508 THE GARDEN AND ITS FRUITS. [Chap. V. 



covering is removed, after the frost is out of the ground. All tender bulbs 

 and perennials under a coating of leaves will keep sound till spring. It is 

 necessary to lay brush or something else over the leaves, to hinder their 

 blowing away by the winds. Leaves make the best kind of covering for all 

 tender tilings. Frost rarely penetrates through a thick coating of them, as 

 niaj' be seen during our most severe weather; by removing a bed of leaves 

 the ground will be found unfrozen. 



There is no sight more striking to the eye than the effect produced in early 

 spring, when delicate snowdrops and the modest, many-colored crocuses 

 enamel the lawn, or make the garden lovely with their stainless purity, and 

 with the brilliancy of their colors. Coming, as they do, before the swallow, 

 tliese firstlings of the season have a special claim to the popular regard. 

 They are the harbingers of buds and blossoms, of leafy trees and unbound 

 waters, of sunshine and of singing birds, and when their tender green spears 

 begin to push themselves through the soil, we know that nature is awaken- 

 ing from her winter slumbers, and that more genial weather is at hand. 

 These little pilgrims that come to us with glad tidings, and that put on for 

 our delight the gayest robes, and silently, yet eloquently, assure us that we 

 are entering upon a new cycle of soft sunshine, and bland airs, and fragrant 

 odors, deserve to be more cherished than they usually are by all country- 

 women. Of all the flowers that bloom, those that come to us earliest are 

 entitled to receive the most cordial welcome, and it is for this that we appeal 

 in behalf of the more general culture of bulbous flowers. 



We appeal to all farmers' wives and daughters for a more general cultiva- 

 tion of flower gardens and parterres around the house, because we believe 

 in their humanizing influences ; in the lessons they teach, and the sympa- 

 thies to which they appeal. We believe every family who has ground 

 should cultivate Hyacinths, Tulips, Jonquils, Crocus, Crown Imperials, 

 Iris, Snowdrops, Polyanthus, Narcissus, Double Narcissus, Lilies, Gladio- 

 lus, and Dahlias. To these add Peonies, Dielytra {Dicentra) Spectahilis, 

 and many other hardy herbaceous plants, such as Hollyhocks and the 

 Phloxes, Yucca jllamcntosa, etc. 



Of all the bulbous flowering plants, the gladiolus takes the lead, accord- 

 ing to our fancy. The varieties of G. gandavensis are numerous, robust, 

 stately, with beautiful taper leaves of bright green, and long racemes of ex- 

 quisitely beautiful lilj'-shaped flowers, comprising every variety of shade 

 of colors, which can be kept up by timely planting from July to October in 

 the open air ; and then, before hard frosts come, if stalks with undeveloped 

 buds are cut and set in water in the house, they Avill continue to bloom some 

 time longer. The bulbs must be taken up for winter, and need about the 

 same protection as onions. 



Several bulbs, hyacinths in particular, may be grown in any room where 

 water M'ill not freeze, in glasses adapted to the purpose, so that the bulb 

 rests in the mouth of the glass, and sends its roots down into the water. 

 Park-colored glasses are preferable to white glass. The water should not 



