BULBOUS FLOWERS 95 



merit which accounts for the success in turf of some kinds which die 

 out in cultivated ground. The common explanation is, that turf is 

 sweet and free from manure. But if this were all, why is it that beds 

 of the very same turf chopped up and converted into loam will not grow 

 these same kinds? Ard Righ and Henry Irving may be specified as 

 kinds which have been experimented on in my grass and my beds. I 

 am satisfied that a partial explanation at least is that the grass fibres 

 bind the upper soil to the lower, and so prevent this teasing movement 

 in times of alternate frost and sun." 



Mr. Engleheart makes some useful remarks also about dividing the 

 bulbs : " It is, of course, tempting to detach all visible offsets from rare 

 kinds in order to increase one's stock. Some very robust varieties seem 

 to suffer no harm from quite forcible division. I remember that Sir 

 Watkin, when it was still new and valuable, could be almost chopped 

 into pieces. But I am certain that many Narcissi would mount to a 

 larger and healthier stock at the end of, say, six years, if divided only 

 three times i.e. every other year than if divided annually. A safe 

 rule is the following : If nearly the whole circumference of the base 

 of the offset stands out free from the parent bulb, the offset may be 

 detached and will grow satisfactorily ; but if a third or so of the base 

 is incorporated in the substance of the parent, the union should not be 

 destroyed. It is well to divide the bulb only at the moment of plant- 

 ing in order that incipient roots may be at once placed in contact with 

 the moist soil and not exposed to the air. It is questionable whether 

 the universal practice of ' cleaning ' bulbs i.e. of removing the old 

 roots is not more or less hurtful. In the case of kinds such as 

 Maximus, which have strong wiry roots firmly attached, it is not easy 

 to remove them without tearing the basal plate. It is certainly diffi- 

 cult to ensure close contact between the base of the bulb and the soil 

 if a large bunch of stiff roots is left on. But where the variety is 

 valuable it is quite worth while to finger the roots outwards and upwards 

 to allow of this contact, or to chip them off with strong scissors." 



Many Daffodils are very pretty in pots, especially the group com- 

 prising the pearly Angel's Tears (M. triandrus\ the Basket Daffodils or 

 Hoop Petticoats (Corbularia), and others, but pot culture is dealt with 

 in another chapter. 



Ornithogalum (Star of Bethlehem). Attractive plants bearing 

 heads of white flowers. 0. ardbicum and 0. pyramidale throw up 

 flower-spikes four feet in height, while comosum, latifolium, the greyish 

 green nutans, and umbellatum are also attractive. 



Fuschkinia SCllloides is a pretty little blue-flowered plant suitable 

 for nooks in sunny borders. 



Schizostylis COCCinea (Winter Flag}. This bears crimson flower- 

 spikes in autumn. Its place is against a warm fence, wall, or in some 

 sheltered corner. It enjoys rather a moist soil, but nothing approaching 

 stagnation. During very severe weather protect the crowns with bracken 

 or similar material. 



The Spring and Early Summer-Flowering Scillas. The 



common blue-bell (S. nutans) is well known throughout England, and 



