Evening star., 1940-09-14

If the bulbs are to be planted il
effective and satisfactory, the same
deep working and enriching are
needed 1t is safe rule to cover
most bulbs with soil two and half
times as deep as the height of the
bulb from base to tip. Madonna
(CandidumD and Testaceum lilies
are exceptions to this rule and
should be covered not over 2 inches,
whereas most of the stem-rooting
lilies may be placed somewhat
deeper than indicated. 1t is better
to set the bulbs a little too deep
than too shallow.
Early planting of most bulbs is
desirable and is imperative for the
ll-blooming crocuSeS, colchlcumS
lycoris, sternbergia and Madonna
lilies. Tulips, on the other hand, do
not benefit from early planting and
may be put in the ground after the
middle of October. Many lilies can
not be obtained until late in the
fall, but best results come from
planting them as soon as possible
after they are dug.
A small supply of American
grown tulips is being extensively
advertised and some supplies of
English h-grown bulbs are expected,
but it seems doubtful if any large
quantities Of the millions of Dutch
bulbs of various kinds produced in
Holland will reach these shores. The
Darwin and Cottage or Mayfiowering
types will be most numerous and one
must choose from the limited num-
ber of varieties that are available.
Hyacinths and the smaller bulbs
crocuses, scillas, muscari, etc-wiu
be scarce because there are no eX-
tensive paintings of them in the
United States.
Dafodils present another picture
and in these one may indulge TO
his hearts content and the extent
of the garden budget. There are
very large paintings of daffodils in
this country: nearly or quite suffi-
cient to supply our needs There are
many varieties to choose from and
a Towering season of two months
may be obtained by placing Cycla-
mineous and February Gold at one
end of the beds and Recurvus, Moon
beam and Albus Plenus Odoratus at
the other.
Heaviest paintings will be made
as usual of the yellow trumpets,
commonly known as jonquils
throughout the Washington area.
King Alfred is the leading variety
and is unsurpassed in the w-priced
group. Alasnsm is as large and
earlier. Aerolite and Warwick are
also in the early section. Dawson
City is better finished flower and
has been more highly appreciated in
England than in America. Among
the super giants in size and still of
good form and high quality are
Diotima. Golden Harvest, Lord Well
ington and Statendam. AS tops for
the show bench one may choose
from Bulwark, Hebron, Godolphin,
King of the North and RoyaliSt.
Mrs. Ernest H. Krelage. often
called the white King Alfred" leads
the white trumpet class because of
price. Imperator, Kantara and
Roxane are among the largest and
White Emperor one of the smooth
est. Beersheba Is one of the most
wished-for varieties by most daffo-
dill lovers, because of its large size
and beautiful form.
Fewer desirable varieties are
available in the bicolor trumpet
section than in either the yellow or
white. They are notoriously un-
reliable and the losses during sum-
mer storage and from basal rot are
often serious. But the flowers are
appealing, and where the plants can
be kept in health it is highly de-
sirable to grow some of the bicolors.
Spring Glory and Glory of Sassen-
helm among the older varieties are
vigorous and produce large flowers
that have good contrast, but Sill
vanite and Madam Van Waveren
seem to be more reliable. Aeolus is
a fine exhibition variety and Mrs.
John Hoog, although often classified
as Leedsii, appeals to many. Love-
nest, an informal flower of remark
able substance, is one of the most
reliable. Rosary is noteworthy be-
cause of the pink suffusion through
the trumpet. Mora ONeill, al
though rather pale. is finely finished
and very desirable. Sincerity is
possibly the best in the section, but
still beyond the price limit of most
buyers. Van Waveren's Giant is one
Of the largest and is more often
placed among the bicolors than in