BULBS 139 
the preceding autumn—generally in October. Only 
the tulip, hyacinth, narcissus and crocus are very 
well adapted for general formal planting. For 
such planting place hyacinths six inches apart, tu- 
lips, four, daffodils three and the crocus and other 
small bulbs two. But with any spring bulb the 
most satisfactory planting is informal. Use clumps 
and drifts and aim for effects with a few good 
varieties, so far as the garden proper is concerned. 
Other varieties may be colonized here and there in 
the shrubberies. Combine a May tulip with a 
perennial rather than with another variety so as 
to secure marked form as well as color contrast. 
Small or large clumps of tulips (selfs), hyacinths, 
narcissus, and almost any of the little bulbs are 
very effective when scattered irregularly through 
the ‘hardy garden. Use the imposing crown im- 
perial only when it can be insured permanency of 
location; it dislikes being disturbed. The little 
bulbs, however, are best colonized under deciduous 
shrubs—where a great many kinds can be grown 
in unutilized space and left to themselves for 
years. Some of them, especially scillas, spread 
rapidly by self-sown seed. If there is a stretch 
of thin grass that is not cut very early, naturalize 
some of the bulbs; single trumpet daffodils, Tu- 
lipa sylvestris, May-blooming tulips (selfs), grape 
hyacinths, snowdrops, scillas, guinea-hen flower and 
crocus are all willing subjects. 
Summer flowers from bulbs that withstand the 
northern winter in the open ground are largely the 
