THE BULB GARDEN 155 



be met, and in some degree lessened, i. Many 

 bulbs, when their leaves are turning yellow and 

 the maturing process is well on its way, will bear 

 careful moving, if lifted with a good ball of soil, 

 to a reserve bed in the kitchen garden, where 

 neither conspicuous labels nor bare earth will be 

 out of place during the resting season ; and this 

 may be done not only without serious detriment, 

 but with some advantage. For in such quarters, 

 in an open sunny exposure, they will have a better 

 chance of ripening well than if they were over- 

 shadowed by the summer occupants of the original 

 position. This plan naturally involves some addi- 

 tional labour. 



2. Where a bed or border is devoted entirely 

 to bulbs as permanent tenants, sufficient room may 

 be allowed between the different clumps either for 

 annuals to be planted amongst them or for pot 

 plants, like standard fuchsias or heliotropes, or 

 any others that may be available, to be plunged in 

 the vacant spaces without throwing too deep a 

 shade over the bulbs. 



It will be evident that these remarks apply more 

 particularly to the bulbs which flower in spring, 

 the season of all others when there are the greatest 

 number and variety. Many of these, like scillas, 

 chionodoxas, and some of the best of the grape 

 hyacinths (muscari), are dwarf and insignificant 

 enough if planted singly, but give a vivid splash 

 of colour when massed in quantity another reason 

 why bulbs of this kind are difficult to accommodate 

 in the mixed border without a good deal of space 

 and arrangement. Thus they can often be more 



