herwise the stock of young plants will prove stunted and bad in
colour. Do not divide any but strong and healthy clumps, taking care not
to damage more roots than can be helped; do not divide too severely, but
let each part be a strong piece of several crowns, and after this they
should be allowed to make three years' growth in a good, rich, deep soil
before they are again disturbed, and thereby the stock will not only be
of a vigorous character, but always fit for use in the most decorative
parts of the garden.

Flowering period, July to September.

Galanthus Elwesii.

ELWES'S GALANTHUS _or_ SNOWDROP; _Nat. Ord._
AMARYLLIDACEAE.

This is a splendid species or variety, whichever it may be, said to be
the finest of all the Snowdrops; it is a new kind and not yet much
known. My impressions of it last spring were not in accordance with such
reports, but I ought to add that, though the bulbs were fresh when sent
me, they had only been planted less than a year, when they flowered
somewhat feebly.

Flowering period, February and March.

All the Snowdrops may be propagated by seed or division of crowded
clumps--after all the tops have died off is the proper time; the longer
the delay, the worse for next season's bloom, as new root action sets in
about that period.

Galanthus Imperati.

IMPERIAL SNOWDROP; _Nat. Ord._ AMARYLLIDACEAE.

I have only recently flowered this kind. It is said by Mr. W. Robinson
to be double the size of _G. nivalis_, which estimate is probably
correct, judging from the blooms which I have obtained. With me the
bulbs seem either not to have a happy home, or they may have suffered
from the vicissitudes of transport from the genial climate of Italy. The
publisher of this book informs me that he flowered _G. imperati_ the
first year in the open borders, from some bulbs procured from Messrs.
Collins Bros., and that the blossoms were highly scented, as of elder
flowers.

Flowering period, February and March.

Galanthus Nivalis.

COMMON SNOWDROP, EARLY BULBOUS VIOLET, _and_ FAIR
MAIDS OF FEBRUARY; _Nat. Ord._ AMARYLLIDACEAE.

One of the most charming members of the British flora; a native of our
fields and orchards, so beautiful as to be beyond description, and,
fortunately, so common as to need none (see Fig. 41). It belongs to a
noble order of bulbous plants, the genera of which are numerous, as are
the species too, in perhaps an increased proportion. Comparatively f