A NEW OUTLOOK 



thick as a lead pencil — each one can be relied on to 

 produce flowers, and this cannot be said of the various 

 crowns which, with roots and soil, make up the bulb- 

 dealer's "clump." If early flowers alone are thought of, 

 the crown may be 

 forced in the light ; 

 but if leaves are wanted 

 with the flowers, early 

 rooting had better be 

 encouraged by potting 

 the crowns and plung- 

 ing them for a few 

 weeks with other bulbs. 

 The pots can be stood 

 in a warm house after- 

 wards. Crowns of Lily 

 of the Valley are now 

 put into cold storage 

 and kept dormant until 

 they are wanted, thus 

 the season is made 

 longer than it used to 

 be. Fortin is a splendid variety. 



Scillas, or Squills, are low-growing, early-blooming 

 bulbs. The species Sibirica is one of the plants which 

 dealers stock in large quantities, and offer at a very low 

 rate, so that it can be colonised if desired. It is a useful 

 little plant for dotting among bulbs in beds, and its deep 

 blue flowers are very pretty. It blooms with the 

 Snowdrops. Bifolia and its varieties flower a little 

 later. 



S7towdrops.—Th2ii little favourite, the Snowdrop, is a 

 delightful plant for naturalising, and may be planted in 

 turf, as well as in selected spots in the woodland and 

 365 



Oct. 

 16-31 



Fig. 86.— Forcing Lily of thk Valley 

 Crowns. 



a. A poor crown. 



b. A good crown. 



c. How to force the crowns in pots in a pro- 



pagating frame. 



