Evening star., 1928-04-28

in generous quantities OF IghJ ana
oxygen, is seen. Thus and thus only are
created the new flower and its food.
This gets us around to second con-
sideration in planting--that Is, that the
bulbs do not necessarily have to be
planted where they are to remain. but
NAV be planted anywhere. Tulips are
flexible, as you might say. II planted
in a row or bed, and the gardener wants
to use the ground for something else IN
early Spring, after the tulips have
bloomed, he may do so.
He must still keep his bulbs In eartn,
however, until the tops have died down
naturally. If he takes them up and
cuts the tops off, he might as well
throw the bulb" away. because that
is not the true bulb at all, but the
played-out one. The new one, the
new flower, has yet to be made.
Luckily, however, there is an escape
from this seeming dilemma. After
towering, the plants may be carefully
dug up, so as not to injure the roots.
and replanted IN another situation. be-
hind a garage, or in some place where
their diving foliage will not be distressful
to the eyes that now long for only
bright, green, growing things to greet
them.
Nor need this planting be made pre-
cisely. The tulip plants. with all their
roots and leaves, may be placed close
together in a hole. "heeled In" as the
gardeners say. their tops remaining
above earth in natural way. After
these have died down land this process
will take about two months, more or
less), the bulbs may be dug up, and the
dead tops taken Off. Then the bulbs
may be stored until planting time,
which must not be earlier than october,
and preferably not later than November,
although we have heard Of tulips and
narcissi that have been planted in
The storing of bulbs is not COM
pliCated. A cool place is generally
advocated, but almost any basement
will do. These bulbs have a large
tolerance, as the scientists say: that is,
Nature has equipped them to stand
much abuse.
They need no particular packing, but
should not be shut up tight in a box.
Most persons will have better success
with bulbs by allowing them to stay
In the ground. Thus Mother Earth is
put directly In charge of all these
troublouS matters, and Mother Earth
knows her business, indeed she does.
After all these centuries, she ought TO-.
Of course
When tulips, narcissi. crocus and the
other so-called Dutch bulbs" come to
the point where they make only leaves,
no blooms, the time has come to dig
them up--after the foliage has died
down normally-and separate" them
that is, plant them again--at the
proper time In Autumn-properly
spaced. which should be about inches
apart every way.
One reason why the crocus dies out
In most yards is that II is planted in
the grass. and the fruiting top is cut
of by the lawn mower before 1t has
has been said about the leaves of the
tulip also applies here
Truly, there are no more beautiful
flowers, and certainly few more well
come. than 1.-THE flowers that bloom in
the Spring" Ira lal The whole world
of horticulturistS. amateur and profess
Sional. is moved TO sing joyously at the
sight Of them.
No doubt they should be planted
more. but 1t must be confessed thas
their cultivation is perplexing, and
often something OF nuisance. Per-
hapS the easiest, and, everything taken
into consideration. the best method, Is
to plant them where they may be al
lowed to stay. Under shrubs. they do
not look so unsightly when the tops are
dying down.
There Is still one question---if the
bulb that Is dug UP and stored all
Summer must not be planted until Oc-
tober, in order to prevent the plant
from growing too vigorously before
frost, why does not the bulb that is
left In the ground do IT.. too?
Rest Is the answer. The bulb de-
mands rest, sleep If you will. and gets
either a furlough out OF the ground, or
normal repose in the ground. Ma
fnre knows her business