124 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



each bulb is planted in a hole to its self, and cannot jostle 

 its neighbour as is possible with spade planted bulbs. 



Avoid any semblance of geometrical form in the patches. 

 The more irregular they are the better, circular and tri- 

 angular patches only look out of place in such surroundings. 



The top dressing of naturalised bulbs is of some im- 

 portance. It should be done in the autumn, with fine 

 leaf-mould or very old hot-bed manure passed through a 

 in. sieve. Go over the ground and scatter this material 

 freely over the entire surface. The rain will wash some 

 of it through the turf to the bulbs. 



The following short list of good varieties may be useful 

 to those who desire to purchase bulbs for " naturalising " 

 in grass, but many other sorts are offered in lists and the 

 reader should consult a good bulb merchant. 



Hyacinths. Any good bedding kinds. 



Tulips. Gold Flake, Sir J. Hooker, Bridesmaid. 



Daffodils. Emperor, Empress, Sir Watkin, Horsfieldii. 



Narcissus. Poeticus, Duchess of Brabant, Gloria Mundi, 

 Red Star. 



Crocuses. Any of the bedding kinds will do well ; 

 shades of yellow, blue, white, striped. 



Other bulbs which may be naturalised are Scillas, 

 Chionidoxas, Fritillarias, Montbrietias, Ixias, Irises, Roman 

 Hyacinths, Anemones, Ranunculuses, Jonquils, and Aco- 

 nites. The culture of these is the same as that briefly 

 outlined ; many of them love a shady position, and a little 

 leaf-mould in the soil when they are planted is advan- 

 tageous. 



