SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS 107 



characterized by having large crowns or "trumpets" of 

 beautiful tones of yellow. In the Polyanthus group 

 there are several blossoms upon one stalk: the Paper 

 White is one of the best of these. Another is the Chinese 

 Sacred Lily, which is grown in China, the bulbs being 

 imported into America in rush baskets, each basket 

 holding sixty of the large bulbs. The flowers develop 

 readily when the bulbs are placed in water. 



Crocuses 



The Crocuses are among the earliest of the spring- 

 flowering bulbs. The kinds commonly planted blossom 

 in sheltered corners beside snowbanks, almost as soon 

 as the latter have begun to melt. The bulbs are solid 

 rather than scaly, so they are called corms. About 

 seventy species of Crocus are recognized by botanists, 

 though only a few of these are commonly cultivated. 

 Several bloom in autumn rather than in spring, but the 

 latter are much more satisfactory in cultivation than 

 the former. 



