106 GARDEN GUIDE 



should be planted twice their diameter deep in the soil. This does 

 not always apply, for it is usually better to get them a little deeper. 

 The useful chart or diagram on page 111 shows the depth to plant. 

 It is advisable in planting choice sorts to set them on a layer of one 

 or two inches of sand. This will insure good drainage and keep bulbs 

 from decaying. 



NATURALIZING BULBS. For parks, groves, meadows and wild 

 outlying grounds beyond the closely clipped lawn, a very pleasing style 

 of naturalizing bulbous plants is coining much in vogue. Such bulbs 

 should be used as can be planted in quantity, twenty-five to a hundred 

 or more of a kind in a patch, and only sorts should be used as are 

 hardy and will flower and thrive and increase with neglect; fortunately, 

 in bulbous plants there are many that succeed even better in such rough 

 places than in the prim garden; among them we will mention hardy 

 Anemones, Crocus, Chionodoxas, Gamassias, Gonvallarias, Daffodils, 

 Dicentras, Erythroniums, Funkias, Liliums, Narcissi, Scillas, Snow- 

 drops, Trilliums, and some of the late-flowering Tulips. The bulbs 

 may be dibbled in when the ground is moist and soft during the Fall 

 rains, but it is better to cut and turn back the sod here and there, 

 place the bulbs under and press the sod back again. 



CULTURE DURING THE SEASON. When the bulbs are in bud a 

 little liquid manure is very beneficial, resulting in a larger sized bloom. 

 After blooming, the leaves must mature if the bulbs are to be depended 

 upon for bloom another year. If it is absolutely necessary to remove 

 the tops before they are brown the bulbs should be dug and heeled 

 hi or replanted in an out-of-the-way spot. They can remain here till 

 the Fall planting time. 



MULCHING AFTER PLANTING. When cold weather has set in and 

 there is a crust frozen over the bed, a mulch of leaves, straw or like 

 material should be used to the depth of three or four inches. It 

 serves to protect from the destructive alternate freezing and thawing. 

 (See discussion of Winter Protection on pages 197 to 199.) 



CAMASSIA ESCULENTA (Indian Quamash). This is a very dainty blue- 

 flowering bulb, perfectly hardy. It blooms in the latter part of 

 Spring and makes a good border subject. Plant the bulbs about three 

 inches deep where they may have abundant moisture. 



CHIONODOXA (Glory of the Snow). Species: Luciliae, light blue, white 

 center; sardensis, dark blue. The Chionodoxas are very closely 

 allied to the Scillas and might easily be confused with them. They 

 are early flowering, March or April, and are very effective when planted 

 in huge clumps in the border. For a small bulb they may be planted 

 quite deeply perhaps four to five inches is not too deep. They should 

 be replanted every third year, else they run out. 



CROCUS. Species: vernus and Susianus. The Crocus is as universally 

 admired as any bulbous plant because it can be planted in great pro- 



