VII 



THE CROCUS AND OTHER 

 EARLY BULBS 



ET me begin by presenting these "rumina- 

 tions," as he calls them, from the pen of the 

 Reverend Joseph Jacob, of England, whose name 

 is known wherever two or three daffodils or as 

 many tulips are gathered together. _"Was there 

 ever a time," writes he, "when bulbs were not pop- 

 ular? Probably not. At all events, there is not 

 much doubt about it at the present time. Every 

 horticultural firm which considers itself at all 

 'up* in the world considers one of its annual 

 necessities the issuing of a bulb-list. Contrari- 

 wise, the reception and perusal of these lists are 

 among the perennial pleasures of every one who 

 has a garden. Bulbs are wonderfully accommo- 

 dating things. I have a tortoise which we call 

 Timmie, and for the last three months he has 

 been fast asleep under some nice dry leaves in the 

 cellar. Just now, with a little careful packing, 

 he could very easily undertake a long journey. 

 91 



