BULBOUS PLANTS 



where strong color effect is desired. For, in truth, they 

 show uncompromising color, unsoftened by much 

 foliage. Many gardeners delight to form conventional 

 beds of tulips in the three distinct colors of red, white, 

 and yellow. The most beautiful of such beds that 

 I have seen, however, were those of only two colors, — 

 yellow and white. The yellow ones were planted to 

 meet the green of the grass, while the white ones held 

 the central, slightly elevated position of the bed. 

 From a distance this arrangement appeared like some 

 mammoth white flowers deepening to yellow at its 

 edges. In the garden, it is usually a better plan to 

 keep the variously colored tulips apart in masses rather 

 than to intersperse them. 



As a rule, tulip bulbs should be planted four inches 

 deep and about five inches apart. They will live in 

 the ground year after year provided their foliage is 

 allowed to ripen before it is cut down. Every third 

 year they should be taken up and divided and their 

 bed made over before they are reset. 



The earliest of all tulips to bloom is the Due van 

 Thols, of which variety there is one of most brilliant 

 red. They are dwarf in habit, a point which must not 

 be forgotten if they are to be used with others for early 

 spring decoration. The Due van Thols is followed 

 by many varieties of early Dutch tulips, after which 

 the Darwin and Cottage varieties unfold in numbers. 



Gesneriana is one of the most showy of the species 

 of tulips; and the varieties of Parrot tulips bloom after 

 all the others have faded. These latter, which prefer 

 sunny exposures, are most picturesque and unusual. 



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