Bulbs in the Ornamental Garden 



By Maurice Fuld* 



The plan of carpeting bulbs with other plants of a very 

 different habit is now very general, but nut so universal 

 as it should be. Many people who are delighted with the 

 beauty of bulbs in the grass will \et grow the same bulbs 

 in beds or borders on tlie old regimental system, and they 

 do this, probably, because they think it saves trouble to the 

 gardener. It is so easy to fill a bed with Tulips in the 

 autumn and then to lift them when they have gone out 

 of flower to make room for summer bedding. But it is 

 just as easy to combine them with plants such as Pansies, 

 Forget-me-nots, the double Arabis, and many early 

 flowering aimnals, which may be removed at the same 

 time to make room for the "summer bedding." 



Progress in methods of gardening have been exceed- 

 ingh- slow in the past and one would have to expect the 

 impossible if all the recommendations made in the fore- 

 going article were at once adopted universally and the old- 

 fashioned methods entirely discarded. 



In view of this fact it is necessary to give here a few 

 of the usual methods adopted in the growing of bulb; in 

 everybody's garden. 



THE AVERAGE COUNTRY GARDEN. 



A flower bed, or what is known as such, is either in the 

 form of a circle, or oblong, or square, or in ornamental 

 shapes as stars, crescents or ribbons. 



Here we will find during summer our popular tropical 

 bedding plants, such as Salvias, Cannas, Geraniums, etc. 

 When frost has killed tlie plants ( about October or 

 November) more, as a rule, in November the beds are 

 cleared for the planting of bulbs for a spring display. 

 Hyacinths, Tulips and Daffodils usually vie with each 

 other in these beds., 



*By l^t-rmissiou, ftcin his hnuh, "Groli'ing Bulbs." 



After bedding plants have lieen removed, cover your 

 bed with a liiieral quantity of well decayed cow manure, 

 and if this is not obtainable use "Pulverized Cattle 

 Manure," a very inexpensive and efiicient bulb food, and 

 spade the bed then thoroughlv and quite deep for the 

 manure or fertilizer nnist not come in contact with the 

 bulb. 



Bulbs must never be planted in beds which are not 

 thoroughly drained or where the water stays long in the 

 spring time, for such conditions spell absolute death to 

 the bulbs. 



It is advisable to form the beds sloping from the centre 

 to the edge, for this will cause the surplus moisture to run 

 off, particularly when the snow melts in the spring time. 



The next question arises, How far apart should bulbs 

 be planted ? The solving of this question rests entirely 

 with the individual, but this much cannot be disputed if 

 solid effects are desired. Tulips should not be farther 

 apart than four inches: Daffodils, five inches, and 

 Hyacinths, six inches. 



Color, height and season of blooming must be carefully* 

 considered if more than one variety is combined in a 

 single bed. 



In Hyacinths, varieties should be selected which pro- 

 |duce 'an erect spike and not such as are top heavy, and 

 'tnust be supported. 



In Tulips, heights and season of blooming are the im- 

 portant factors to consider. 



Daffodils should never be mixed in a bed, but oid\- one 

 variety in one place gives the best result. 



THE PROTECTION DURING WINTER. 



I do not recommend the use of manure such as is com- 

 monl)- practiced for this has been the cause of more 



GENER.\L VIEW OF MAIN IIALI. EAI I. FLOWER SHOW. FENXSVI.V ANI A HORTKULTURAI. SOCIETY, PHI I.ADELrTII A. PA. 



