BARR’S GENERAL BULB CATALOGUE, Autumn, 1916. 
On Naturalising Bulbs and Plants in Grass, Woodlands, etc. 
CROCUSES NATURALISED IN GRASS IN A LONDON PARK. 
This fascinating phase of gardening deserves more attention than has hitherto been bestowed upon it. 
No sight is more delightful than the fresh brightness of spring flowers growing freely in grass land or 
lending colour to woodland walks, hedgerows, and ditches, here and there nestling at the foot of trees, 
or establishing themselves on sloping banks. 
For naturalising in grass spring flowers are especially suitable, as they bloom and are over before the 
grass grows tall enough to hide their beauty. Amongst our spring-flowering bulbs there are many gems 
which refuse to grow in cultivated borders, but when planted in grass, where they enjoy a cooler and 
more even temperature, they soon become established, and multiply freely until a regular colony is 
formed which greatly adds to the charm of the landscape. 
All formality of arrangement should be avoided, the bulbs being scattered freely from the hand and 
planted where they fall. Large irregular breaks of one kind of bulb should be made in order to obtain the 
finest effect. In planting under trees select spots where the soil is deepest and where the drip is least. 
Those whose gardens are of limited size might make them very beautiful in spring, by utilising the 
fringes of their lawns and any grassy mounds or shady shrubbery walks for such spring favourites as 
Daffodi's, Anemones, Scillas, Crocuses, Chionodoxas, etc., reserving the borders for summer- and autumn- 
flowering herbaceous plants. In large gardens and parks ample opportunities are afforded for naturalising 
spring-flowering bulbs, and very beautiful results may be attained in this way. 
In planting bulbs in grass, Barr’s Bulb Planter (see page 76) should always be used. It cuts out 
a clean piece of turf, leaving a hole to receive the bulb, and on making the second cutting clears itself 
of the first piece of turf, which lies ready at hand for covering the bulb. This handy implement saves an 
immense amount of time, and does not, as with an ordinary dibber, leave a hard resting-place for the bulb, 
while by its use the grass is not in the least disturbed Planting should not take place while the ground is 
hard, but after the first autumn rains. It is advisable to cut the grass as late in Autumn as possible, so 
as to’ ensure it being short at the time the bulbs flower. In meadowland Spring-flowering bulbs in no way 
affect the hay crop, which may be cut at the usual season. 
Among the many gems which lend themselves to wild gardening and naturalising, we would specially 
mention the following : — 
Alliums ( page 13), amongst these we would mention Allium Mo/y, with its bright yellow flowers, 
thriving anywhere ; also the graceful little Allium neapolitanum, so useful for shady corners. 
Anemones (see pages 14 to 16 and our Hardy Plant Catalogue), including the exquisite Anemone Robin- 
soniana and the deeper blue and slightly taller Anemone apennina and blanda ; one must see these 
lovely flowers nestling in grass or against the roots of large trees, to appreciate them fully. 
