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NARCISSUS.

THIS is a bulbous rooted plant, the leaves of which are succulent and linear, and the flower stems are from ten to twenty inches high, bearing either solitary or faciculated flowers, which are either white or yellow, and odoriferous. There are several species of this plant, most of which are natives of the south of Europe, except the daffodil

"That comes before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty."

Criterion of a good flower. The scape should be strong and erect, and the petals and nectars regular, both in form and disposition; and the colour of the petals clear and distinct, the peduncles of the many flowered sorts should be equal in length, and open at the same time.

Propagation. By seed and by off-sets, which should be separated from the parent bulb when the leaves decay, but they will not flower the same year; they should not

be planted with the flowering bulbs, but in a compartment to themselves until the following year.

By seed, Which should be sown at the same time, and the seedlings managed exactly the same as directed for the lily, see page 130. When the bulbs are at the full size, such should be selected " as are rounded at the base rather than compressed with full sound tops and bottoms, free from mouldiness or decayed fibres."

Soil and situation. The narcissus appears to delight most in a light hazel loam mixed with about one-fourth good rotten cow-dung. The situation should be rather dry and lying to an eastern aspect.

Planting. The soil where the bulbs are to be planted should be thrown out to at least two feet deep, and the excavation filled up with the above compost, in which the roots should be planted, from six to eight inches deep, and the same in distance every way. See the method for planting tulips, herein after directed, which equally implys to the narcissus. The best time

for planting is from the middle of August to the middle of September.

General culture. On the approach of frost, the roots should be covered either with old tan or litter, which should be taken off again as soon as danger of frost is over, which will be in February or March. The soil should be frequently stirred and kept free from weeds, and the bulbs watered in dry weather, which is all the attention necessary until the leaves decay, when they must be carefully taken away without disturbing the bulbs.

Taking up the bulbs. These should be taken up once in three years, and neither oftener nor longer between times, for if taken up oftener, the strength of their flowering will be greatly decreased, and if they remain any longer, the increase of off-sets will become so great, as to weaken the bulbs, and render them unable, in a short time, to bear any flowers at all. This work should commence as soon as the leaves are decayed. They must be dried in the

shade, and laid in an airy situation, until the time of planting.

These plants may be flowered in water glasses, the same as directed for the hyacinth, see page 116.

PEONY.

THIS is an esteemed flower among florists, it is a tuberous rooted plant, the tubers of which are roundish, "the stalks of the leaves rise between two and three feet high, and terminate in large red or purple flowers, which appear in May. The leaves are composed of many unequal lobes variously cut into many segments. It is a native of Switzerland, Dauphiné, and other parts of Europe, and also of China and Japan, and was cultivated here in 1562." There are several species, with their varieties.

Propagation and culture. By seed, which most sorts ripen in this country for

obtaining new varieties, and by cuttings, layers, and dividing the roots for all common purposes.

By seed. The seed should be gathered as soon as ripe, and sown immediately in beds of light fresh earth,

covering them They will appear above ground the spring following, when they will require no farther care than keeping clear of weeds until the leaves decay, when they may be cut off and a little loose mould spread over the ground about an inch thick. They must stand in the seed-bed two years, at the end of which time they must be transplanted into other beds prepared of fresh light soil, and placed six or eight inches asunder every way, and three or four inches deep. They must remain in this bed till they flower, which will be in the fourth or fifth year after sowing.

about half an inch deep.

By parting the roots. The only care is, that in parting the roots there is a crown or bud to each off-set. They will flourish in almost any situation, and if in the shade