EARLY BULBS 



come from each crocus bulb set in earth, from 

 Muscari azureum, the small and early sky-blue, 

 I usually have but two, and the tiny things 

 seem not to spread, to multiply, as the crocus 

 does. 



Of the other grape hyacinths, a delightful color 

 picture is seen each May on either side of my 

 little brick walk. The late muscari Heavenly 

 Blue clusters below the pale-yellow lily-hke 

 heads of Tulipa retrqUexa, and below the grape 

 hyacinth (whose strong dark-blue has a metallic 

 quality) quantities of fine myosotis plants are 

 blooming at the same moment. 



The earliest muscari are true crocus companions 

 — azureum in dense companies, with crocus Mont 

 Blanc (cut facing page 86) — or with such a lav- 

 ender as Madame Mina a most unusual color 

 combination may be made. 



Since the spring of 1912 I have felt that I 

 must take up my pen for the crocus, to introduce 

 it in a few of its newer and less-known varieties 

 to those who have never grown those at all. 



The desire to get "something for nothing" is 

 quite as noticeable among the guild of amateur 

 gardeners as among those who find joy in bar- 

 gain sales. And in the crocus we have first of all 



