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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



of them can be advantageously interspersed among either shrubs or ordinary spring 

 flowering plants, the bulbous-rooted section not interfering or being injured by 

 association with the other occupants of the beds. Winter aconites, snowdrops, and 

 crocuses are the earliest to brighten the beds and borders ; anemones, scillas, tulips, 

 hyacinths and narcissi following closely upon these, ranunculuses being the latest to 

 flower, all imparting colour to the garden when most wanted. 



Much might be said in favour of planting a variety of bulbous-rooted plants 

 about the lawns in positions where either the mowing machine or scythe are not used 

 early in the season. Anemones, bulbocodiums, colchicums, irises, leucojums, narcissi, 

 scillas, snowdrops, sternbergias, and winter aconites arc all well adapted for this 

 phase of spring flower gardening. They ought not to be mixed indiscriminately 

 nor thickly planted ; group the different kinds in as natural a manner as possible, 

 forming colonies in positions where they will be seen to advantage, and where there 

 will be no real necessity to mow before the foliage has died down. Plant thinly 

 in order that the leaves may not unduly damage the grass, and deeply, or at the same 

 depth that will be recommended for those bedded out in the usual manner. Any 

 special preparation of the soil, unless it is done and the bulbs planted before grassing 

 down those parts of the lawn, is out of the question. It can be dispensed with. 

 Open holes with either a trowel or dipper, and let each choice bulb or tuber have a 

 little sharp sand to rest upon. Cover with fine soil. Nothing further need be done 

 till in the course of a few years it may be found necessary to lift, divide and replant 

 crowded masses of bulbs. 



Bulbous and Tuberous-Rooted Plants for Gardens. 



Axemoxes (Windflower). — A. apennina ; height 6 

 to 9 inches ; pale blue ;,i March and April. 

 A. ncniorosa, the common wood anemone, best 

 represented by ecerulea; blue; flore pleno, 

 double white ; and Robinsoniana, bright azure 

 blue. Heights 6 to 8 inches ; flowering period 

 March and April. A. coronaria (poppy ane- 

 mone), of which there are several varieties, 

 double and single, in different shades of colour, 

 the most serviceable and popular of all the 

 anemones ; flowering season from March to 

 June; height 9 to 12 inches. A. pulsatilla 

 (Pasque flower) in variety is also suitable for 

 spring bedding and planting in turf ; height 

 6 to 12 inches; April. With the last-named A. 



vernalis, violet and white, may be associated. A 

 sandy soil suits anemones, and they should be 

 disposed 6 inches by 4 inches apart, surrounding 

 the tubers with sand, and covering with 2 inches 

 of soil. If an early display is desired, plant late 

 in September or the first week in October. They 

 succeed best when not often disturbed, but have 

 to be lifted out of flower-beds late in May, when 

 the tubers ought to be well harvested prior to 

 storing in boxes of sand and a cool dry shed. 

 Propagate by division and seed, the latter method 

 admitting of the most rapid increase. Seed should 

 be sown directly it is ripe. Pirst get rid of the 

 cottony down adhering by rubbing the seeds in 

 dry sand, and then sow thinly in either well- 



