THE TREATMENT OF BULBS 199 



them. It is also possible, of course, to sow some low 

 growing hardy annual over them, especially over the 

 Scillas and Chionodoxas, which like to be planted deep 

 in a light soil. But this is not so easy to manage with 

 Crocuses, which like to be planted just under the sur- 

 face. The best plan of all, perhaps, with these little 

 bulbs is to plant the Crocuses and Muscaris in the 

 grass, where they will thrive, and the Scillas and 

 Chionodoxas and Puschkinias on some sunny bank 

 which they can have to themselves. Such a bank 

 may be carpeted with Sedum with excellent effects. 

 Scilla sibirica may also be grown in the grass, where 

 it is not too thick and coarse; but it usually thrives 

 better under a Sedum. 



There are the same difficulties to be dealt with in 

 the case of the smaller autumn flowering bulbs, such 

 as Crocus speciosus. Crocus zonatus, and Crocus 

 pulchellus, Sternbergia lutea, and the Colchicums. 

 The last of these will usually do well in the grass where 

 the soil is good and not too dry. The others are best 

 grown like the Chionodoxas in places which they can 

 have to themselves. The autumn Crocuses can be 

 mixed with Scillas and Chionodoxas, so that there 

 may be flowers in the same spot both in spring and 

 autumn. They are of the easiest culture. Stern- 

 bergias are not so easy, and in some places they re- 

 fuse to flower. They seem to require a light soil and 

 a warm sheltered place, and they are the better for 

 lime in the soil. A carpeting of Sedum will protect 

 them in the winter. 



In most gardens there are odd places too dry or 



