PLANTING AUTUMN BULBS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 732, 8 April 1933, Page 23 (Supplement)

PLANTING AUTUMN BULBS

GET A GOOD SELECTION. Spanish iris start early and should be planted at once. They are easily grown. The flowers are beautiful in their combination and blending of the shades of colour, and are splendidly adapted for cutting. Ixias, sparaxis, babianas, and tritomas are all exceedingly attractive and easily grown. They should be planted in clumps, placing the bulbs at a depth of about 2in and the same distance apart. The ixia is a slender, graceful-growing plant. Sparaxis are of compact dwarf habit, producing richly coloured blossoms. Tritomas resemble the sparaxis in habit and growth, but the prevailing colours differ, and, as they flower later, they form an important succession. Babianas range in colour from blue to the richest crimson magenta, and are set off by dark green hairy foliage. Hyacinths are the most beautiful of all early spring flowering bulbs when well grown. Freesias present a mass of bloom, and are sweetly scented and prized for cutting. Tulips produce a gorgeous display with their brilliant and diversely coloured blossoms, and are most effective when the double and single flowered varieties are mixed together and grouped in flower beds and borders, planting the bulbs about sin apart. Grape and wood hyacinths, brodiaeas, and laclienalias all add variety, and are suitable for first plantings. By planting a selection of the preceding early this month and another batch in about three weeks time a succession of bloom may be produced to cover a long season.