250 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



roots are fairly cheap, since a dozen can be obtained for seven 

 shillings and sixpence. 



Other irises which ought to find a place in a representative 

 collection are I. Persica Heldreichii, which blooms in February, 

 with flowers of shades of lavender and of violet and yellow; 

 I. Bakeriana, a miniature variety resembling reticulata, which 

 possesses a delightful aroma as of violets, I. stylosa, which has 

 lilac petals, and thrives hi poor soil, and the Scorpion iris, alata, 

 which produces large flowers as late hi the season as October and 

 November. Its flowers are lilac and gold, and it should be placed 

 in a dry, warm spot. 



Diagram 34 depicts a few of the more common varieties of 

 hardy summer-flowering bulbs, corms and tubers, and shows 

 clearly the proper methods of planting. If a tall-growing subject 

 is required, much delight can be derived from a group of hyacinthus 

 candicans, which throws up a candelabrum -like spike of white bell- 

 shaped flowers to a height of four feet. It grows well in a shrub- 

 bery if the soil be made rich, or it may be planted with good effect 

 towards the back of a mixed border. The bulbs should be covered 

 with four niches of soil. 



What a gorgeous picture, too, can be produced in late summer 

 by a well-grown group or two of gladioli 1 And how easy they are 

 to cultivate ! The flowers are many-hued they vary from the 

 most brilliant scarlet to pure white, and from pure yellow to 

 bright purple. The chief point to bear in mind is the need 

 for avoiding the folly of single planting. An isolated bulb 

 will produce its spike of bloom in due season if it be properly 

 planted ; but how much more effective will it be if it be grown 

 in a mass 1 



Several weeks previous to planting in March the ground __ 

 should be thoroughly well dug over. The gladiolus revels 

 in generous treatment, and it will therefore be necessary to 

 enrich the soil with plenty of good stable manure This need not 

 be buried deeper than one foot, but it should be well broken up 

 and mixed with the soil below the surface. This will be found a 

 better plan than that of dumping thick layers into the bottom 



