59 2 Cultivation of Plants. 



equally well -for the Hyacinth, except that the bulbs should be 

 planted a little earlier, and at a depth of about five inches. The 

 Hyacinth bulb differs materially from the Tulip bulb, being 

 polycarpic, that is, flowering more than once. The various 

 species of Narcissus, Crocus, and many other genera may also 

 be included here. The only deviation is in the period of 

 planting and lifting, which varies for different species. The 

 rootstocks of the tuberous-rooted English and Spanish Irises 

 should not be kept out of the ground longer than is necessary, 

 as they soon shrivel and lose their vitality. It may be men- 

 tioned here that the leaves of bulbous plants should not be 

 cut off, even when the plants are left in the ground, before 

 they have done their work and dried up ; but the old flower- 

 stems may be removed without doing any injury. 



The numerous species and varieties of the showy genus 

 Gladiolus in cultivation will succeed in a heavier soil than 

 most of the plants of this class. But good drainage and rich 

 soil are essential conditions to obtain fine flowers. Tulips, 

 Hyacinths, and by far the largest proportion of bulbous plants, 

 flower in spring ; but the Gladioluses are all of them summer- 

 flowering. The familiar G. communis and G. Byzantinus are 

 quite hardy border plants, succeeding well in almost any soil. 

 The hybrid varieties also will bear our winters if planted at a 

 depth of six inches ; but the common practice is to take them 

 up as soon as the leaves begin to decay, and replant them 

 again in early spring. Some time during the latter part of 

 March or beginning of April is the best time for planting, and 

 they may be lifted in October or November, according to the 

 season. The bulbs should be thoroughly dry before they are 

 stored away, and they require a dry airy place, where the frost 

 does not penetrate. The bulblets which are so freely produced 

 by some varieties will bear frost with impunity when they are 

 young, and consequently they may be replanted in autumn. 

 But as they reach maturity they become tender. They will 

 flower about the second or third year, according to the treat- 

 ment they receive. In any except very sheltered situations these 

 beautiful flowers require support, or they are likely to be 

 broken off by rough winds. The different varieties vary con- 

 siderably in height, from about eighteen inches to three, or 

 even four feet ; but these particulars will be found in the de- 

 scriptive catalogues of growers. We have said nothing as to 

 distance of planting these and other bulbs apart, because this 



