76 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



AKT. 3. Hardy Bulbous Rooted Plants. 



Bulbous rooted plants belong to a very extensive class of 

 hardy flowers, and are highly deserving a more extensive and 

 general cultivation than they receive; they are certainly the 

 prettiest ornaments of the flower garden in the early part of 

 the spring, when few other plants are in flower. Indeed, the 

 Snowdrop is the first harbinger of spring in the flower gar- 

 den, and is finely described by Mrs. Barbauld : 



" As Nature's breath, by some transforming power, 

 Had changed an icicle into a flower ; 

 Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, 

 And winter lingers in its icy veins." 



' It begins often to grow beneath the snow, at a tempera- 

 ture scarcely removed from the freezing point, and flourishes 

 alone," says Nuttall, " while all other plants lie dormant." 

 The Snowdrop is succeeded by the pretty genus of plants, 

 the Crocus, of which there are various colors, of yellow, 

 white, and blue, and is particularly adapted to the facings of 

 flower beds and borders. These are succeeded by the Daf- 

 fodil, Polyanthus, Narcissus, Jonquils, Hyacinth and Tulips ; 

 and lastly, that noble class of flowers, the Lilies, of which the 

 White Lily is one of the most splendid specimens of the 

 flower garden, presenting at one time a flower possessing a 

 delicate white color and exquisite fragrance. 



Culture of bulbous roots. The culture of bulbous rooted 

 plants, is simply to plant the bulbs, such as Tulips, Hya- 

 cinths, and others, about the latter end of October, in the 

 vacant places of borders. The best method that I am ac- 

 quainted with, is to plant the roots in small clusters of six or 

 eight together, four inches apart, by making a hole two or 

 three inches deep, into which insert the bulb about an inch 

 under the earth's surface ; and if a little sand is put into the 

 hole, it will be of utility to the bulb, as it will keep it from rot- 

 ting. This manner of planting may be applied to Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, and Snowdrops, and all hardy 

 bulbs. When the leaves of bulbs decay after flowering, they 



