BULBS 139 



the preceding autumn generally in October. Only 

 the tulip, hyacinth, narcissus and crocus are very 

 well adapted for general formal planting. For 

 such planting place hyacinths six inches apart, tu- 

 lips, four, daffodils three and the crocus and other 

 small bulbs two. But with any spring bulb the 

 most satisfactory planting is informal. Use clumps 

 and drifts and aim for effects with a few good 

 varieties, so far as the garden proper is concerned. 

 Other varieties may be colonized here and there in 

 the shrubberies. Combine a May tulip with a 

 perennial rather than with another variety so as 

 to secure marked form as well as color contrast. 



Small or large clumps of tulips (selfs) , hyacinths, 

 narcissus, and almost any of the little bulbs are 

 very effective when scattered irregularly through 

 the hardy garden. Use the imposing crown im- 

 perial only when it can be insured permanency of 

 location; it dislikes being disturbed. The little 

 bulbs, however, are best colonized under deciduous 

 shrubs where a great many kinds can be grown 

 in unutilized space and left to themselves for 

 years. Some of them, especially scillas, spread 

 rapidly by self-sown seed. If there is a stretch 

 of thin grass that is not cut very early, naturalize 

 some of the Kulbs; single trumpet daffodils, Tu- 

 lipa sylvestris, May-blooming tulips (selfs), grape 

 hyacinths, snowdrops, scillas, guinea-hen flower and 

 crocus are all willing subjects. 



Summer flowers from bulbs that withstand the 

 northern winter in the open ground are largely the 



