The Canadian Horticulturi^ 



Floral Edition 



Vol. XLV. 



PETERBORO, ONT., OCTOBER, 1922 



No. 10 



Growing Bulbs in the Garden 



J. B. Spencer, Past President, Ontario Horticaltaral Society 





EVERYONE enjoys the beauty of 

 spring flowering bulbs, whether 

 growing in beds or as borders or 

 clumps in the garden. To have these, 

 however, in one's own garden, requires 

 forethought and action some months in 

 advance. When once established, how- 

 ever, the bulbs will remain and multiply 

 if not too much disturbed by cultivation 

 or crowded out with other things. Unless 

 one has plantations established, this is 

 the time of year to secure and plant the 

 bulbs. 



Tolips Most Showy 



Of the various outdoor bulbs, tulips 

 are the most showy as they present such 

 wonderful colorings and shades. If in 

 well-drained, loamy soil, they may be 

 left undisturbed for three or four years, 

 or until they get too crowded to produce 

 id flowers, or have died out so much 

 ,t they need to be replaced. As a rule, 



iwever, the best flowers are obtained 

 by planting new bulbs each year. Of 

 recent years, the late, tall growing varie- 

 ties have been greatly improved. These 

 are classed as Cottage, Darwin and 

 Breeder and come in wonderful shades, 

 and of large size. 



Of late tulips, the best yellows are 

 found in the Cottage variety, Mrs. Moon 

 and Moonlight being desirable yellow 

 sorts. Darwins have no yellows, but the 

 pinks, reds, purples and violets, are 

 glorious to behold. The Breeders are 

 perhaps finer than any of the others in 

 some respects. They come in the most 

 wonderful shades of bronze, brown, 

 purple, golden bronze, dark reds, ma- 

 hogany and other tints, difficult to ex- 

 press. All are well suited for growing in 

 the perennial border as many of them 

 last for years and increase rapidly. vSome 

 gardeners prefer to lift the bulbs in 

 summer as soon as the tops have wilted, 

 dry them off, and plant again in the fall. 

 This is perhaps the better way because 

 the colors can be kept separate and 

 changed in the border from year to year. 

 However, if such treatment is found too 

 troublesome, the Icavc-alonc plan is all 

 right, even though the colors get mixed 

 up by planting new kinds here and there. 

 The late varieties are as a rule dearer 

 than the early tulips, of which there are 

 hundreds of showy varieties available in 

 the seed stores. The "earlies" come in 

 many bright colors and are particularly 



suitable for beds to be followed by 



annuals after the tulips have bloomed. 



DafEodils 



The narcissus, or daffodil, is not so well 

 known as the tulip. This may be be- 

 cause it is limited to yellow in different 

 shades and whites. It is a wonderful 

 plant, however, whether for outdoor or 

 house planting. It is quite as hardy as 

 the tulip, and increases well in the border 

 or even in sod that is not subjected to 

 much tramping or cutting diu-ing the 

 summer months. 



Hyacinths Pleasing 



The hyacinth is not used for bedding 

 purposes as much as the tulip, as it is 

 not quite as reliable, but a good bed of 

 hyacinths is a pleasing sight in early 

 spring. The colors of the hyacinths are 

 so delicate, and perfume so sweet, that it 

 well deserves the popularity which it 

 enjoys. For bedding purposes new hya- 

 cinth bulbs should be obtained every 

 year. In the border, the bulbs may be 

 left in the ground from year to year 

 where they will often increase and fur- 

 nish a good supply of bloom of moderate 



size. It is well to give some covering"of 

 strawy manure or leaves to hyacinth,beds 

 late in the fall. 



Other Flowering Bulbs 

 There are many other kinds of flower- 

 ing bulbs that require to be planted in 

 the fall to secure spring bloom. The 

 snowdrop, crocus, scilla, chinaodoxa, 

 grape hyacinth and eremurus are all 

 early and beautiful. They are also cheap 

 and easily cultivated. 



Plant in October 



Outdoor planting should be completed 

 in October. Good results are obtained 

 from planting well into November, but 

 it is nicer work planting earlier and the 

 bulbs will develop better roots. If late 

 planting cannot be avoided it is well to 

 put on a covering of straw manure or 

 leaves before the ground freezes so as to 

 prolong the rooting season as late as 

 possible. 



Depth to Plant 



Tulips, narcissi and hyacinths should 

 be planted from four to six inches deep, 

 to the bottom of the bulb, and about the 



Fine Display of GfMlloH at Canadian National ExhlUtlon 

 Ihomai IJoniculiural Society waj. the . . m.d tliU yi-ar. In udilitioii to several Cue couipcUUve 



I F. Iv Dennett staged this decorative display 

 I liuilding 



prize winning displays in the llortir 



