412 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



October, 1910 



How to divide daffodil bulb — the offshoots on both sides will grow to 

 make flowering bulbs 



died down it is well to lift the bulbs and take away the 

 young offshoots which will be found by the side of the 

 parent root. The method of removing these is illustrated 

 in an accompanying photograph, and the youngsters should 

 be planted out in a nursery bed for about a year when 

 many of them will have grown into flowering size. Such 

 things as Snowdrops, Scillas, the pretty little Grape Hya- 

 cinths, and Crocuses will go on increasing from year to 

 year. With the last named it is very desirable to arrange 

 a replanting of the bulbs in the ground every other season, 

 if not each year. It is the curious habit of Crocuses to 

 develop their new bulbs right on the top of the old ones, 

 and as a natural consequence the roots get nearer and 

 nearer to the surface of the soil. Of course in a state of 

 nature the accumulation of dead foliage insures that the 

 bulbs shall be sufficiently covered, but this fact does not 

 operate in a garden, where in the course of a few years the 

 roots will nearly stand up bare of mold. 



All the spring flowering bulbs are very accommodating 

 regarding the question of soil, and in a general way it may 

 be said that they will grow anywhere. A stiff clogging con- 



dition is the least suitable and if one's garden is of this 

 nature it will be well to lighten the ground with sand or 

 some such material. It is well to remember that generally 

 speaking all bulbous plants like light soils. On the whole 

 Narcissi seem to suffer least from a rather damp position 

 and indeed some kinds may be said to flourish in such cir- 

 cumstances. The question of the depth at which bulbs 

 should be planted is an important one, and it is safe to 

 say that most people err on the side of not planting their 

 bulbs deep enough. This is particularly the case in 

 the colder parts of the temperate regions where there is a 

 serious danger of the roots being damaged by frost. It 

 must be borne in mind that however deep the bulbs may 

 be planted the first heavy rains of the fall will cause a 

 settlement In the soil which will materially lessen the pro- 

 tective covering, and leave the roots at the mercy of the 

 first cold spell. Of course the bulbs must not be buried 

 too far down, as, if the shoots have a very long way to 

 grow up, they will become materially weakened by the 

 effort. As a general all round rule, applicable to most of 

 the spring flowering bulbs, it may be taken that about 

 two and a half times the depth of any bulb, measuring from 

 crown to base is a safe one at which to plant. An old- 

 fashioned plan, but one strongly to be recommended, is 

 that of covering the bottom of the hole in which the 

 bulb is to be placed with a thick layer of white sand. This 

 insures a rapid starting of root growth and will reduce to 



A cluster of crocuses are pleasing to look on in early spring 



Dry crocuses should be taken up and planted deeper every few 



years. The new bulbs are formed on top of the old ones, 



as shown in the picture 



a minimum the number of bulbs which rot away because 

 they cannot cope with the moisture surrounding them. 



Although they cannot strictly be called bulbous plants, 

 the splendid Poppy Anemones should always find a place 

 with the kinds mentioned above. These are quite the finest 

 of the spring flowering plants and whether they are grown 

 for garden effect or for gathering they are in every way 

 admirable. Moreover they can remain from year to year 

 in the ordinary border, and will increase considerably In a 

 situation which pleases them. It is very Important that 

 Anemones should have a place In a thoroughly well-drained 

 bed, and if there is any danger of water standing about 

 the soil, the mold should be worked up to a considerable 

 height above the general level of the garden. The roots, 

 which strongly resemble dried ginger should be planted two 

 or three Inches deep — the time for doing so being in the 

 early autumn. If the planting Is spread over a few weeks 

 this will insure a long succession of bloom from the early 

 spring until very nearly the summer time. These Poppy 

 Anemones are not shade seeking plants, and the more sunny 

 the position the better. On a south border one may look 

 for a goodly show of bloom in the autumn in addition to 

 that which naturally comes in the spring. 



