CHAPTER XIV. 

 BULBS IN BEDS AND BORDERS. 



TRUE gardeners feel that they cannot well do without 

 bulbs in the spring. There is something so fascinating 

 in watching them peep through the soil, grow up and 

 send out lovely flowers to tell us that spring and summer 

 with all their joys are coming. 



One may try herbaceous plants wallflowers, arabis, 

 etc. for spring display ; indeed it may be that we must 

 be satisfied with only these for a season. But bulbs are 

 the things we want for the cheerfulness they impart to 

 our borders in the spring. 



In border planting I much prefer to keep the various 

 kinds of bulbs separate and to give each colour a patch 

 to itself. To my mind the effect is far better. 



Most bulbs thrive extremely well in a sandy, or even 

 very sandy soil. A heavy soil should be lightened by 

 mixing in a quantity of sand. Daffodils do very well in 

 a border which has been well manured with old dung, 

 but for the other kinds of bulbs no manure should be used, 

 they are better without it. October and November are 

 the best times to plant, the earlier the better, for then 

 they have time to make a good many roots before the 

 cold weather comes on. The ground should have been 

 well forked up and should be in a nice condition ; it is 

 a good rule not to attempt planting when the soil is soaking 

 wet. 



Planting should be done with a trowel, holes with flat 

 bottoms being taken out, and the bulbs laid in point 



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