DWARF BEARDED IRIS 



For tlie rock garden, or for the edge of a border 

 planting these are among the earliest of spring 

 flowers and among the most colorful. Plant them in 

 groups of several of a kind for best effect. They in- 

 crease very fast and soon form a dense clump. We 

 offer three varieties, all lieavy l)loomers and less than 

 six inches high. 



CYANEA. A l)rilliaiit ird-iiurpk'. 



COERULEA. Lovely sky-lilue, clear in tone, and one of 

 the first to l)looni. 



ORANGE QUEEN. A clean bright yellow; large flowers. 



I'lici's: The alxive dwaifs are 25c each, three for 50c, ten 

 for $1.50, a hundred for $10. 



How to Grow Lilies Successfully 



"Probably success with Lilies is among the proudest 

 achievements tliat the gardener knows, yet many hesitate to 

 seek it because of the difficulties believed to attend the cul- 

 ture of these noble flowers. And while it is quite true that 

 certain species demand special conditions for their welfare, 

 it is also true that many will thrive under ordinary garden 

 conditions. Failure is nearly always due to a lack of under- 

 standing of the nature and requirements of the various 

 species, for, as a matter of fact, no garden is so poor and 

 hungry of soil, or so moist and shady, but it will successfully 

 entertain several kinds of Lilies. 



"Winter damp and late spring frosts cause disaster among 

 them far more than actual cold; these are the forces chiefly 

 to be guarded against. To this end, good, sharp drainage 

 should be given all Lilies, and some sort of protective herb- 

 age tlirough which the forward young shoots may make their 

 way secure against unexpected frosts and rough winds. Later 

 this herbage — it may be dwarf growing shrubs, ferns, or 

 herbaceous plants — gives to the mature stem the protection 

 it craves from the too great heat of the sun, and keeps the 

 ground above the bulb more or less cool. These safeguarding 

 conditions are always found wherever Lilies grow naturally, 

 and such a broad hint from Nature will not be ignored by 

 the wise. 



"In planting Lilies in situations that are actually swampy, 

 E. H. Wilson tells us to 'Invert the flower pot at the requis- 

 ite depth, ]ilace the bulb on the upturned base, and surround 

 it with silver or gritty river-sand.' This device somewhat 

 reproduces its natural conditions. 



"On the other hand, nearly all Ijilies are dependent upon 

 considerable moisture during the growing season and greatly 

 relish coolness above and below ground. Thin woodland, 

 gently sloping, where the soil is filirous and rooty, and rich 

 in leaf matter, furnishes ideal conditions. 



"Although all Lilies may be said to enioy some shade, 

 many, if given protection above their lower stems, will thrive 

 very well in sunny situations. 



"In planting Lilies among other plants, it must be seen 

 to that their neighbors are not of too stout and pervasive a 

 character, for the bnllis icsent being crowded and pressed 

 upon. But delightful effects may be brought about by plant- 

 ing among the bulbs s'ender growing plants that will shelter 

 the Lily stems and at the same time provide a becoming 

 setting and foil for the Lily flowers. 



"For all Lilies save the marsh dwellers, a soil of fibious 

 loam, sand, and leaf soil is the best, and slmuld extend to a 

 considerali'e depth. No manure must come into contact with 

 the sensitive bulb, tliough feeding may be done from above 

 by means of a mulch of well rotted manuie. It is a safety 

 first precaution to give all Lily bulbs, when planted, a 

 cushion and covering of clean sand to drain away superflu- 



ous water and at the same time to keep the bulb properly 

 moist. 



"The depth at which Lilies should be planted varies, not 

 only according to size, but according as to whether they pro- 

 duce one or two sets of roots. Some Lilies send out only the 

 fleshy perennial roots from the base of the bulb. These do 

 not require deep planting — twice the depth of the bulb is 

 sufficient and the Madonna Lily is happiest with its bulb 

 just covered with soil — and pretty poor soil at that. 



"The stem-rooting species, on the other hand, those that 

 issue a mop of fibrous roots at the base of the stem, must 

 be sufficiently deep to protect this second set of roots from 

 injury from drought, frost and careless digging. Three and 

 one-half times the depth of the bulb is none too deep; that is, 

 if the bulb is two inches in diameter there should be seven 

 inches of soil above it at the least. 



"A large proportion of the finest Lilies have this peculi- 

 arity, and to heed its significance is of the utmost import- 

 ance. 



"To safeguard Lilies in winter, not fiom cold but from 

 the continual freezing and thawing common to our climate 

 (generally speaking, north of the Mason-Dixon line), which 

 tears and injures the roots and often heaves the bulb com- 

 pletely out of the ground, a mulch of manure or marsh hay 

 should be thrown over them after the ground becomes frozen. 

 Thus they are secure until the ingi-atiating spring sunshine 

 incites the tender young shoots to issue forth, and. thrusting 

 aside the hard materials that surround it, push upward to 

 greet another spring." — From "Beauty from Bulbs", Scheepers. 



"A word as to their place in the garden picture. Eemem- 

 ber, they are among the most striking of all garden plants. 

 Unlike many other f'owers, you do not need a 'mass effect' 

 with them to enjoy their great beauty. In nature, they are 

 seldom found in great quantities together. A single lily, 

 standing out against a background of evergreens, a hedge, 

 among tall shrubs, or making a charming contrast with a 

 group of some other tall flower, such as delphiniums, may 

 add more to the real beauty of the garden than an entire 

 'l ed'. Study your garden most carefully to select the spots — 

 not too many — where lilies are to go, and then plant not over 

 six or a dozen, under ordinary circumstances, in a place; two 

 or three will often look as well. Spend the extra amount on 

 more varieties, which will give you a longer season of these 

 beautiful flowei's; thev may be hail from early .Tune until 

 October."— From The Book of Bulbs, by F. F. Eockwell. 



-! Pa^e Thirty-three r 



