along scientific lines it is pure laboratory 

 work. So is the continual struggle against insect 

 pests, and special bulb diseases, which are 

 studied in bacteriological laboratories. Practi- 

 cally everything is done in Holland to keep up 

 the standard of one of the national prides: - 

 the Dutch Bulb. 



Bulbs for the garden. 



In early Spring, when Nature is still asleep, 

 we want in our gloomy, leafless garden some 

 colour; and no plants are able to give us such a 

 glorious blaze of colours at that time as the 

 bulbs. Hardly has ,,Jack Frost" gone --it may 

 be that snow still covers the ground --or the 

 snowdrops (,,Galanthus nivalis") makes their 

 appearance and opens their little flowers on the 

 first sunny day. Very often they are open simul- 

 taniously with the Winter Aconite (Eranthis 

 hyemalis), making bright yellow patches on the 

 barren ground. Very soon the ,,01ory of the 

 Snow" (Chionodoxa), joins the first comers, 

 with its trusses of 610 starry, bright blue and 

 white flowers. And those lovely little flowers 

 don 't show their beauty in succession. Usually 

 the Mother Earth is covered with these white, 

 yellow and blue patches of flowers simul- 

 itaniously. It even happens that when a few late- 

 comers amongst the snowdrops are still in 



bloom, the Blue Squill of Early Spring or Scilla 

 sibirica shows off its bright strong-blue flowers. 



We have mentioned only four out of at least 

 a dozen lovely little spring bulbs. Try to find in 

 your garden a spot where the midwinter sun 

 sends its rays just for a couple of hours, and 

 you will have your results earlier than usual. 

 Plant your Winter Aconites one inch under the 

 surface of the soil; your Snowdrops about 2'/ 2 

 inches; your Squills and Chionodoxas about 2 

 inches deep; and you can expect splendid 

 results. Don 't lift them in summer: leave them 

 undisturbed, and gradually in time to come they 

 will grow into big patches. 



And all those little bulbs are only the ,,Van 

 Guard" of the big army that is coming in a 

 month time: the Narcissi, the Hyacinths, the 

 Tulips, Irisses etc. 



Did it ever happened that you were in the bulb 

 district in Holland during April and May ? If so 

 the wealth of shape and colour must have struck 

 you. Even on dull days the bright yellow of the 

 Narcissi has a pleasing effect. The delicate 

 shades of the Hyacinths have, wether you see 

 them in bright sunlight or under a covered sky- 

 always a charm of their own. As a matter of fact, 

 one recognizes always from afar a bed of 

 Hyacinths; when you have once seen them you 

 never will make a mistake; a Hyacinth by its 

 lovely form and incomparable colours is a most 



