The Culture of Flowering Bulbs 



may be planted in quantities under trees if the position enjoys some 

 amount of sunshine, because they will have finished their growth 

 before the leafage of the trees shades them injuriously. If it is 

 necessary to prepare or improve the soil for them, the aim should 

 be to render it rich and sandy, and sufficiently drained to avoid a 

 boggy character in winter. Plant in October or November, four or 

 five inches deep, and six inches apart. The roots require no water 

 and no supports, and may all be taken up and stored away in good 

 time for the usual summer display of bedding plants. For geometric 

 planting it is important to select the varieties with care, but a most 

 interesting border may be made by planting clumps of all the best 

 sorts of the several classes. The result will be a long-continued 

 and splendid display, beginning with the 'Van Thols' (which are as 

 hardy as any), then following with the early class in almost endless 

 variety, and finishing with the noble ' Gesneriana,' and the flamed 

 and feathered varieties of the late section. 



As cut flowers Tulips are worthy of special attention. With very 

 little care they not only maintain their full beauty in vases for a fort- 

 night, but some of them actually increase in brilliancy of colouring. 



VALLOTA PURPUREA 



THIS brilliant plant is nearly hardy in the Southern counties, and a 

 cool greenhouse plant where it cannot be grown in the open border. 

 To produce fine specimens a firm loamy soil is necessary, with 

 abundance of water all the summer, and moderate supplies all 

 the winter. The bulbs flower more freely when somewhat pot- 

 bound. Therefore they should not be re-potted too often. Under 

 these conditions feeding with clear liquid manure is necessary once 

 a week from the time the flower-buds show until they begin to open. 

 To dry off the bulb may weaken or kill it. Those who cannot cul- 

 tivate the Amaryllis will find the Vallota an excellent substitute. 



VIOLET, DOG'S-TOOTH 5^ page 294 



WINTER ACONITE 



THE WINTER ACONITE is the very ' firstling ' of the year, for it blooms 

 in advance of the Snowdrop, covering the ground with gilt spangles 



