190 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



is over, under the ground, below the blossom, the 

 stem will be found to have expanded into a long 

 chamber or cell as large around as a lead-pencil and 

 an inch or more in length. Open this and it will be 

 found full of exquisite pink pearls; these are the 

 seeds. As they ripen they become nearly black, the 

 cell bursts, and the earth receives them. The Scilla 

 lengthens its flower-stems until they lie on the ground, 

 forming large seed-pods filled with white pearls. 

 When the plants are taken up, if these little seeds 

 are saved the stock will increase much more rap- 

 idly. 



The beds are often wanted for other plants before 

 the foliage has had time to ripen. In that case the 

 bulbs may be lifted and heeled-in, in some out-of-the- 

 way place, until ripe, care being taken to preserve 

 the seed-pods. Heeling-in means digging a shallow 

 trench, laying in the roots of the plants in a row, and 

 covering them with earth. They must be lifted when 

 ripe and not allowed to grow. 



A pretty way to grow the Scilla, Crocus, and Snow- 

 drop is to scatter them on the lawn in the grass, plant- 

 ing singly or in clumps. Lift the sod with the 

 trowel and slip the bulbs under, right side up, leaving 

 them to care for themselves. Plant hundreds in this 

 way; they will be through blooming by the time the 

 grass needs cutting. 



The various varieties of Narcissi should be planted 

 in permanent beds or borders, where they need not be 



