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THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



HARDY BULBS FOR CUT FLOWERS. The special or reserve gar- 

 den includes beds for hardy bulbs -a very good way of growing them, 

 and for supplying flowers for the house. A curious habit of the 

 flowers of bulbs is that, cut from the plants when just opening and 

 put into water, they get larger than they would if left on the plants 

 out of doors, and this should lead us to encourage many lovely flowers 

 among hardy bulbs that are among the best for our rooms. Hitherto 

 the horror of the gardener has been cutting flowers for the house ; but 

 if cutting prolongs his bloom, strengthens his plants, and gives all 

 who care for his flowers a fuller enjoyment of them, we may secure 

 his powerful aid. Consider what one may escape in storms, frosts, 

 and other dangers if a flower, cut just on arriving at maturity, lasts 



Bed of Italian Narcissus. 



longer indoors than out, and actually, as in the case of the Narcissus, 

 gets larger ! Narcissi, through their hardiness and drooping heads, 

 endure our climate better than any other flowers, and yet severe 

 storms will beat them about and destroy flowers that might have lived 

 for days in the house. Large showy flowers like Tulips, suffer with 

 every heavy shower. Anything which makes it easier to have flowers 

 in the house is a real gain ; their exquisite forms are best seen, and tell 

 their story best when brought near to the eye. A flower of our yellow 

 wood Tulip opening and closing, and showing its changing form in a 

 room, gives ideas of beauty which cannot be gleaned by glancing at 

 a bed of bulbs. A variety of hardy bulbs should therefore be grown 

 for their value as cut flowers, apart from their use in the garden. 

 HARDY BULBS AMONG CHOICE SHRUBS. One of the most 



