CULTIVATION OF PERENNIALS, BIENNIALS, ETC. 97 
BULBOUS PERENNIALS. 
They are of three kinds,—viz.: hardy, or such that 
grow in the open border; halfhardy, such as will not 
stand out over winter, or requiring a frame or the green- 
house; and stove, or those that will not grow to perfec- 
tion without artificial heat. Of these last we shall have 
nothing to say. Many of the half-hardy are perfected 
when planted in the open ground in the spring, and are 
sometimes called spring bulbs, as the Gladiolus, ete. 
The Anemone and Ranunculus, are half-hardy, requiring 
the protection of a frame or otherwise. 
Hardy bulbs, with few exceptions, are remarkably easy 
of cultivation, and, if planted in proper soil and situation, 
seldom fail to produce plenty of offsets and seeds for pro- 
pagation. . 
The best kind of soil for their growth is a light loam, 
rather sandy than otherwise, yet not too light, or the 
bulbs will be injured during the heat of summer, and, if 
it be adhesive, they invariably grow weakly, and seldom 
flower. 
As to the depth the different bulbs require to be planted 
in the ground, no certain rule can be laid down, as some 
species require to be planted from three to five inches, 
while others not more than one and a halfdeep. The 
different depths will be given as each variety is described. 
Encourage as much as possible the growth of the 
leaves, by giving them free exposure to light and air; for 
on the full development of*these depends the flowering of 
another year. If the leaves grow strong, a good quantity 
of nutriment is stored up in the bulbs and a good bloom 
is the consequence. 
Never, if it can be avoided, disturb the roots by re- 
moval during their growth; but if obliged to do so, select 
a wet day, and take them up with good balls, so as not to 
injure the fibrous roots. 
5 
