THE PARLOR GARDENER. 25 



They bloom at the same time with the hyacinths. 

 In the spaces between the glasses containing the 

 bulbous plants nourished by nothing but water, 

 place pots full of earth, mixed half and half with 

 garden manure ; leaf mould would not be strong 

 enough. Plant in these crocus bulbs, taking care 

 to group in the same pot the varieties of fine col- 

 ors pure white, white striped with violet, and 

 plain violet. The flowers of these plants, which 

 precede the development of their leaves, contrast 

 agreeably, by the vividness of their colors, with 

 the pale yellow of the jonquil. 



Van Tholl Tulips. 



Other pots like the first, and filled with the 

 same mixture, must have in them roots of the 

 Van Tholl tulips, a charming little tulip with a 

 dwarf stem and petals of a bright red bordered 

 with golden yellow. All these flowers develop 

 at the same time, presenting a happy variety of 

 forms and shades in the bloom of a mantel-piece 

 garden, whilst Nature is at work without, pre- 

 paring her more abundant supply of flowers in 

 the open air. 



