BULBS 269 



flowering effects can be avoided, that a few standard types of bulb 

 combinations have been shown under this discussion. Bulbs are 

 divided into the early-flowering types, most of which are single, and the 

 late-flowering types among which are the Darwin tulips, most of 

 which grow twice as tall as the early flowering. There are so many 

 varieties of tulips and such a confusion of nomenclature that to lay 

 down definite rules and to frame ironclad lists of bulbs would be futile. 

 It is sufficient to suggest that bulbs for excellent plantings should be 

 selected and grouped by an expert, or that sources of expert infor- 

 mation should be consulted in order to insure the proper effects. So 

 often, for example, yellow and white or orange and yellow tulips are 

 planted for a combination of flower effect, when in reality one of the 

 bulbs is of the early-flowering type and the other variety is of the late- 

 flowering type, neither of which will be in bloom during the blooming 

 period of the other. To avoid mistakes of this kind, and for the use 

 of the amateur who has no ready access to the sources of information, 

 nor the time to devote the necessary study to this question, a number 

 of bulb combinations have been given which will serve to meet the 

 average requirements. As a matter of fact, bulbs planted for their 

 individual flowers fall far short of providing the most interesting effect. 

 They should be planted for their mass effect and as an interesting com- 

 bination of colour. 



Bulbs may be planted either for a formal or for an informal and more 

 natural effect. The first planting requires the stiff symmetrical lines of 

 refined lawn and garden areas; the second effect requires the more 

 informal, flowing lines, either of the refined lawn areas or of the in- 

 formal garden areas. It is quite a matter of taste which of these 

 effects should be desired. Many persons desire the conventional, un- 

 interesting ribbon boundary bordering the edges of shrubbery, while 

 others desire the more natural, scattered mass effect which gives here 

 and there a spot of colour and a certain relief to the bare effect of the 

 shrubbery plantings prior to the time of breaking their buds, and also 

 to the ground underneath. It is important to know the time of 

 flowering for various types of bulbs in order that the late-flowering 

 types, such as the Darwin tulips, may not be scattered through a shrub 

 planting of the bridal wreath spirea, or the early honeysuckle, where 

 the full leaf effect will obscure the flower effect of the bulbs. 



Not every variety of bulb is suitable for forcing purposes. A few 

 varieties of bulbs are extremely suitable, while a few of the varieties 



