21 SEPTEMBER 1934, Page 16

British Bulbs A full list of British bulb-growers and distributors

has been published or republished by the Ministry, to whom application may be made at Whitehall Place. It is valuable in the first instance for those who have inunediate need of bulbs for their garden beds or for so-called naturalization ; but the lists are peculiarly interesting for those who have followed the course of the new industry, for the proof this year of the steady and indeed rapid growth of bulb and flower farming in a good many districts, though South Lincolnshire and the Scilly Isles take the lead. This growth extends to more than area. The variety of species increases. At first daffodils, with tulips as a bad second, almost monopolized the interest of our smaller growers. They are now becoming expert growers also of the hyacinth for the garden or for pot culture. The harvest of these has been big and good. You can have today as many daffodils as you wish, without troubling any foreign importer, and the supply of crocuses, snowdrops, muscari and now hyacinths, is almost equal to the ideal demand. It is to be hoped that the Ministry will have a huge circulation for their lists.

W. BEACH THOMAS.