278 PLANTING THE ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS 



the heart has rotted or dried up, and the bulb is worthless as 

 far as blooming is concerned. 



Bulbs of blooming size set in the border in June flower 

 toward the close of September. They may be made to flower 

 three or four weeks sooner by starting them early in some 

 warm place, where they may be given a temperature of about 

 60 to 70. Prepare the bulbs as above, and place them with 

 their tips just above the surface in about 3 or 4-inch pots, in 

 light, sandy soil. Water them thoroughly, afterwards sparingly, 

 till the leaves have made considerable growth. These plants 

 may be turned out into the open ground the last of May or in 

 June, and will probably flower in early September. 



Just before frost dig up the bulbs, cut off the tops to within 

 2 inches of the apex of the bulb. They may then be placed in 

 shallow boxes and left out in the sun and air for a week or 

 more, to cure. Each evening, if the nights are cold, they should 

 be removed to some room where the temperature will not fall 

 below 40. When the outer scales have become dry, the re- 

 maining soil may be shaken off and the bulbs stored away in 

 shallow boxes for the winter. They keep best in a temperature 

 of 45 to 50. It should never fall below 40. 



The Dwarf Pearl, originating in 1870, has long been popular, 

 and is still so with many. But others, the writer included, 

 have come to prefer the old, tall kind, the flowers of which, 

 even if not so large, are perfect in form and seem to open 

 better. 



6. Hardy Herbaceous Perennials 



The delights of the herbaceous border have already 

 been laid before the reader. See pages 145-147, 217- 

 220, but details may be useful. 



Perennial herbs are propagated in various ways, by 

 seeds, and by cuttings of the stems and roots, but mostly 

 by the easy method of division. The seed must often 

 be sown as soon as ripe, as it is slow of germination; and 

 it often, takes from 2 to 4 years to grow blooming plants 

 in this way. 



To facilitate making a selection, the plants in the fol- 

 lowing list are arranged according to their blooming sea- 



