106 FLOWERS AKX THE FLOWE& GAEDEIf, 



CHAPTER XIV. 



BULBS, TUBERS, ETC. 



BULBS, and plants of similar character, are especially 

 valuable on account of the little room they take, in pro- 

 portion to the size and handsome appearance of their 

 flowers ; also because a great many of them bloom when 

 other flowers are scarce, and they can be cultivated with- 

 out difficulty. When bulbs are in a state of rest, the 

 approach of which is indicated by the leaves dying after 

 the flowering is over, they should be moved and kept 

 out of the ground a longer or shorter time, according 

 to the kind. With the summer flowering kinds this 

 happens in autumn ; 'and with those which flower in 

 autumn, in the spring. Some have to be taken up 

 annually, others will go on without for a number of years, 

 and none should be kept long out of the ground. Almost 

 all bulbs require a free, dry, and rather rich soil. They 

 are injured by being allowed to go to seed. As they 

 grow fast while in the growing stage, they generally 

 require plenty of water and depth of soil. 



In the case of many, interesting new colours may be 

 obtained from seed, which should be sown far apart in 

 beds of light earth, where the young plants can remain 

 until they flower, wnich is often from three to five years, 

 sometimes much longer. 



That magnificent tribe of flowers, the Lilies, are noble 

 ornaments in any flower garden. We have scarcely so 

 fine a white in any other flower as in the white lily, 

 Lilium candidum. The situation for these roots should 

 be well drained, and the soil for them is a good loam, 

 well manured. If left in a place they like, the clumps 

 will improve in size and beauty ; if, on the contrary, 

 they decline, take them up in September, change the 

 exhausted soil for good compost, place at the bottom of 



