Evening star., 1926-11-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL,

| the flower spike. To grow bulbs from
| seed, however, is only the experts
work. who works under. ideal con
ditions.
| One may have gladiolus bulbs from
| inches across to the size of pea
or pinhead, almost. These latter are
scarcely worth planting next Spring
unless one has plenty of room, where
| they can be placed and left withou,
| danger Of molestation, as the leaves
| resemble grass blades and are easily
cut by mistake. Corms the size OF
| the finger end. however, will grow
| nicely, and those the size Of the
thumb may bloom late in the Summer
| "Growing on" the bulblets. as it is
| called, is the way to always have
fresh bulbs in the garden, and it costs
nothing but little time and atten
| ton.
| Lily bulbs are commonly huge af
| fairs, being generally sold in large
| giant" and Jumbo" sizes, some be
| ing as much as a foot across. The
| Ismene bulbs planted in our garden
| last Summer, which bloomed in 81
days from planting, were as large as
base balls. This Fall we found five
| bulbs where only two had beer
planted.
The favorite lily with most people
| Is the Madonna Uilium candidum)
| 1t grows we'll in this region, with nc
| particular attention from year tC
year. which enhances its value tc
| those who have little time to put on
their gardens.
The various colored Canada lilies
| (Lilium canadense) are interesting, as
are Lilium auratum, the famous gold
banded lily Of Japan, and Lilium re
gale, the regal lily, discovered only a
few years ago in China, and now tC
be purchased at a reasonable price
The tiger lily Is an old favorite, and
many like the lemon lilies, so called
And there are hundreds more.
X * X K
There are a million flower seeds
planted, however, to one bulb, and
seed houses often worry over this
fact, believing it due to the lack OF
knowledge by home owners of the
charm of the Spring bulbs, in par
ticular.
One reason many persons do not
plant the tulip. narcissus and so on
is that these plants, Towering so early
in Spring, attract marauders more
than all the other flowers of the year.
Persons who by no means would
"lift" roses or peonies from a garden
find themselves tempted to steal a
few tulips!
With all beautiful things, however,
there must be some temptation, II
would seem. One should not be held
back from planting the bulbs on this
account. It Is necessary to take a
chance in the garden as elsewhere.
The little crocuses are universal IA
vorites, and so cheap that one may
plant them by the hundred. 1t is
true they are small, but the yellow
ones especially are very bright. The
grape hyacinths are somewhat simi'
lar as to size. but interesting in
their way.
There are so many types and species
Of narcissus that the seed men might
simplify their catalogues of these
with benefit to their sales. These in
clude the daffodils and jonquils. SO
popularity called, and admired by
many as the most beautiful of the
Spring flowers.
Many persons, however, will always
accord that place to the tulip, so gay,
so sturdy, SO varied. so susceptible
to varied treatment. whether indoors
or outdoors. The history Of the tulip,
too, so wrapped up with the life story
Of a great race, makes them among
the most interesting of all flowers
They are and must remain the best
example of the bulb.