BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



203 



frequent removal so well as most bulbous- rooted 

 plants. If planted either in groups or along the 

 fronts of borders and not often disturbed, they will 

 continue to improve, especially if given an annual 

 top-dressing of rich compost. 



Iris. — The majority of irises are too late in flowering to 

 be used for spring bedding, but exceptions may be 

 made in favour of I. persica in variety. Height 6 

 inches; flowering period April and May; and I. 

 reticulata, 9 inches ; deep violet purple ; February 

 and March ; both belong to the bulbous-rooted 

 section. Plant any time from September to De- 

 cember in a sandy, loamy mixture or good garden 

 soil, 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart each way. 

 They succeed best when not disturbed oftener than 

 once in three years, but may be lifted, harvested 

 and stored in sand till wanted again ; increased 

 by division and seed. 



Narcissi. — This large and deservedly popular family 

 will be found treated under the heading Herba- 

 ceous and Border Plants, as it is in mixed and 

 other borders where they are principally grown. 

 If used for filling flower-beds they would of necessity 

 have to be moved soon after flowering, and this 

 spoils them for the following season. N. tazetta, 

 or Polyanthus Narcissus, in variety, is the only 

 section largely bedded out, and fresh bulbs are 

 bought for the purpose every season. They should 

 be treated in every respect similarly to hyacinths. 

 April and May is the flowering period. 



Ranunculus. — It is the Turban section of R. asiaticus 

 that is bedded out, and of these there are a dozen 



Fig-. 98. Planting Ranunculus Tubers. 

 a, Incorrect ; b, correct method. 



or more varieties, the colours comprising carmine, 

 crimson, scarlet, black, orange, yellow, and white. 



D D 



The tubers ought not to be planted before January, 

 or as early in the year as the ground can be got 

 into a fit condition for their reception. If planted 

 early in February the flowering season would be 

 April and May. A moderately rich, freely- worked 

 soil is needed, and the tubers should not be spread 

 out and planted near the surface as shown at a, 

 Fig. 98, but planted claws downwards as shown at 

 b, in cavities two inches deep, with fine soil and 

 sharp sand about them. They are liable to fail in 

 lumpy soil. Ranunculuses may be disposed 6 to 8 

 inches apart, and should be heavily mulched with 

 leaf soil, or receive a light covering of short manure. 

 Propagated by division of the tubers. 



Scilla.— For edging purposes S. trifolia and S. sibirica 

 are most effective. Both attain a height of 3 to 4 

 inches, are rich blue in colour, and at their best in 

 March and April. Planted 3 inches deep in light 

 sandy soil, they may be left undisturbed for several 

 years. S. hispanica, synonym S. campanulata, a 

 species that bears a strong resemblance to the 

 wild blue bell, only stronger in growth, forms 

 flower spikes from 6 to 9 inches long; colours 

 white, pale blue, and flesh ; May. In this instance 

 the bulbs may be lifted soon after the leaves die 

 down, and after drying, store in boxes of sand. 

 Suitable for margins of large beds. Plant in broad 

 bands. Scillas can be increased by division. 



Triteleia tjniflora (Star Flower). — Height 6 to 9 

 inches ; colour pale lilac ; April and May. A 

 charming companion for the smaller scillas, and 

 should receive similar treatment. Ought not to be 

 often disturbed. 



Tulips. — During April and the early part of May the 

 beds can be made very gay with single tulips, the 

 double flowering varieties expanding later. In- 

 tending planters of these cannot do better than 

 consult a bulb catalogue, and be guided in their 

 selection by the reliable descriptions there given. 

 It is only the comparatively cheap varieties that are 

 extensively bedded out. Groups or bands of one 

 colour are more effective than mixtures, and tulips 

 in common with hyacinths and narcissi may be 

 dotted among dwarf annuals and perennials. The 

 dwarf early flowering Van Thols may be planted 4 

 inches apart, and 3 inches deep, but the larger 

 varieties should be 6 inches asunder. In heavy re- 

 tentive ground surround each bulb with fine sandy 

 soil. Tulips are not often raised from seed in this 

 country, but are principally increased by offsets 

 (see Fig. 97), detaching these when the foliage 

 is dead, and they may be planted at once or stored 

 till the autumn. 



