Bulbs, Tuberous Plants and Grasses 267 



When arranging the stiff, upright tulips, daffodils, irises, 

 gladioli, and other flowers for that matter, let us learn of the 

 Japanese to simulate their natural attitude. Secure a flat ribbon 

 of lead less than two inches wide from the plumber, cut it into ten- 

 inch lengths, lay one on its edge in the bottom of a bowl and pinch 

 the pliable lead around the stems of the flowers with a few leaves 

 about them. Or, pebbles may be used to hold them upright. They 

 appear to be growing in water. Invisible glass discs, perforated 

 to hold flower stems, can be bought to place in the bottom of 

 silver, glass or china dishes for the centre of the dining-table. 



Darwins, many of them with stems two feet tall, are an 

 aristocratic race of late tulips, mostly self-coloured and with a 

 "tender bloom like cold gravy" overspreading and gently sub- 

 duing them. They, too, may be left undisturbed for years. 

 Bizarres have variegated colours, the markings generally brown or 

 red on a yellow ground. Bybloemen tulips have violet or rose 

 marking on a white ground. Parrots are wonderfully marked 

 and fringed late tulips, with more or less green among their yellow 

 or red streaks, and so large that the weak stems cannot hold the 

 flowers erect. This is their lamentable defect. But they are 

 curious and gorgeous. Never buy bargain lots of mixed tulips. 

 Fewer named bulbs of a high grade give far more pleasure and 

 satisfaction. 



In every old-fashioned garden one used to see the fritillary or 

 crown imperial erect its tall stem, bearing near the top a graceful 

 umbel of red, yellow, or orange bell-shaped flowers with a tuft 

 of foliage above them. Quaint old Gerarde praised its "stately 

 beautifulness" and accorded it "the first place in the garden of 

 delight/' Why do we see it now so rarely? It thrives in any 

 good light soil and need not be disturbed for years. It is quite 



