268 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



only exception being that such bulbs as those of the crocus and three 

 varieties of narcissi, Von Sion, Victoria, and the poet's, will continue to 

 multiply under ideal conditions for a number of years, provided the 

 tops are permitted to remain a sufficient time after flowering in order 

 to ripen the bulb. 



In the selection of bulbs for garden plantings we have practically the 

 entire field from which to draw for material adapted to the refined lawn 

 and garden planting. The degree of refinement depends largely upon 

 our knowledge of the proper combinations of bulbs which will give 

 interesting flower eff"ects, flowers that appear at the same and at suc- 

 cessive dates, and flowers of the same height. In making plantings of 

 bulbs for lawn and garden eff"ects careful attention should be given 

 to the other groups showing narcissi for diff^erent locations, and the 

 interesting tulip combinations. 



One of the most interesting groups of bulbs is the group valuable for 

 naturalization in woodland and wild garden areas. These bulbs must 

 be of the kind that will continue to multiply without further care than 

 is ordinarily given to such areas on the average estate. All of the bulbs 

 in this list should, after being properly planted, grow in succeeding 

 years into clumps through the increase of the small bulblets, and the 

 mature plants should be almost as vigorous as during the first year or 

 two after the bulbs were planted. In other words, they should not 

 show a tendency to run out. Occasionally, unless conditions are ideal, 

 such plants as the trilHum and some of the lilies will continue to 

 grow but will not multiply. This is a freak of plant life which those 

 who have given considerable thought to experimenting in the natural- 

 ization of plants cannot fully explain. Many of the bulbs in this 

 group such as the yellow lily leek, lily-of-the-valley, adder's tongue, 

 and trillium, desire a great amount of shade. The other bulbs such as 

 lilies, narcissi, squills, and tulips require more sunlight. 



It is well to know the adaptations of diff"erent varieties of the nar- 

 cissus. The writer has accordingly referred to this in passing, and we 

 should bear closely in mind the fact that the poet's narcissus, with its 

 varieties, is adapted to the heavy lower ground, while the large trumpet 

 types are adapted to a rich, well-drained loam. The proper selection 

 of combinations of bulbs for flowering effects, either simultaneous flow- 

 ering or a succession of bloom, is one of the interesting studies in bulb 

 plantings. So many extremely interesting effects can be obtained 

 with a proper selection and planting, and so many uninteresting 



