IRISES AND TENDER BULBS 237 



cause it will flower in shady situations. In a 

 spot where other flowers have persistently re- 

 fused to grow, the tuberous-rooted begonia 

 will frequently be found at its best. They are 

 best started in the house during March and 

 April in pots and then planted out of doors 

 the latter part of May. If started early enough 

 indoors, they will be in bloom by the middle of 

 June and will continue to flower until frost. 

 They thrive best in a rich, loose, moisture-re- 

 taining soil and prefer a considerable quantity 

 of leaf-mold to which has been added a lib- 

 eral amount of sharp sand. The bulbs should 

 be planted three inches deep and ten or twelve 

 inches apart. 



Montbretias are desirable when planted in 

 groups of fifty or a hundred bulbs. The bulbs 

 are planted in the spring about four inches 

 deep and will prove hardy when afforded a 

 winter protection of litter four or five inches 

 deep. 



The summer hyacinth, {Hyacinthus can- 

 dicans), bears large, white, bell-shaped flowers 

 on stout stalks two or three feet high. For 

 best effects this must be planted in clumps and, 

 like the Montbretia, proves hardy when given 

 protection during the winter. Tuberoses and 



