In an article in the March number headed "The Sacred Lily of the Chinese," I notice the Chinese Narcissus is spoken of. A Chinaman brought to New York last winter some of these bulbs and presented one to a friend, with the following history : That lily is a very large one; it grows up the Hoang-ho on the rocky, sandy bottoms, and when the water is high and the banks overflow this plant blooms very much. It blooms about the Chinese New Year's day, and we call it the New Year lily. This bulb was given me in the early winter. It was about 5 inches in diameter, and rather conical. The bulb had grown in sand; was well preserved, and had a decidedly unpleasant odor, but this may have come from its shipmates or associations. I planted it in rich sandy soil, in a 6 inch pot, setting it in a warm, yes, a hot, place, and keeping it rather wet. In thirty-two days after planting the first flower unfolded. The flowers were much larger than a Polyanthus Narcissus, and, if possible, more fragrant. There were, I believe, eight stalks of flowers on this bulb.

Had I known at the time that it was a Narcissus I should have treated it differently, and might have had finer flowers, but not so soon. The flower was not pure white, the cup being yellow, while another bulb, from San Francisco, was grown in water and had a brownish cup. This second bulb was not an inch in diameter. I was struck with the prolific and early blooming qualities of the plant. Jacksonville, Ills.

[There are no doubt many varieties of the Narcissus with the Chinese as with us, and some probably very different from our own. As we understand, any variety of the Narcissus is used as their New Year flower. The title is not confined to any one kind. - Ed. G. M].