228 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



of bloom, careful consideration should be given the method 

 in which the bulbs are to be used. There are three quite 

 distinct general methods of planting: in formal or designed 

 beds ; in informal beds or in long borders, and in naturalizing 

 either in single specimens or small groups, or in large col- 

 onies. A great change in the method of planting has taken 

 place during the last decade or two a change that proves a 

 boon to the gardener. In passing it may be noted that for- 

 mal beds are no longer popular save in certain locations, and 

 the bad reputation bulbs had in regard to their short bloom- 

 ing season was due mainly to the fact that when used for 

 bedding or designs, as they formerly were, the gardener had 

 to select sorts that would be as uniform as possible in time of 

 flowering, height, color and in habit of growth. It is rather 

 interesting to note, too, that whereas the hyacinth formerly 

 occupied the chief position among these spring blooming 

 bulbs, since they met these conditions most satisfactorily, 

 this state of things is being reversed and tulips and narcissi 

 are being given more and more prominence. Practic- 

 ally every fall catalogue now emphasizes and makes a 

 special feature of Darwin tulips. Formal beds, and espe- 

 cially those laid out on the lawn to display geometrical 

 designs, are, it is a pleasure to note, growing out of favor. 

 In these days one seldom sees the old-fashioned anchor, 

 ship or cartwheel that used to mar the appearance of an 

 otherwise pretty front lawn. Such abortions never did have 

 any practical or artistic raison d'etre, although the legiti- 

 mate, formal bed still has its place, either in the laying out 

 of formal grounds or to supply a mass of color as part of 

 some landscape scheme. 



I would urge most emphatically that the bulb buyer get 

 over his habit of sending in an order for Collection A or 

 Collection B to "be planted according to the diagram here- 

 with. " Don't be tempted into buying a collection of bulbs 

 just because, for the same money, you get a dozen or two 

 more than you would by making your own collection of 

 named varieties. What you are looking for for your money 

 is not the largest number of bulbs, but the most satisfactory 



