THE TREATMENT OF BULBS 197 



bulbs, with their fugitive brilliance, seem to have 

 sought the protection of the more enduring shrubs. 

 And this is not altogether fancy in some cases; for 

 Lilies never thrive so well as when they are close to 

 shrubs, not only because the shrubs protect them 

 from frost when their growth is young and tender, 

 but because they like a very rooty soil. Thus, both 

 for horticultural and aesthetic reasons, it is well to 

 grow Lilies such as L. Chalcedonicum and L. pom- 

 ponium close to shrubs such as Lavender or Santoliaa 

 or Rosemary; and both the beauty and the health 

 of the Lilies will be improved by the association. 

 Among such shrubs also may be grown the different 

 kinds of Gladioli, particularly the early flowering 

 ones, which should be planted in the autumn and 

 which will get valuable protection from the shrubs 

 when their growth first appears in the winter. The 

 later Gladioli, if so treated, may take the place of 

 Tulips when they are lifted, and shrubs will be much 

 less dangerous neighbours to them than herbaceous 

 plants which, especially in wet summers, often grow 

 with incalculable rapidity. If bulbs are associated 

 with herbaceous plants the best effect will be obtained 

 where there is the greatest contrast of growth. Thus 

 bulbs which throw up tall straight spikes of bloom 

 should not be planted among herbaceous plants which 

 flower in the same way, but rather among plants of 

 an altogether different habit — for instance. Gladioli 

 among Gypsophilas; Madonna Lilies among the 

 lilac flowered Goat's Rue (Galega) ; Orange Lilies (L. 



