GAEDEXIXa FOE LITTLE GIRLS 



but few individuals — ^let alone a nation — would 

 grow so wildly enthusiastic as once did the 

 Dutch, as to spend every last possession to buy 

 tulips! But we dearly love all of these gi'oups. 

 and are using them in increasing numbers every 

 season. The fascinating work of growing certain 

 kinds indoors during the winter I tell you about 

 in the chapter on ''The Care of House Plants/' so 

 here we will consider the outdoor culture. 



The delicate snowdrop is the very earliest of 

 these visitors, and planted in groups in half-shady 

 places, — like under trees, — where they will not be 

 disturbed, will thereafter take care of themselves. 

 Then quickly follow the lovely crocuses, white, yel- 

 low, lavender, purple, and the varigated, which 

 often are planted right where they fall after be- 

 ing scattered broadcast over the lawn, — though if 

 the head of the house cuts the grass before the mid- 

 dle of April they should be set in a bed where they 

 will not be touched. 



Hyacinths are beautiful, but personally I do 

 not care much about them in the garden, as they 

 generally have to be planted in masses to get any 

 effect, and need, therefore, to be used in large num- 

 bers, are more expensive than the other bulbs, and 

 should be taken out of the ground soon after bloom- 

 ing and stored in a cool place until fall. However, 



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