244 HOME FLORICULTURE 



some for planting about two weeks later By making 

 successive plantings you can prolong the season for a 

 month or more, thus securing fully two months' dis- 

 play of beauty from this charming flower. 



I prefer to plant the bulbs in clumps or masses. 

 In this way a much better effect is secured than by 

 planting singly. Try it once and you will never care 

 to plant bulbs alone, or in rows again. 



Something should be given to support the flower 

 stalks when they appear. When planted in clumps, 

 half a dozen bulbs to a clump, three stakes can be set 

 to which a hoop of wire can be fastened. By passing 

 strings back and forth among the stakes, and fastening 

 them to the wire, all the support needed will be given, 

 and the wire and strings used will not be so obtrusive 

 as to be unsightly. This method of support is much 

 preferable to tying the stalks to sticks, as it allows 

 them to have plenty of freedom, thus preventing that 

 stiff effect which always results from tying up 

 each stalk. 



One might suppose, from the great popularity of 

 this flower, that it would be expensive. Such is not 

 the case, however. It can be bought very cheaply. 

 Seedling collections are offered at very low prices, and 

 from them you will obtain many flowers quite as fine 

 as any of the named varieties. Some of the latter 

 cost three, four and five dollars each. This amount 

 of money invested in seedlings will get bulbs enough 

 to fill a large bed. If you want certain colors you 

 will have to buy the named bulbs in order to be 

 sure of getting what you want, but for general pur- 

 poses the cheaper bulbs are quite as good. 



There seems to be no limit to the range and variety 

 of colors. Rose, scarlet, crimson, lilac, violet, cherry, 

 yellow, white — and all these so combined in such a 

 manner as to give you a fl')wer rivaling an Orchid in 



