Evening star., 1938-09-03
Small Early
.Flowering
Bulbs
Great Enjoyment
Obtained From
First Blooms.

MOST gardeners plan for tulips and
daffodils in their spring gardens
but overlook the numerous smaller
Towering bulbs, many of which are
just as permanent and useful In the
small garden as are their larger
Towering cousins. While only few
are satisfactory as cut flowers, they
do give color to the yard long before
the snow (when We have it, is gone.
Small bulbs are useful in foundation
paintings, in the. front of perennial
borders. along walks and, in some
cases, for naturalizing. They do sur
prlslngly we'll in yards that are too
shady for most summer flowers. The
little bulbs grow and blossom long
before the shrubs and trees have be-
gun to unfurl their leaves.
In the early spring there is a sur
prlsing amount of enjoyment to be
obtained from the first blooms of the
Snowdrops or from the tiny little
Glory y-of-the-Snow. For several years
I enjoyed clump of Snowdrops that
somehow managed to bloom on or be-
fore New Year Day. Their flowers were
tiny, and there were not very many
of them, but they thrilled just as
much as a large clump of dafodils
did two or three months later on.
In planting the small bulbs use from
10 to Is in each clump or group They
do best in good garden loan. well
enriched with leaf mold or compost
and bone meal. If the soil is inclined
to be poorly drained the bed can be
raised few inches
Glory-of = the Snow (Chionodoxa)
and SnoWdrops (Galanthus) were
mentioned above Winter-aconite Ger
anthis hyemalis) with buttercuplike
flower and green collar just below
Is also very good. 1t blooms in Feb
ruary o. early March. Crocus, we
all know them, bloom a little later
in March and early April. They come
in a great variety Of colors and color
combinations, but the bright yellow
species (Crocus susianus) commonly
listed as Cloth of Gold is one of the
best-and the earliest to flower. Gro
Gus do we'll when naturalized under
trees or edge of the lawn and when
planted in a protected, well-drained
spot make splendid showing in
early spring.
Squills (Scilla sibirica) are another
friendly, cheerful group Of early
bloemers that make a fine display in
the perennial border While they
thrive in sandy loan they will grow
or white flowers add a touch of color
to a somber background that is
charming.
Grape-hyacinths (Muscari botry-
oides) are the last of the small flow
ering bulbs to bloom in the spring.
Their tiny little clusters of flowers,
which resemble tiny punches Of grapes,
are so cheerful that many people grow
them. They are useful as cut flow-
ers, but it is their color that seems
to make them so desirable for the
average garden. They come in the
bluest of blue Enthusiastically Blue
is very dependable variety.
Most Of these bulbs deteriorate and
lose their vitality if kept out Of the
ground any longer than necessary. 1t
is advisable to order them early and
to plant them as soon as received
Since they are rather permanent, it is
desirable to prepare the beds care
fully. Incorporate humus and plant
food enough to last for several years.
All except the grape-hyacinths (5-6
lnches) are planted about 3 inches
deep and 4 inches apart.
For an inexpensive colorful display
early in the spring these small bulbs
are all that is claimed for them.
They multiply rapidly under favorable
conditions. Their only trouble in this
area arises from poorly drained soils
condition which can be readily over.
come.