102 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



summer months, they were watered occasionahy and the soil 

 about them loosened, since the ground on which they grew had 

 once been a place for dumping ashes. The plants were not 

 crowded in their growth and the roots did not appear to be 

 cramped for room to spread out." 



WHAT BULBS TO PLANT 



"VTOT every person who calls himself a botanist is inter- 

 ^ ested in the cultivated pets of the gardener, but everyone 

 ought to have more than a passing interest in the spring 

 flowering bulbs which hint of the coming of a milder season 

 long before the wild species of field and wood confirm the 

 fact. Still earlier than the flowers comes the bulb catalogue ; 

 in fact, if the weather is good it should appear in the early 

 autumn along with the crocuses which, impatient for spring, 

 are so early as to appear late. It is not impatience but neces- 

 sity, however, that actuates the bulb catalogue, for if spring- 

 flowering bulbs are not planted in autumn there will be no 

 spring flowers. The bulbs of this kind need the autumn and 

 early winter in which to make roots and get things ready for 

 an early start. The old bulb grower needs no instructions 

 regarding the selection of bulbs but the novice may be glad 

 to have a few hints at the beginning. To such it may be said 

 that while all the different kinds of bulbs oft'ered by the dealer 

 will grow and bloom, there are some that are much better 

 for the beginner than others because they yield their flowers 

 with a minimum of attention on the part of the cultivator. 

 The best bulbs to begin with, then, are the tulips and narcissi. 

 Crocuses are cheap and make a fine show against a back- 

 ground of bare earth or withered leaves but they are not 

 available for cutting and are easily run out by stronger plants. 

 Hyacinths are fine when in bloom but they, too, are not very 

 persistent and often fail to bloom properly. The tulip is 



