196 STUDIES IN GARDENING 



the true Lilies, and Galtonias. Some of these, espe- 

 cially Madonna Lilies, resent disturbance, and it is 

 the bulbs which resent disturbance that we have 

 learnt to grow in the most beautiful and rational way. 

 No doubt, if Madonna Lilies could be treated like 

 Tulips, they would often be bedded out like Tulips, 

 and all their beauty would be spoilt. As it is, we grow 

 them in the border and treat them like herbaceous 

 plants, with excellent results. We should extend the 

 same treatment to other bulbous plants, so far as 

 their needs will allow. Thus, the May flowering 

 Tulips should be planted in clumps of eight or ten at 

 regular intervals along a border, and if a hundred or 

 more of the same kind — say, of Gesneriana or Picotee 

 — are then planted in the same border, they will pro- 

 duce a brilliant effect of colour just when it is most 

 needed, whether in contrast with flowering plants 

 about them such as Wallflower or Forget-me-not, 

 or with shrubs not yet in flower, such as Lavender 

 or Santolina. And, if necessary, they may be lifted 

 when they die down, just as Wallflowers and Forget- 

 me-not are taken up when they go out of flower, and 

 other plants or bulbs may be put in their place. 



The contrast between the grey foliage of shrubs, 

 such as Lavender or Santolina or Southernwood, and 

 the brilliant flowers of bulbs, such as Gladioli, Eng- 

 lish and Spanish Irises, and some of the smaller Lilies, 

 is always most effective; and the beauty of the con- 

 trast depends as much upon the difference of char- 

 acter in the plants as upon difference of colour. The 



