12 



PICTORIAL PBACTICAL BULB GBOWING. 



bring magnlBcent spikes of Hyacintlis to delight us in the spring. 

 It Tvill then suffice to double dig the ground as soon as the 

 summer plants have been removed, as this will ensure what food 

 there is in tlie soil being distributed equally throughout the 

 bed, and thus aid in providing an even display of flowers. A 

 dressing of superphosphate at the rate of 2 oz. per square yard 

 may be given. 



In bulb planting, consideration must be had for the kind of plant 

 with which we are dealing, as some require different soil and positions 

 from others. For example. Liliums would fail or, at best, only 

 produce poor spikes in a situation that would be regarded as an 

 ideal one for the sun loving Tulip or Daffodil. When it is possible, 

 the Liliums ought to be given a spot where the base of the 

 plants will be beneath the shade of other things, such, for instance, 

 as amidst the Ehododendrons, as their roots will then always 

 be in the cool, beyond the burning influence of the rays of the 

 sun. Another reason why they api:)reciate this position is because 

 many of them are peat lovers, similarly to the plants amidst which 

 they are growing, though, like them again, they may be successfully 

 cultivated in well-drained fibrous loam. It is in recognising such 

 apparently sn:iall points as this that the secret of the striking success 

 of many of our best bulb and plant growers may be said to lie. 



Planting in borders is, in several cases, similar to planting 

 in beds, but it may, and often does, differ materially therefrom. 

 When the space to be occupied has been utilised as a ribbon border 

 with plants of the same types as are grown in beds, then the 

 preparations will be precisely the same, as in both cases the soil will 

 have l';ad manure worked into it in the previous spring. When, 

 however, the bulbs are to be planted in clumps between large stools of 

 herbaceous and other plants, it may be necessary to ndopt different 

 tactics in . order to ensure the greatest success. Here, again, it may 

 be said that the soil is usually plenty rich enough for bulbs, but 

 should this not be the case it will nut be a matter of any difficulty 

 to excavate some top soil, and with the second spit incorporate 

 as much thoroughly decomposed manure as is deemed desirable. 

 Or if this does not commend itself to the cultivator, either from 

 lack of manure or other cause, remove a good amount of the 

 ordinary soil and occupy its place with some old potting mould, this 

 always being suitable for bulbs. Of all the different kinds that 

 are commonly grown in our gardens, Datiodils like the richest soil. 

 Anemones give beautiful effects (see p. 13) with a little yard manure. 



During comparatively recent years an endeavour has been made 

 to persuade the inexperienced that bulbs which are planted as late 

 a.s, or even later than, Christmas will flower as satisfactorily as those 

 that are put in position at the end of October or in November. 

 This is not correct, and in the case of Daffodils there is a distinct 

 loss of vigour when the planting is postponed later than October, 

 and a marked gain in the quality of the blooms if the bulbs 

 can be put into their places in August. 



