the recent severe winters, and it has not only survived but
increased in a moderate degree. This took place on rockwork facing
south; in the autumn of 1881 I divided the specimen, and planted a part
of it in the coldest part of my garden, which is not without clay,
though far from all clay; that division is now a strong plant, and has
made an extra crown; it forms the subject of the present illustration.
Let me state, in passing, that it is naturally a slow grower. The very
severe weather of the week previous to my writing this note, in March,
1883, when 23deg. of frost was registered, which cut down the bloom
stems of Hellebores and many other well-known hardy things, did not hurt
this subject very much; I am, therefore, confident of its hardiness from
six years of such experience.

The flowers are 1in. to 11/2in. long, and about as much across when open,
of a fine purple colour, with a shining satiny appearance; the six
transparent petal-like divisions are of uneven form, having short
bluntish points; from the openness of the corolla the stamens and style
are well exposed, and they are very beautiful. The flowers are produced
when the plant is about 6in. or 9in. high, the buds being developed on a
rush-like stem, and enfolded in an almost invisible sheath 2in. or 3in.
from the apex. Gradually the sheath, from becoming swollen, attracts
notice, and during sunshine it will suddenly burst and let fall its
precious contents--a pair of beautiful flowers--which dangle on slender
arching pedicels, springing from the sheath-socket. They seem to enjoy
their new-born freedom, and flutter in the March wind like tethered
butterflies. Their happy day, however, is soon over; their fugacious
petals shrivel in three or four days. The leaves are rush-like, ribbed,
and sheathed.

I have found it to thrive in loam, both light and moderately stiff, also
in vegetable soil and sand; it likes moisture, but not of a stagnant
character; between large stones, at the base of rockwork, suits it in
every way; it may also be grown by the side of the larger kinds of
snowdrops for contrast and effect. Impatient of being disturbed, it is
not wisdom to lift it for any purpose, provided it is making progress,
or until it has formed strong tufts; when, if it is desirable to
increase it, and during early autumn, the long roots should be got well
under, and taken out of the ground as entire as possible; from their
wiry nature they are then both easily c