NATURALISING BULBS. 27 



effect. In those of a larger size, rockeries, terrace slopes, 

 shrubbery borders, lawns, and open glades in the woodland 

 afford a splendid opportunity for growing spring bulbs 

 effectively. And then those who are privileged to have 

 their homes surrounded by meadows, which can be kept 

 free from live stock till summer arrives, may, indeed, have 

 a glorious wealth of saffron and ivory-tinted narcissi, 

 chequered fritillarias, blue and white anemones, and a host 

 of other lovely spring-flowering bulbs and tubers with 

 jewelled blossoms scintillating in a setting of exquisite 

 emerald-green herbage from March to June. But let us 

 cease these generalities and deal more specifically with 

 the various ways to grow bulbs and tubers in a natural, 

 pleasing, and effective manner. 



Bulbs on Lawns Bulbs and tuberous-rooted plants 

 may be grown in bold masses in the open lawn, under the 

 spreading branches of deciduous trees, around the base of 

 the branches of evergreen trees or shrubs, rockeries, or 

 rock beds, and on grassy terrace slopes. Bulbs and 

 tubers do well under the branches of deciduous trees, be- 

 cause at the time of flowering there is little shade and 

 plenty of light filtering through from above. Then tufts 

 of narcissi or snowdrops, peeping up through the ground- 

 swept branches of evergreen trees, look exceedingly pretty 

 in spring. Moreover, what looks prettier in spring than 

 a terrace slope spangled with the white, purple, blue, and 

 gold of snowdrop, squill, crocus, and daffodil? The main 

 secret of growing bulbs in turf is not to cut off the foliage 

 until it has turned yellow, and finished its good work of 

 supplying the bulb with plenty of reserve food. Those who 

 have a craze for tidiness, and must cut off the foliage when 

 the flowers fade, had better leave the culture of bulbs in 

 turf alone, for they will never flower satisfactorily after the 

 first season. It is an easy matter where bulbs are grown on 

 a small scale to cut the grass between the groups, and leave 

 the rest till the foliage of the bulbs has finished its work. 



