Iris, Tulip Most of these are inexpensive, running from 45. to 155. a hundred, 

 and The last three are considerably dearer, and Madame de Graaf, 

 Primula though cheap compared to what it was a few years ago, is still 

 2s. 9d. each bulb. 



Two or three little plants must be mentioned among the 

 April treasures as givers of most delicate colour effect. Iris 

 tuberosdy the green and black velvety one, which it is such a 

 pleasure to find wild on the Italian Riviera, and Tulip a clusiana 

 (the Lady Tulip), white with a purple eye and a rose streak up the 

 outside of each narrow petal. They always flower together 

 with us, and both prefer a sheltered corner. Dentaria pinnata, 

 with heads of almost a dozen cruciform flowers and bright green 

 palmate leaves, I have longed to establish here since seeing it 

 grow on Monte Generoso. The outskirts of the woods were 

 white with it, and it had spread to the grass slopes near by, 

 mixing with the Pheasant-eye Narcissus and the big blue Gentian. 

 It can be grown from seed and increased by division, and likes 

 a light soil and a moist place. 



Some of the many lovely Primulas should be established in 

 shady places. P. Denticulata^ with a round, blue-lilac head, and 

 P. Casbmeriana^ rather deeper in colour and stronger in growth, 

 like a rich moist soil, and are delightful when they have formed 

 large tufts. P. Sieboldi is another most useful sort and quite 

 hardy. It varies in colour a good deal, and wants a well- 

 drained position and plenty of leaf mould. If Cowslips are not 

 indigenous they should be started in the fields, so that their 

 sweet-scented flowers can be enjoyed when Primroses are 

 over. With small trouble, and in about a year's time, an effect 

 could be obtained such as Coventry Patmore so vividly 

 describes : 



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