24 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



better there if a dry period comes in summer. The finest plants I 

 have seen were growing in Colonel Hope's garden on the banks of the 

 Leader. A few plants of the light-coloured varieties should be mixed 

 with the original kind. It likes a soil containing plenty of humus 

 in the form of peat or leaf-mould. The seeds germinate freely in 

 such a position if allowed to ripen, and the bed soon becomes a mass 

 of plants. 



S cilia sibirica gives the best blue among all these early flowers, 

 although the flower spike is not so graceful as that of Chionodoxa 

 Lucilliae. The Scillas require similar treatment to Chionodoxas, but 

 do not reproduce themselves so freely. 5. bifolia is a very pretty 

 flower which comes into bloom before S. sibirica. It has white and 

 pink varieties. 



Another class of plants consists of those which are used for filling 

 the flower-beds after the summer occupants are cleared away, about 

 the middle of October. The beds are got ready a few days before 

 planting commences. As they are usually in a dry state when dug 

 they are left until rain comes to moisten them, and are then filled up 

 again as soon as possible. 



The bulbous plants used comprise Tulips, Hyacinths, and a few 

 Crown Imperials. Crocuses of the Dutch varieties may be grown 

 where game is not troublesome ; pheasants are very fond of them in 

 early spring, and often damage the carpeting plants when they are 

 digging up the bulbs. The same remarks apply to Tulips, but in a 

 lesser degree, as they usually attack them later in the season, just as 

 they are opening their flowers. Hyacinths escape better ; few things 

 care to eat them. Probably they contain some poisonous property 

 which protects them. Lists of the varieties used are given at the 

 end of the paper, and many others have been tried and have been 

 discarded for various reasons. 



I said at the commencement I consider there is room for much 

 improvement in our treatment of these spring flowers. In one 

 especial manner this is true, viz. in their arrangement. We often 

 see in London and other places beds crammed full of Hyacinths. 

 Tulips, or Narcissi. These make a solid mass of colour when in flower, 

 but the display only lasts a fortnight. I find it is possible to have 

 some flowers whenever the weather is mild by using a greater variety 

 of plants. Aubrietias, Daisies, Violas, and many others are used for 

 covering the surface ; the Tulips and Hyacinths are dotted in among 

 them after they are planted, and are put about 18 inches apart. Thus 

 we get a good display of flowers from the beginning of April until the 

 end of May ; in addition to that the effect is so very much better, we 

 get a greater variety of colours in combination, and the Tulips look 

 so much more graceful when growing a moderate distance apart, and 

 above other flowers. Hyacinths look rather stiff whichever way they 

 are arranged. I often group them three together in a triangle, where 

 a line is wanted, and then leave a good space, which of course is 

 carpeted with other plants. A great point in favour of these small 



