40 



VIGTOIUAL PRJCTIGAL BULB GBOWIXQ. 



appearance, but is gladl}^ tolerated because it aids substantially in 

 producing one of the most charming corners of the garden in spring. 



It has already been said that the bulbs ^vhich have done a season 

 of excellent service in the greenhouse are of the utmost value for 

 planting in grass, and, unfortunately, some persons appear to think 

 that because old bulbs are being utilised it becomes little more than 

 a waste of valuable time to give care and thought to good and 

 effective work. This is not, however, the way to set about any 

 gardening operation, or it is certain that failure in a greater or lesser 

 degree wull be the lot of the gardener. Success demands that each 

 detail shall have proper attention, and grass gardening aflbrds no 

 exception to the role. 



The commonest error of all is that which results in the bulbs 

 being planted in lines, and thus tends to bring the formality of the 

 flower garden beyond its sphere. Straight lines or regular curves 

 should be avoided, and the planting must be so done as to give 

 the best possible idea of natural growth. This is by no means an 

 easy thing to do, more especially where the amount of space avail- 

 able for the purpose is at all limited. The most satisfactory results 

 have been found to follow upon the studied neglect of any suspicion 

 of a plan, and this is best ensured by standing some little distance 

 away from the place that is to be planted and, taking a good 

 handful of bulbs, throwing vigorously so as to make them scatter as 

 much as possible. Or, as an excellent alternative, stand in the 

 centre of the area and throw the handful of bulbs high above the 

 head, giving the wrist a rotatory motion at the moment of ejection. 

 In both cases the subsequent movements will be the same, and will 

 consist of putting each bulb into the soil at the spot where it fell. 



Some objection may be raised to this practice on the score that 

 there is a liability of many of the bulbs being lost through its 

 adoption, but, as a matter of fact, the danger in this direction is 

 slight, and if one or two do go astray it will not be a serious matter, 

 as the varieties which are usually requisitioned for the purpose are 

 not generally the expensive ones, but rather those which can be 

 bought very cheaply. iVgain, the shortness of the grass in autumn 

 w^hen the planting is done favours the ready finding of every bulb 

 by an operator who exercises a reasonable amount of care in his 

 work. 



In the distribution of the bulbs in the manner indicated, one 

 has to take into previous consideration the space at command, and 

 whether it is desired to have masses of one kind or variety, or a 

 mixture of as many as can be got together. There can scarcely be 

 two opinions as to which system will produce the more striking 

 effects, and that is separate masses. But this means that a fairly 

 extensive amount of room must be accorded, as two or three bulbs 

 of a variety are apt to look somewhat forlorn in their splendid 

 isolation. Let the determining factor, therefore, be size and nothing 

 else, having masses or mixtures just as the space ^vill allow. If the 

 latter is the only feasible plan, then mix Tulips, Crocuses, Snake's 



