The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-27

Fall is the bulb season, and it Is the
best time for the Encouragement Of the
garden and the planting Of many vari-
cites of hardy perennials and shrubs. In
the case Of some plants the only adj
vantage of fall planting Is that 1t can be
done more easily because there are fewer
things requiring attention than In the
spring and it Is more certain to be done
In good season. Peonies and lilies Of
the valley do just as we'll planted In the
spring now. but it is perfectly safe to
plant them at this time and, If 1t is done,
1t Is off ones mind and any possible ad-
vantage of early planting will be secured.
Large Peony roots planted early In the
fall will blossom well the following
spring; Sc late In the season as Nov. /
would get a much better start for another
year through than the usual spring plant
ing, which Is apt to be delayed.
For spring Towering bulbs there Is but
one possible season Of planting, and that
Is the autumn. They may be planted any
time during September and October before
the ground freezes. It is customary to
give attention to those plants about as
soon as the first heavy frost outs down
the summer plants.
There is nothing in the garden that
yields so much satisfaction for the same
expenditure Of time and money as the
early Towering bulbs and a single plant
several years; indeed, some Of the bulb
plants renew themselves perpetually, al
though improved by occasional divisions
and resetting.
Tulips Yield Best Returns.
All things considered, tulips are the
most satisfactory OF the Towering bulbs
for all purposes. Every one who has not
known the delights Of tulip bed Of his
own should make the experiment at once.
A fair-sized bed can be filed satisfaoto-
rily by the planting Of 100 bulbs, which
can be secured in good mixtures for $3.50.
AS a general rule, in the beds single tu-
lips are more satisfactory and snowy in
their colors. For clurnps scattered about
here and there, double flowers and odd
rot tulips, with their odd combinations
Of colors and Realistically twisted petals,
are attractive. A few clumps Of late or
| show tulips add much to the pleasure of
the spring garden, for they come after
the other bulb flowers are gone and be-
fore the herbaceous perennials come into
blossom. Among these varieties are the
Gesnerian, gorgeous scarlet blossom.
growing on stem two feet high. The
| blossoms are very large and perfect In
form. Other varieties of the late tulips
have white or yellow grounds, faxed with
Grim violet and maroon. The arrange
ment Of colors is altogether matter of
red and pink bulbs usually afford the
strongest blooms and that white is the
least satisfactory.
Preparing the Soil.
The preparation for the garden plant
| ing of bulbs is about the same for all
varieties. The essential thing is we'll
drained soil upon which water does not
lie during the winter. Ordinary garden
soil answers the requirements very we'll
If too heavy, 1t can be made suitable by
the addition Of sand. In preparing a bed
for bulbs, remove the top soil to the
depth of four inches and spade deeply.
| Rake the lower soil smooth, and If pos
sible, cover with a layer Of sand an inch
deep. This will provide a bed for the
roots to run freely and enables them to
make a vigorous root growth from the
start. The bulbs should then be arranged
on top Of the bed, the larger bulbs from
four to six inches apart and the smaller
ones about two inches apart. Hyaolnths
and tulips should be covered to depth
of five to six inches in this climate, while
about three inches is sufficient for the
crocuses and snowdrops.
Flower Starred Lawns.
| The smaller early Towering bulbs that