GARDENING FOR LITTLE GIRLS 
but few individuals—let alone a nation—would 
grow so wildly enthusiastic as once did the 
Dutch, as to spend every last possession to buy 
tulips! But we dearly love all of these groups, 
and are using them in increasing numbers every 
season. The fascinating work of growing certain 
kinds indoors during the winter I tell you about 
in the chapter on ‘‘The Care of House Plants,’’ so 
here we will consider the outdoor culture. 
The delicate snowdrop is the very earliest of 
these visitors, and planted in groups in half-shady 
places,—like under trees,—where they will not be 
disturbed, will thereafter take care of themselves. 
Then quickly follow the lovely crocuses, white, yel- 
low, lavender, purple, and the varigated, which 
often are planted right where they fall after be- 
ing seattered broadcast over the lawn,—though if 
the head of the house cuts the grass before the mid- 
dle of April they should be set in a bed where they 
will not be touched. 
Hyacinths are beautiful, but personally I do 
not care much about them in the garden, as they 
generally have to be planted in masses to get any 
effect, and need, therefore, to be used in large num- 
bers, are more expensive than the other bulbs, and 
should be taken out of the ground soon after bloom- 
ing and stored in a cool place until fall. However, 
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