THE RESERVE GARDEN 55 



the polyanthus varieties (N. Tazetta). In the reserve 

 garden Narcissi should not be grown in the same beds 

 for more than a few seasons ; change of soil may easily 

 be effected by lifting the bulbs and replanting them in 

 beds formerly occupied by herbaceous plants. 



Tulips. — No flowers are better suited to the Cottage 

 Garden than the old florist's Tulips, which, once popular, 

 are now grown comparatively seldom. The late blooming 

 kinds, forming a succession to the Narcissi, are delightful 

 for cutting, and must not be confounded with the stiff 

 bedding Tulips which are imported by the ship-load from 

 Holland. Any good garden soil suits them, and they 

 may be left in the original beds until overcrowding and 

 decreased size of bloom suggests a need for removal. 

 The Darwin Tulips are varieties of the old T. Gesneriana^ 

 and the rich self-coloured flowers borne on long stalks 

 are among the most delightful things for house de- 

 coration. For cutting, the dwarf kinds are of little 

 value. 



Anemones, — In warm, loamy soils where they do well, 

 the various forms of the Poppy Anemone (^A. coronarla) 

 are worth growing for cut bloom. If gathered before 

 the flowers are fully open they last in water for quite a 

 fortnight, and may be had in bloom during the greater 

 part of the winter as well as in spring and summer. 

 The St Brigid Anemones, which I have seen growing 

 by the acre in Ireland, are wonderfully beautiful. 



Ranunculus. — The old-fashioned Turban and Persian 

 Ranunculuses are best for the reserve garden. Plenty 

 of water is needed during the growing period, and the 

 roots should be taken up each year and stored in sand 

 until the time for replanting in February. 



Irises. — Nearly all the Irises are of surpassing value 

 for cutting, and among the kinds for which space should 

 be found are the Netted Iris (/. reticulata), a glorious 

 vision of purple and gold, whose sweet-scented flowers 



