THE GARDEN PRIMER 



results as bulbs; and produce results so certainly and 

 satisfactorily with so little labor devoted to them, and 

 so little knowledge of plant culture guiding the planter. 

 They furnish not only the early glory of the spring but 

 much more besides; indeed they alone might be de- 

 pended upon to make a flower garden, if other things 

 were not available. 



Of all forms of plant life they are the most easily 

 transported from one part of the world to another, 

 being to all appearances dead things when they have 

 matured and are ready for their long rest. They reach 

 this stage usually about midsummer, in the temperate 

 parts of the world, and all large dealers therefore issue 

 special summer or early autumn catalogues, listing only 

 bulbs, so varied are they and so important the position 

 which they occupy. 



Unless otherwise specified, bulbs should be planted 

 in October or November, the idea being to give them 

 time to make good root growth hut not top growth, before 

 freezing weather puts them to sleep again. They may 

 be set out later than November hov/ever, if the ground 

 is not frozen. 



They requhe usually a fairly good soil, but above 

 all else they demand that it shall be well drained. 

 Without good drainage they simply will not succeed, 

 and there is no use in tr}dng to make them. It is a 

 waste of time and energy — and money. The sodden- 

 ness of hea\y soils may be overcome however by putting 

 a quantity of sand or sifted coal ashes under each bulb 

 as it is planted, making this cushion deeper according 



no 



