summer, should have something to mark
their situation when in their dormant state.

Cultivation and flowering period, as for _M. botryoides_.

Narcissus Minor.

SMALLER DAFFODIL; _Nat. Ord._ AMARYLLIDACEAE.

A very beautiful and effective spring flower. Though a native of Spain,
it proves one of the hardiest denizens of our gardens; it is not often
met with, but it has been cultivated in this country since 1629. It was
well known in Parkinson's time. Not merely is it a species due to bloom
early, but it does so, no matter how severe the weather may be, in
March, and the flowers are freely produced. We could hardly have more
severe weather than we had in March, 1883, when the snow was sometimes
several inches deep and the frost as much as 17deg. to 23deg. Still
this little Daffodil continued to push up its golden blossoms, so that
in the latter half of the month, it formed one of the most pleasing of
the hardy flowers of the spring garden. Its blue-green leaves are
densely grown, and being only 4in. high and somewhat rigid, they not
only form a rich setting for the bright blossom which scarcely tops
them, but they support the flowers, which have a drooping habit. Later
on, however, th