Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-23

soils leaf mold helps them to absorb and
retain moisture. but it must be remem-
bered that the capacity of a soil to alb
sorb and retain moisture is a very differ
ent condition to that of soil full of un-
absorbed moisture due to want of drain
age. In addition to leaf mold thoroughly
rotten manure is of great value. but fresh
manure should never be used. Failing
suitable natural manure. pure bone mea
Is the best fertilizer. If the planting car
be done in good garden soil that has
been MANFRED early in the year 1t is not
so necessary to add any for the bulbs.
The depth at which bulbs should be
planted varies with their size. y good
general rule is to place them at dis
lance from the surface equal to four
times their diameter. which may be en-
ceeded little if the soil is light and
sandy. Shallower planting produces ear
lier flowers, but of poorer quality.
There is no lack of material for OBJ
tanning pleasing spring effects from
bulbs: it can only be apathy in its
utilization that leaves SO many gardens
bare and featureless until midsummer,
when they could be gay with floral
beauty months before. Nor need expense
be looked upon as drawback. for bulbs
were never cheaper than now. Referring
TO cost In connection with planting the
narcissus, Mohamed said. He that hath
two cakes let him sell one of them-for
bread is only food for the body. but the
narcissus is food for the SOUL a re-
mark which could be applied to the rest
of dubious plants. OF course If one
wishes to have the newest and rarest
varieties 1t is possible to spend a good
deal of money, but it is questionable
whether the newer kinds that are put
upon the market every year are really an
Improvement upon the cid In the case
Of he
rage for something new. the trumpets
of some of them have been developed
into shapes that are more monstrous
than beautiful. Certainly the old Eng
fish daffodil and the Poets narcissus are
lovely enough and cheap enough to plant
by the thousand. SO that it is hardly
worth while to pay large sums for bulbs
just because they new, but which
produce less beautiful flowers.
Spring Towering bulbs thrive in almost
any position. and all bare spots-among
and III the front Of shrubs. in the peren-
nisl border. in thee lawn, under trees
where grass will not grow: in fact, cor
ners anywhere and everywhere-should
be filled with them. The charm of bulb
Gus plants is never be ter exempiiled
than when the blooms are seen arising
from the green turf. For this position
the smaller and earliest kinds should be
used and the best for the purpose are
Scillas (SQuills), Chionodoxa GLORY of
the Snow and Crocus. To be effective
they should be planted in quantity and
naturally. BY ma urally- is meant not
in lines or equidis ant. for regularity
is unnatural and spoils the effect An
easy way of obtaining naturalUess is TO
stand in the cente- OF the lawn and
taking handfuls of bulbs toss them in
all directions, planting them where hoy
fall Planting in lawns is more easily
done after autumn rains, and a pointed
dibber is often used for the purpose and
the holes filed up after planting with
good, light soil or leaf mold, or a piece
Of the sod may be lifted with a pointed
trowe. and after inserting the bulb
press the sod down again These bulbs
will continue to bloom on the lawn year
after year, provided it is not cut until
after the bulbs have ripened. a condi-
ton which is shown by their leaves
turning brown, and In this connection
all bulbs that are wished to be pc ma
nent should never have their tops cut
off before they have ripened, although
the flower stems should be removed
after the blossom is over to prevent the
formation of seed.
Snowdrops, the poets Fair Maids of
February" are sometimes used on lawns,
but they appear to thrive better In front
Of and among shrubs, around nrees, as