VII 



THE CROCUS AND OTHER 

 EARLY BULBS 



TET me begin by presenting these "rumina- 

 •*— ' tions," as he calls them, from the pen of the 

 Reverend Joseph Jacob, of England, whose name 

 is known wherever two or three daffodils or as 

 many tulips are gathered together. "Was there 

 ever a time," writes he, "when bulbs were not pop- 

 ular? Probably not. At all events, there is not 

 much doubt about it at the present time. Every 

 horticultural firm which considers itself at all 

 *up' in the world considers one of its annual 

 necessities the issuing of a bulb-list. Contrari- 

 wise, the reception and perusal of these lists are 

 among the perennial pleasures of every one who 

 has a garden. Bulbs are wonderfully accommo- 

 dating things. I have a tortoise which we call 

 Timmie, and for the last three months he has 

 been fast asleep under some nice dry leaves in the 

 cellar. Just now, with a little careful packing, 

 he could very easily undertake a long journey. 



91 



