BULBS 173 



some varieties of iris ; pips, sucli, for example, 

 as the flowering crowns of the lily-of-the-val- 

 ley and other fasciculated fleshy roots, such as 

 those of the ranunculus or peony. 



Very few present any difficult problems so 

 far as cultivation is concerned and the com- 

 moner sorts especially are easily raised. As a 

 rule, all of them produce flowers of extraordi- 

 nary beauty which not infrequently are deli- 

 ciously fragrant. They comprise, moreover, 

 endless variety in color, form, size and habit, 

 and are adaptable on this account for many 

 purposes. An advantage, often overlooked, is 

 the fact that, following their season of bloom, 

 their foliage matures and falls and no part of 

 the plant shows above the ground to present an 

 unsightly, faded appearance. When this tran- 

 sition has occurred and the period of rest is en- 

 tered they can in most instances be lifted and 

 stored away for future use, and in the beds 

 they occupied new plants may be set to con- 

 tinue the succession of bloom throughout the 

 season. 



Although this class embraces almost num- 

 berless varieties, nurserymen divide the group 

 into two divisions — hardy varieties, which 

 withstand freezing, and the tender varieties 



