BULBS IN GFvASS. 



39 



Cl)apter \^ I Bulbs in 6ra$$^ 



I The charms of bulbous flowers are never better exemplified than 

 |f when the blooms are seen rising from the soft green turf and 

 il swaying in the slightest breeze that blows. Their popularisation 

 j for this purpose is largely due to the admirable manner in which 

 , they have been employed in the botanic gardens in various parts of 

 f the country, notably at Kew. where the annual displays rank with 

 the most beautiful horticultural features of the year ; to the splendid 

 effects that the superintendents of our public parks and gardens 

 have made, one of the finest London pictures being in Battersea 

 Park ; and to the strenuous support that the system has received 

 from such leading lights in the world of gardening as Miss Wiilmott, 

 V.iVr.H., and Mr. Wm. Eobinson, These enthusiastic amateurs have 

 put Daffodils in the turf of their estates in all directions, and the 

 results are beautiful beyond description in the early months of the 

 year. 



It is, unfortunately, not possible for every one of us to plant bulbs 

 in the numbers that we see in the places adverted to in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph, for the simple reason that our gardens are not 

 sufficiently large to allow of it. We may, however, all do a little in 

 the right direction by utilising the bulbs which have been flowered 

 in pots, and which are too frequently thrown away, for positions in 

 the grass v/here the ragged appearance created by the dying leaves 

 of the bulbs and the coarse condition of grass consequent upon 

 neglect of cutting is not deemed too serious an eyesore. Herein 

 lies the one disadvantage that accrues to the cultivation of bulbs 

 in grass, for it is imperative that the foliage be left upon the plants 

 until, having turned quite yellow, it has obviously fulfilled its 

 functions and may be removed. This process of perfect maturation, 

 which is so essential to success, involves delay in mowing, hence the 

 undesirabilit}^ of planting bulbs immediately in sight of windows, 

 where the untidiness would undoubtedly be intolerable. 



Pa^sin^ a short distance from the parterre, which is always kept 

 trim and tidy, so as to be in harmony with the external appearance 

 of the house, there will probably come a bend in the grass with a 

 background of shrubs and trees, and it is from just such spots as 

 these that the greatest value can be derived in grass gardening, for 

 the visitor treading the smooth turf will turn quite unexpectedly 

 upon a picture of golden Daflbdils or gorgeous Tulips, whose flowers, 

 with their soft background, will astonish and delight him beyond 

 measure. Here the long grass does not irritate by its unkempt 



