“We fellows haven’t time now to explain why bulbous plants bloom so readily in the Spring.” “We know; don’t we, Mary Frances?” Eleanor exclaimed without thinking. Mary Frances pursed her lips to look like “Hush!” and shook her head, which made Eleanor remember that Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Bouncing Bet’s lessons were to be a secret. “If you know so much, Nell,” Bob replied mockingly, “perhaps you can tell the difference between a corm, a rhizome, a tuber, and a fleshy root.” “Well! Well!” cried Mary Frances, “I guess we better not lay claim to any more knowledge,” and she winked at Eleanor, who nodded understandingly. “But,” said Billy, opening his note-book, “we will tell you a little something about— THE PLANTING OF BULBS Anyone can have flowers which grow from bulbs. They require so little care that everybody can be cheered in the early Spring with the sunshine of daffodils, and the fragrance of hyacinths, and the gay color of tulips; which, after the dullness of winter, are appreciated more, perhaps, than any other flowers. Their leaves and flowers being wrapped with their food supply, in the storage bulbs, it takes only the call of a few days of warmth and sunshine to bring them into bloom. So every one should— PLANT SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS IN AUTUMN In October or November is the best time of the year for planting Spring-flowering bulbs; in localities where the Winters are not severe, December is perfectly safe. The bulbs should have time to make some roots before the ground freezes. HOW TO PLANT BULBS Bulbs do not like clayey soil, nor do they like dampness; neither do they thrive on fresh manure. Remembering this, you already know just about what kind of soil they need—well-drained, loamy soil, full of humus or well-rotted manure, and some sand; for sandy soil is needed by all bulbs. If you do not have such garden soil, dig quite large holes with your trowel, and fill them with such a mixture. If you do not have well-rotted manure, use a sprinkling of bone meal. DEPTH TO PLANT A good rule for the depth to plant bulbs is twice their length; but sometimes it pays to plant them deeper to protect them. If planted deeper they come into bloom a little later, but the protection of the depth may save them from destructive freezing. WHERE TO PLANT BULBS Blooms of bulbs look beautiful anywhere. One need not hesitate to place them in masses (a number near each other) in the garden borders, for after they bloom and die down, there will be no bare spots if some annuals, with short roots, are grown over them; such as alyssum, ageratum, violas, verbenas. Plant the low-growing sorts of bulbs in the front, and the taller kinds in the back of the garden. Cover, when the ground begins to freeze, with several inches of dry leaves or grass.