BULBOUS PLANTS 143 



Naturalizing Bulbs 



For parks, groves, meadows and wild outlying grounds beyond 

 the closely clipped lawn, a very pleasing style of naturalizing bulbous 

 plants is coming much in vogue. Such bulbs should be used as can be 

 planted in quantity, twenty-five to a hundred or more of a kind in a 

 patch, and only sorts should be used as are hardy and will flower and 

 thrive and increase with neglect; fortunately, in bulbous plants there 

 are many that succeed even better in such rough places than in the 

 prim garden; among them we will mention hardy Anemones, Crocus, 

 Ghionodoxas, Camassias, Convallarias, Daffodils, Dicentras, Ery- 

 throniums, Funkias, Liliums, Narcissi, Scillas, Snowdrops, Trilliums, 

 and some of the late-flowering Tulips. The bulbs may be dibbled in 

 when the ground is moist and soft during the Fall rains, but is is better 

 to cut and turn back the sod here and there, place the bulbs under and 

 press the sod back again. 



Culture During the Season 

 When the bulbs are in bud a httle liquid manure is very beneficial, 

 resulting in a larger sized bloom. After blooming, the leaves must 

 mature if the bulbs are to be depended upon for bloom another year. 

 If it is absolutely necessary to remove the tops before they are brown 

 the bulbs should be dug and heeled in or replanted in an out-of-the- 

 way spot. They can remain here till the Fall planting time. 

 Mulching After Planting 

 When cold weather has set in and there is a crust frozen over the 

 bed, a mulch of leaves, straw or like material should be used to the 

 depth of three or four inches. It serves to protect from the destructive 

 alternate freezing and thawing. (See Chapter XXI for discussion of 

 Winter Protection.) 



Camassia escxjlenta (Indian Quamash). This is a very dainty blue- 

 flowering bulb, perfectly hardy. It blooms in the latter part of 

 Spring and makes a good border subject. Plant the bulbs about three 

 inches deep where they may have abundant moisture. 

 CmoNODoxA (Glory of the Snow). Species: Luciliae, light blue, white 

 center; sardensis, dark blue. The Ghionodoxas are very closely 

 allied to the Scillas and might easily be confused with them. They 

 are early flowering, March or April, and are very effective when planted 

 in huge clumps in the border. They may be planted quite deeply — 

 four to five inches is not too deep. Replant every third year, else 

 they run out. 

 Crocus. Species: vernus and susianus. The Crocus is as universally 

 admired as any bulbous plant because it can be planted in great pro- 

 fusion without much expense. The varieties are so bright and cheer- 

 ful that they are exceUent planted either in lawns, in the herbaceous 

 border or under trees. Especially attractive are bold clumps of one 

 variety near evergreens. Crocuses must be planted in an open place 



