Planting Bulbs for Next Spring 
OUR gardens in spring would be dismal indeed were 
it not for the many beautiful bulbous plants which 
are at our command, writes H. J. Aloore in Cana- 
dian Florist. Xo class of plants displays greater beauty or 
displays it more freely. Nor is there any class of plants 
that is more easily grown than the subjects of this article. 
It is quite possible to maintain a succession of bloom 
with bulbs from early spring until they are superseded in 
June by the summer flowers. 
Climate is usually the factor which governs the grower 
in the selection, as it determines the kinds which will do 
best in a particular locality. Where the spring is late, late 
flowering kinds will do better than the early ones. Dar- 
win tulips and late flowering daffodils, then, w-ould be 
among the kinds chosen. Where the spring is early the 
grower has the choice of a succession of early and late 
flowering bulbs which will flower and serve their purpose 
ere the summer planting season arrives, or the perennial 
subjects flower in the border. 
When buying the bulbs do not be deceived by their ex- 
ternal appearance. Size, neatness of shape and the bright- 
ness of the outer scales or skin are not always true cri- 
terions of their value. See that the bulbs are sound — 
that is. free from disease. They should be solid. Do not 
take them if they are soft or spongy. Compare their 
weight with their size. Large bulbs which are not solid 
are relatively light in weight. Reject these in favor of 
average-sized bulbs which are solid. The best indication 
of the flowering qualities of the so-called Dutch spring 
flowering bulbs is weight in proportion to size. 
A light sandy soil which contains a large amount of de- 
caying vegetable matter, such as stable manure and leaf 
soil, is excellent for the culture of nearly all hardy bul- 
bous plants. As a general rule the soil should not be 
manured at the time of planting. Enrich it well the pre- 
vious spring, and by planting time the beds or borders 
will be in a good condition. Bulbous plants require a 
well-drained position — not one, however, in which the soil 
is likely to dry very rapidly during the spring season. 
Bulbs may be planted informally in the herbaceous 
perennial border, shrubbery, wild garden, or in the rock 
garden, where they should be arranged in groups or 
masses. If the border, plant the dwarf kinds in groups 
along the front, and intersperse the tall growing ones 
among other subjects toward the rear. Tall lilies are 
magnificent in numbers of not less than six. Plant the 
bulbs twelve inches apart. Narcissus should be planted 
twelve or more to the group six inches apart : hyacinths, 
nine or so six inches apart ; tulips, twelve or more five 
inches apart. Plant the very small kinds, like snow-drops, 
chionodoxas, scillas and crocuses much closer together in 
their respective groups and in larger numbers than the 
kinds previously mentioned. 
If the object is to naturalize bulbous plants in the wild 
garden or on undulating lawns, considerable numbers 
should be utilized and the arrangement should be as nat- 
ural as possible. Throw bulbs by the handful over the 
surface. Plant them just where they lie. No scheming 
or planning can produce more beautiful natural effects. 
Do not mix the masses. Nature, if it be her will, will do 
this in her own inimitable way. In the wild garden or 
woodland we see bulbous plants at their best, for here 
their natural loveliness asserts itself to a degree impossi- 
ble under other circumstances. 
Do not try to make a gaudy display in the wild garden. 
Aim rather to keep the introductions subservient to that 
which is natural. The modestly colored species, and 
varieties are more generally adapted to such places. 
Here, as in the rock garden, informality is the key to 
success. 
The formal garden with its artificially arranged beds 
and borders is the proper place for formal arrangement 
and for the display of color. Every flower made by the 
Creator has a place. By a little care the primary and 
neutral colors may be so blended as to bring the whole 
into harmony. Beds of narcissi look exceedingly well when 
planted in individual colors, hyacinths and tulips in indi- 
vidual or in appropriate mixed colors. Remember that 
what is restful to the eye is also restful to the mind. In 
your garden carefully avoid the discord of artificially ar- 
ranged color. Formal lining" and definite spacing of the 
bulbs are proper in the formal garden. 
The depths at which bulbs should be planted is gov- 
erned by their size and hardiness. There is no hard and 
fast rule, but to ensure success certain limits must be de- 
fined. If you bury bulbs deeply they may decay, or if 
planted close to the surface they may be injured or killed 
by a severe winter. A good general rule is to plant so 
that a depth of soil equal to their vertical diameter covers 
them when the operation is completed. Thus hyacinths 
of three inches diameter should be planted in holes six 
inches deep, tulips two and one-half inches in diameter 
should he planted in a hole five inches deep. Large bulbs, 
such as lilies, which are four inches in diameter, should 
be planted eight inches deep. Small bulbs like snow- 
drops, chionodoxas, crocuses and scillas, which are not 
more than one and one-half inches in diameter should be 
planted not more than three inches deep. 
It is not necessary to protect hardy bulbs during win- 
ter in districts where only a few degrees of frost is usual. 
Where severe winters pertain, however, protection must 
be afforded. For this purpose strawy litter from the 
stable, or leaves which have been piled at least one year, 
are excellent. Do not use freshly-fallen leaves. They 
pack too closely and exclude the air. They are also diffi- 
cult to remove in spring without breaking the leaves of 
the bulbs which invariably start into growth before it is 
time to remove the protective mulch. A uniform cover- 
ing of three inches will amply protect most of the hardy 
bulbs. 
If your spring display is to be entirely of bulbous 
plants, and where you have only a few small beds at 
your disposal, choose varieties which flower together. 
If, however, you have a herbaceous border in which 
other spring flowers appear select those which flower 
at different times. In a garden where the few beds 
are entirely formal, the best effect is only possible when 
the bulbs flower simultaneously. 
Where a succession of flowers is desired, as for in- 
stance, in the perennial or bulb border, winter aconites, 
snowdrops, scillas and chionodoxas should be planted. 
They will flower first. They may be succeeded by early 
flowering tulips and hyacinths. Early flowering nar- 
cissi will succeed these. Late flowering tulips, hyacinths 
and narcissi will follow in the order given. The stately 
Darwin tulip is one of the last to remind us that the 
spring has gone. 
Have you had any unusual experience in gardening 
this summer? Why not submit it to the editor of The 
Gardeners' Chronicle? Our readers will be interested 
in It and may be benefited thereby. 
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