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HARDY BULBS 



AXD TUBERS. 



are several other members of the same family which are quite 

 as hardy, quite as well adapted, and, if anything, even more 

 effective ; yet, how seldom do we see them. Potted up in a 

 formal way, and used for the decoration of the greenhouse and 

 conservatory, they are found in plenty, but that is all. 

 Naturalised, what would give a more delightful effect 

 than the smaller-growing Narcissi, the graceful Anthericums, 

 the neat Snowdrops, the many-hued Crocuses, the bright 

 Alliums and Grape Hyacinths, the distinct Cyclamens, with 

 their characteristically pretty flowers and delicately-marked 

 foliage, or the sweet little Winter iVconites, whose pretty flowers, 

 surrounded by a light green collar, are the first to remind us 

 that spring is at hand ? How different this from the regular 

 lines of bulbs and tubers all too frequently met with in gardens ! 

 The latter is restricted, hard, formal, and unnatural : the former 

 free, simple, and decorative to a degree — Nature, in fact, un- 

 adulterated by Art. It is astonishing to think how slowly we 

 progress with this delightful form of gardening. Even those 

 whose gardens and means are unlimited are slow^ to adopt 

 naturalisation ; and yet these very people are the first to 

 complain of bare patches under the shade of trees. There are 

 bulbs and tubers in goodly variety that would flourish under 

 trees, the flowers brightening up the landscape in spring, and 

 the foliage imparting freshness when the trees themselves were 

 verdant. One of the most useful of these subjects for planting 

 under trees is Cyclamen neapolitamtni^ whose rosy-pink flowers 

 in autumn are no less acceptable and decorative than is its 

 silvery-marbled foliage at other seasons. C. grcBcum can be 

 similarly recommended. Belonging also to the tuberous section 

 are the exquisite Winter Aconite, that will thrive where little 

 else will succeed, the distinctly beautiful Anemone apenriina^ and 

 the native Lesser Celandine {Ranunculus Ficarid) ; while 

 amongst bulbs that might be tried are our native Bluebell {Scilla 

 fiufans), the Spanish Scillas {S. campatiulata and its varieties), 

 and Solomon's Seal [Polygonatum multifloruni). Best of all for 

 the purpose, however, because they will not only thrive under 

 the densest shade, but are proof against the attacks of rats and 

 rabbits, are : Alliuni neapolitanum^ Ornithogalum nutans, O. um- 

 bellatum, and Trillium (Wood Hyacinth). 



It has been urged as an objection to several of the best 

 known spring-flowering bulbous subjects used for garden 

 decoration, that they are bare of foliage at the time of 



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