212 YAED AND GARDEN 



this season of the year. Other desirable bulbs 

 are Chionodoxa grandiflora or C. gigantea, 

 with single blooms an inch and a half across and 

 of a slaty blue color ; Chionodoxa Lucilice, with 

 flowers somewhat smaller but of sky blue, ex- 

 cept the lower part of the petals which is 

 white, and Chionodoxa Sardensis, with flowers 

 still smaller but appearing six or seven on a 

 stalk, and of a darker blue. 



The crocuses are other March bloomers and 

 some of them frequently will open even 

 earlier, according to the weather. Almost all 

 of the named varieties are well worth plant- 

 ing, and if the prices charged for these, usually 

 not more than seventy-five cents a hundred, 

 appear to be somewhat high, the crocus can 

 be had in separate colors — purple, yellow, 

 blue and striped — for prices a third cheaper. 

 There is no reason why everybody, even if 

 only a small strip of ground is available, 

 should not plant generously of them. Once 

 set out they are no further trouble and bloom 

 year after year. 



Crocuses, as well as the other early spring 

 bulbs, should be set from one to two inches 

 below the surface of the ground. When 

 planted in the grass they are usually estab- 



