Evening star., 1940-10-12


only to the collector. Their Seaso
season of bloom in the spring as
we'll as a far showing in the fall
One of the earliest of the crOcus
species to flower is the popular little
yellow G. SuSianuS, better known to
us as Cloth-o Gold C. imperati,
which may be had in lilac or white,
and C. vernus, with similar color
Ing or striped, follow in season of
bloom. Another popular yellow spe-
cies is C. moesiacus. There are
many others listed in American cat
alogues.
Of the fall-howering species. c.
sativus, the Saffron crocus; c. spe-
ciosus and C. zonatus are most
widely planted, but there are many
other species and varieties avail
able.
Plant crocus about 4 inches deep
and 6 to 10 inches apart in a we'll
drained soil. They delight in any
ell-drained situation but are espe-
cially to be enjoyed when plant
ed on a sunny bank, where they
will flower much earlier than if
planted in an exposed or less pro-
tected situation. Squirrels and mice
relish crocus corms and will dig
them up If unprotected.
Dutch Iris
Dependable.
The Dutch iris have been mentioned
before as offering possibilities, eSpe-
cially for use as cut flowers. They
are available in a number of named
varieties with a pleasing range of
colors. The English and Spanish
Dubious iris are also available but
for most general use we find local
gardeners depending upon the Dutch
iris, although the English iris are
both showy and dependable. They
need a sunny location and prefer a
loamy soil. They should be planted
rather late Qate November or De-
cember) in the season. Otherwise
they make a fall growth that may
be injured by winter freezes. The
bulbs are set about 4 inches deep
and 8 inches apart. For best results
they are dug after maturity in the
summer and replanted again in the
fall.
Other Dubious iris include the
peacock iris-I. pavonia and I. retic-
ulata. Both are perfectly hardy but
cannot stand moisture during their
dormant season. If planted in the
fall and dug in the summer they
will thrive and multiply. Iris reticu-
lata flowers very early; if in shell
tered spot they often open in Feb
ruary.
The Camassia, or QuamaSsia. as
1t is sometimes spelled, are hardy,
dependable, spring -fowering bulbs
that are worthy of wider planting
c. leichtlini is strong grower with
white to purple flowers. c. quamash
is dwarfer-to 2 feet. and has SINH
lar flowers. c. esculenta is the small
est and ranges from II to 18 inches
in height, and has purple flowers.
The Camassia should be planted 4
inches deep and inches apart, al
though the larger species may re-
main undisturbed for longer period
If planted further apart.
The buttercup-like flower OF the
Winter Aconite-Eranthis, with its
green collar of leaves for setting
makes a most attractive show in the
early spring. The bulbs are not easy
to handle as they give good ac-
count of themselves. Plant them in
the rock garden or along the edge
of the path in sheltered spot for
very early spring bloom. For an
effective display, plant the bulbs 2
inches deep and 3 inches apart In
any well-drained soil.
Glorv-of- the Snow - ChionodoXa
are especially we'll named for they
bloom freely, even though the
ground be covered with snow during
warm days in January and Febru-
arv. have had them in bloom year
after year in February and the
Measure derived from their tiny
skv-blue and white flowers was fully
as great as from huge dafodils. The
bulbs should be covered with about
3 inches of soil. Plant them 3 to Z
inches apart in a well-drained soil
Snowdrop Early
Bloomer.
A fitting companion to the glory
of-the-snow is the even earnel
towering snowdrop, galanthus. Ex
cept in very severe winters, 1t i
possible to have them in flower IL
protected situations on New Year
and of course. once they start the!
keep on Towering until spring reall!