THE CULTURE 



OF 



FLOWERING BULBS 



OUR popular flowering bulbs are obtained from many lands; 

 they are exceedingly diversified in character, and they bloom 

 at different periods of the year. Each variety has a value of its own, 

 and answers to some special requirement in its proper season under 

 glass or in the open ground. In the darkest winter days we prize 

 the glow of Tulips and Hyacinths for brightening our homes. And 

 bleak days are not all past when Aconites and Snowdrops sparkle 

 in beds and borders. The Anemones follow in March, and during 

 the lengthening days of spring there are sumptuous beds of 

 Hyacinths and Tulips. When high summer begins to decline we 

 have stately groups of Gladiolus and many beautiful Lilies in the 

 shrubbery borders. 



Not least among the merits of Dutch Bulbs is the ease with which 

 they can be forced into flower at a period of the year when bright 

 blossoms are particularly precious, and they are equally available for 

 the grandest conservatory or the humblest cottage window. They 

 are attractive singly in pots or vases, or they can be arranged in 

 splendid banks and groups for the highest decorative purposes. 

 Another advantage is that bulbs endure treatment which would be 

 fatal to many other flowers. They can be grown in small pots, 

 or be almost packed together in boxes or seed-pans; and when 

 near perfection they may be shaken out, have the roots washed 

 for glasses, ferneries, and small aquaria ; or they can be replanted 

 close together in sand, and covered with green moss. Their 



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