A FEW BULBOUS PLANTS. 137 



Crocuses. — Almost the first flowers of spring, and 

 always welcome for their earliness and freshness VVhere 

 shrubs and herbaceous plants are grown in an open bor- 

 der, crocuses may be thickly planted in narrow rows 

 along tlie extreme edge next the grass. One of the 

 most satisfactory ways to grow crocuses is to scatter 

 them thickly in the grass, where they will usually come 

 up every spring without further care. 



Dahlia. — The dahlia is enjoying just now a well- 

 deserved renewal of public favor. Many fine new varie- 

 ties are being offered by the dealers, and great satisfac- 

 tion is to be got out of their culture. The cactus 

 varieties are the most informal and appeal more strongly 

 than the older types to most tastes ; but the single vari- 

 eties and the smaller pompons, as well as the mammoth 

 blossoms of the most regular outlines, have all their vari- 

 ous agreeable exj^ressions. 



Erythronium, Dog's-Tooth violet. — These little 

 early flowering plants are very delicate and beautiful. 

 There are several fine species and varieties, nearly all 

 of which are hardy. 



Gladiolus. — The gladiolus is one of the most strik- 

 ing and effective flowers in the garden when nicely 

 grouped with other plants. When put by itself and 

 with no company but an unpainted stick, it is one of the 

 most awkward and ungainly sights on the lawn. The 

 gladioli are especially useful for grouping in small 

 masses among shrubs. There are hundreds of fine vari- 

 eties, in many colors, but yellows and reds are best, 

 especially reds. The bright reds and carmines seem to 

 be the best suited to the character of the plants. 



Iris. — There are some fine, hardy, native irises, and 

 a great many hardy and tender species of great beauty 

 from all over the world which may be grown with a 

 little care. Among the best are /. Susiana and /. Siher- 

 ica. The many varieties of German iris are all desirable ; 



