This immense narcissus family is divided according to size and shape of blossom. Recently this classification has been revised, a fact mainly interesting to the hybridizer or collec tor. Most of us care only about a few of the large, the me dium, and the short-cupped groups, and want a reasonable balance between them rather than a preponderance of any one type. The delicacy of the narcissus scheme depends on the color and the airiness of the blossoms. The lighter colors and the smaller-sized blooms can be used in larger masses than the heavy trumpet varieties. The recently introduced John Evelyn hybrids are amazing both for size and exquisite color ing. A few of these scattered among more common varieties make excellent accents.

By careful selection a long succession of bloom may be had with narcissus. The earliest is February Gold, followed closely by March Sunshine. Then come the trumpets, like the early King Alfred and the medium-early Aerolite; the incom parabilis or short cups, such as Fortune and Francesca Drake; the Leedsi or eucharis-flowered, such as Daisy Schaeffer, Gertie Miller, and Tunis; the Barri types represented by Fire tail and Lady Diana Manners; poetaz, the delightfully fra grant varieties, Laurens Koster, Innocence, and Scarlet Gem; and finally the poeticus varieties, the last to bloom.

Emphasis on Tulips

In the spring few gardens are a complete success without tulips. We know their popularity by the frequency with which we are asked at garden club lectures, "What do you do with tulips after they have bloomed?" This is a common problem, the answer depending on how tulips are used.

If small clumps are placed among other plants, or if only one or two fairly large masses appear at important points in the garden pattern, do not lift the bulbs each year. If these are planted eight to ten inches deep, they will last for years; what is more important, they will be less likely to be eaten by field mice, since moles whose runnels the mice use, do not usually burrow so deep. If tulips are planted in long narrow drifts, rather than in broad clumps, their ripening foliage is easily masked, or at least attention is diverted from it by nearby perennials.

In the garden where tulips are the main display, a different treatment is advisable. Bulbs so important for effect should be replaced every two or three years. When they need to be removed, they should be lifted soon after blooming and heeled in to ripen in good soil and full sun. Later, lifted, dried, and stored in an airy dry place, they can be sorted, and the large bulbs replanted in the fall in the cutting garden. It is difficult to keep them separated so that they can again be used in studied color schemes.