BULBOUS PLANTS 



109 



from the larger size bulbs. The spikes of the miriiatures are graceful 

 and produce a very pretty, loosely arranged spike of bloom. They are 

 adapted to informal planting in the border and are useful for cutting. 

 The larger varieties are known as Dutch Hyacinths and are adapted 

 for more regular and formal planting. The Hyacinth appreciates a 

 Ughter soil than most bulbs, and it is advised to set the bulbs on a thin 

 layer of sand. They, of all the bulbs, need protection in Winter. 



Hyacinth. (See Hyacinthus orientalis.) 



Indian Quamash. (See Gamassia esculenta.) 



Iris xiphioides and xiphium (English and Spanish Iris). Unlike the 

 German and Siberian, this class of Iris is bulbous. The bulbs are 

 cheap, and yet so few of this class of Iris are planted that we wish to • 

 commend this excellent group. Plant them in good, friable, well 

 drained soil the latter part of September. They will bloom the next ' 

 Spring in May. The Spanish "Iris wiU start into growth immediately 

 upon being planted. The English will wait till Spring before sprouting.' 

 The two sorts are easily distinguished. The English have wider petals 

 and are found in shades of blue and white only; the Spanish are often 

 yellow as well as blue, white, and other shades, and have comparatively 

 narrow petals; they also bloom two weeks earUer. They are quite 

 susceptible to a certain disease and to lessen its damage it is advised to 

 take up the bulbs soon after their leaves have died down to the ground ; 

 they could then be planted again in September. 



King's Spear. (See Eremurus.) 



Grape Hyacinth. (See Muscari.) 



Lilies. Everyone who has a pretty garden, some time, sooner or later, 

 takes up the growing of Lilies. They are the charm of the border 

 wherever they are planted. Success with Lilies is not difficult if one 

 confines himself to a few sorts which he can grow. LiUes are of such 

 diverse requirements that it is only by careful preparation of soils and 

 individual study of their needs that all kinds can be grown successfully 

 in any one location. The Tiger Lily seems to grow as easily as most 

 weeds and is not even choked by them. 

 Other Lilies prefer good soil, usually 

 light and enriched heavily with peat 

 and leafmold. Manure should not be 

 used except as a mulch. In planting 

 Lilies, then, it seems best to either add 

 the needed sand, peat and leafmold or 

 to actually remove the native soil to a 

 depth of two and a half feet. A good 

 thick layer of leaves or leafmold is al- 

 ways beneficial as a Winter mulch un- 

 less there is a growing ground cover. 

 In Spring the yoimg shoots are fre- 

 quency injured by late frosts and it 

 is well to use a few evergreen boughs. 

 For the landscape they are easily com- 

 bined with shrubbery or the herbaceous 

 border, where they are perfectly at 

 home. The wild yellow or Canada, 

 the Turk's Cap and the yellow speci- 

 osum or Henryi succeed admirably in 



LUy of the Valley pip (reduced). 

 This fragrant flower likes a 

 sandy, moist loam in a semi- 

 shady position. The pips should 

 not be quite buried, but be level 

 with the surface. Give an 

 annual top-dressing of decayed 

 leaves. 



