d water-can,
drawn on p. 241, evidently thinks as much. We must plant now in order to
secure a spring display of flowers, and for this purpose nothing can be
more satisfactory than bulbous subjects, such as hyacinths, tulips,
crocuses, and narcissuses. The hyacinth thrives best in a compost of
light loam, leaf-mould, and sand; plenty of the latter may be included
in order to secure perfect drainage, which is a very important item in
the culture of bulbous plants generally. Perhaps no other spring
flowering bulb looks so well when grown in neat patches as the hyacinth;
the bulbs should not be less than six inches apart, and at least two and
a half inches beneath the surface. They should be purchased in the
autumn, selecting firm heavy roots; and "first come, first served" must
be borne in mind, as by buying early in the season the best may be
secured, and finer spikes of bloom will follow as a natural consequence.

* * * * *

Tulips have been for many years great favourites with gardeners, both
amateur and professional. About two hundred years ago the mania for
these plants amounted almost to a national calamity in Holland, and
scores of acres are now entirely devoted to their culture. For our own
part, we scarcely consider the tulip as in any way justifying the praise
which is lavished upon it even in the present day, because its beauty
is, to say the least, ephemeral, whilst its showiness is far from being
either chaste or delicate. It will be, however desirable to have six or
even a dozen bulbs, which only cost about a penny apiece. They can be
planted any time during the present month, from two to three inches
below the surface, in a compost of loam, leaf-mould, sand, and
well-rotted manure. When purchasing, see that every bulb is perfectly
solid, and select as many different sorts as possible, thereby securing
a variety, which is very desirable in a garden of limited extent. In
cold northern situations tulip-beds should always be covered over with a
little straw or litter during very frosty weather.

* * * * *

Few Spring flowers are more welcome or appear so very early in the year
as crocuses. No matter how cold, foggy, or dirty the weather may chance
to be in this most erratic climate, the regiments of yellow, golden,
blue, flaked, white, and versi-coloured crocus flowers will never fail
to put in an appearance. The common sorts thr