WHAT ARE BULBS? 25 



almost always parallel-veined, without any, or very slight, 

 ramifications ; while those of dycotyledonous plants, or 

 plants having two seed-leaves, are strongly reticulated. 



As a class, bulbs are most interesting, whether we regard 

 the facility with which they can be cultivated, or the variety, 

 profusion, and brilliancy of their flowers. A bulb-bed can 

 be gay every month, from early April to November ; and 

 the brilliancy of their bloom is unrivalled in the floral king- 

 dom. Their name is Legion, and many of the rarer species 

 are no less curious than beautiful. Their greenhouse and 

 parlor culture is very simple, and the flower well repays 

 the necessary care. 



A bulb-case in a south window, and a bulb-bed under it, 

 will give us flowers from January to December, as we 

 begin the year with fragrant hyacinths, and enjoy, in turn, 

 the ever-welcome snowdrop, the gay crocus, the delicate 

 iris, the modest erythronium, the gaudy tulip, scented hya- 

 cinths, brilliant narcissus, stately lilies, gladiolus, tigridias, 

 and tardy colchicum, till the double Roman narcissus once 

 again bids us a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 



