66 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



flowers mature and pass before the grass requires cutting. Bulbs, in 

 order to make some root growth in the fall, should not be planted very 

 late. Autumn-flowering sorts, such as the colchicum and the saff'ron 

 crocus, may be planted in August or early September, if well protected, 

 but if planted in the spring should be set out after danger from frost is 

 past. Narcissi and hyacinths are planted preferably early in October, 

 while tulips, particularly the late-blooming, may wait till November. 

 If the ground begins to freeze hard before the bulbs can be planted it 

 should be kept warm by a litter of straw or leaves. Such a blanket 

 spread over frozen ground early in the winter will enable the heat 

 within the earth to thaw it out and permit quite late planting. If 

 bulbs are planted late it is well to cover them with mulch at once in 

 order that root growth may be made before the cold prevents it. If 

 the bulbs are planted early in the fall, however, the mulch should be 

 applied only after the ground has been frozen to a depth of several 

 inches. Thus excessive top growth will not start prematurely. 

 Gladiolus bulbs should be planted in the spring after the fro sts are over. 

 The period required for such bulbs to mature is about ninety days. 

 Therefore, a succession of bloom can be obtained by planting at 

 intervals of ten days or two weeks. Under expert care, in well-drained 

 soils and with sufficient protection, many gladiolus bulbs can be 

 planted in the fall and thereby insure a very much earlier bloom in the 

 summer. This should at first be tried only with extreme caution, 

 and the plants will need protection from spring frosts. 



Soil and Drainage Requirements. Bulbs should be planted in a 

 well-drained, deep, rich soil in order to develop successfully. In wet 

 soils put a handful of sand under each bulb to keep the water away 

 from the immediate vicinity of the bulbs. In wet locations the beds 

 should be raised. Hyacinths require a sandy soil and soon become 

 diseased in heavy soils. Few lilies will succeed in limestone soil. 

 Lilies require extra good drainage and rich soil. Some will do well in 

 heavy soil, as the madonna lily and the tiger lily. It is best to sur- 

 round lily bulbs with sand, and where drainage is not ideal, plant the 

 bulbs on one side so that water may not collect in the heart of the bulb. 



Fertilizers for Bulbs. No fresh manure should ever touch a 

 bulb, but well-rotted manure may be incorporated deep in the soil 

 before planting with the best of results. The manure should be ac- 



