146 



IRISH GARDENING 



Narcissus about throe inches apart, Hxacmlhs 

 about seven inclies. Most amateurs and many 

 professional gardeners err in this respect, with 

 the result that foliage and flowers lose the 

 benefit given hv nuUual support. Cold, perish- 

 ing March winds blow through the beds, and 

 flowers get sadly soil-dashed by heavy rains. 



It is not necessary to grow a large number 

 of species to obtain a good effect, and it is 

 better not to attempt an_\-lhing in the \\ a_\- ol 

 designs in beds. A much more satisfactory 

 result will be protluccd by making each bed a 



of course, upon the varieties planlid and on 

 the combination and harmony 01 colours as 

 against sharp contrasts. It is quite an easy 

 matter to harmonise colours, but it is sometimes 

 difficult to obtain combinations that will come 

 into flower at exactly the same time. The 

 following are a few such that l>a\e been found 

 to meet this requirement ; — 



Wallflower Blood Red and Tulip Prince of 

 .\ustria, a very telling and eflective combina- 

 tion ; Wallflower Eastern Queen anil Tulip 

 Thomas Moore; Wallllower Cloth o( Clold, 



Plinio by] 



[Miukry 



.\ Hed of ini-; 1\ieis .Naki issis 



mass of one coloiu', or a combination o( not 

 more than three coloms, and if a very large 

 bed a broad border of a colour \o h.irmonise 

 with the whole ma\' be permitted. 



In order to lengthen the flowering' season it 

 is well when beds are planted with bulbs alone 

 to put down three kinds to flower in rotation, 

 say early Crocus, early Tulips or Narcissus to 

 follow on, and May flowering or Darwin Tulips 

 to follow still later. Hy this plan the Crocus 

 foliage will act as a proteclion to the lender 

 gM'OWth of the later bulbs when thev break 

 through t he soil. 



The sort ol show one c\enlually gels depentls. 



.Vhosotis dissitillora and Tulip Ciosneri.in.'i 

 spathulata, ail mixed together ; Tulip Pink 

 IJeautv aiul Myosotis or .Aubrietia llendersoni, 

 mixed ; 'i'lilip Couleur de C'ardin.il .and 

 Mvosotis ; Tulip liouton d'Or anil N'ellow Poly- 

 anthus ; Tulips l,a Candeur and Tournesol, 

 mixed, on a carpet of .Vubrietia llendersoni; 

 Hvacinth King of the Blues and Tulip Keizers- 

 kroon ; \iola Maggie Molt or other lavender- 

 coloured \'iola and Poet's Narcissus. The 

 possible combinations are, howe\er, .almost 

 endless, and intelligent observ.atiiin iluring the 

 llowering period will give ample idea'- lo woik 

 iVom Ihc lollowing \ear. lloKii s. 



