APRIL 49 



is well to avoid the common one {Muscari racemosum), 

 at any rate in light soilSj where it becomes a trouble- 

 some weed. One of the best is M. conicum ; this, with 

 the upright-leaved M. botryoides, and its white variety, 

 are the best for general use, but the Plume Hyacinth, 

 which flowers later, should have a place. Ornithogalum 

 nutans is another of the bulbous plants that, though 

 beautiful in flower, becomes so pestilent a weed that 

 it is best excluded. 



Where and how the early flowering bulbs had best 

 be planted is a question of some difficulty. Perhaps 

 the mixed border, where they are most usually put, is 

 the worst place of all, for when in flower they only 

 show as forlorn little patches of bloom rather far apart, 

 and when their leaves die down, leaving their places 

 looking empty, the ruthless spade or trowel stabs into 

 them when it is desired to fill the space with some 

 other plant. Moreover, when the border is manured 

 and partly dug in the autumn, it is difficult to avoid 

 digging up the bulbs just when they are in full root- 

 growth. Probably the best plan is to devote a good 

 space of cool bank to small bulbs and hardy ferns, 

 planting the ferns in such groups as will leave good 

 spaces for the bulbs ; then as their leaves are going 

 the fern fronds are developing and will cover the 

 whole space. Another way is to have them among 

 any groups of newly planted small shrubs, to be left 

 there for spring blooming until the shrubs have covered 

 their allotted space. 



