October, 1 9 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



357 



and should be used as most 

 effective details; also in long 

 narrow borders, and especi- 

 ally against a background of 

 shrubs and hardy flowers or 

 against the wall or veranda 

 of a house, they are not only 

 quite permissible but quite 

 charming. But on the whole 

 the more naturalistic the ef- 

 fect you can obtain the better 

 it will be. Bulbs such as 

 Tulips, which should be 

 taken up every year, may well 

 be used amongst shrubs such 

 as Roses or among hardy 

 Perennials which bloom in a 

 later period of the season ; Bulb bed, showing Hyacinth 



but less annual care will be required and on the whole more 

 pleasing results obtained if some of the hardier things, such 

 as the Narcissi, can be "naturalized," and especially so if 

 the place be so fortunate as to possess some pond or stream 

 or other shaded nook or corner or long curve where the 

 "naturalizing 1 ' can be made to look absolutely natural. For 

 this purpose too, the hardy Lilies which bloom later in the 

 Summer and need practically no attention are very 

 valuable. 



• Do not be afraid to look over your own place; and in 

 solving your problems and in making out your bulb order, to 

 depart radically from what you may have done before or 

 what your neighbors may be doing. Five dollars' worth of 

 bulbs placed judiciously about the grounds will make a more 

 striking and noticeable effect than thirty dollars' worth, 

 massed in a few splotches and contortions to "knock your 

 eye out" — to say nothing of the fact that they will be in 

 infinitely better taste. 



Of course, bulbs will do better in some soils than in 

 others, but they will do well in almost any soil which you 



are likely to encounter; espe- 

 cially those bulbs which are 

 frequently replaced, for the 

 grower of the bulbs has al- 

 ready stored up in it enough 

 energy to produce flowers 

 for a couple of seasons; in 

 fact, you will find upon cut- 

 ting such a bulb through 

 from the top to the bottom, 

 the miniature "cross-section" 

 of the complete flower which 

 is to be thrown up the follow- 

 ing year. 



But the question of soil 

 must not be confused with 

 that of situation; thorough 

 bulbs in position for planting drainage is absolutely neces- 



sary for success with bulbs; no matter how finely worked or 

 rich your soil may be, if it is so placed or of such a char- 

 acter that it will remain water-logged after a heavy rain or 

 during the Winter, failure is pretty certain to result (some 

 "bulbous" plants, however, such as Iris, will do very well 

 in low wet positions) . If the drainage is not good naturally, 

 it must be made so artificially, and this is the first step to 

 be taken. Where- a limited number of bulbs are to be set, 

 drainage may be very quickly and certainly secured by mak- 

 ing the holes for the bulbs extra deep and depositing in 

 each a handful of coarse sand or cinders before placing the 

 bulbs. The soft, true bulbs such as the hardy Lilies should 

 have two or three inches of sand beneath them and if the soil 

 is at all likely to be wet it should be brought up about the 

 sides as well. 



Bulbs not only need to be protected from moisture but 

 from contact with manure, especially if it is at all fresh. If 

 the soil contains much manure a little sand around the bulbs 

 will answer for this purpose, as well as that of drainage. 

 If the soil needs enrichment at the time of planting, it is 



The Crocus is one of the most attractive bulbs for naturalizing 



