THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 293 



they already know ; and I believe that there are few indeed that 

 have a greenhouse or conservatory, who have not the desire to have 

 a nice show of spring flowers. With this impression fixed firmly on 

 my mind, I will do my best to assist them in realizing their wishes in 

 this respect. I shall not say anything about hyacinths in this paper, 

 for I have no doubt but what one of the many able contributors will 

 take the subject in hand in this or the following number. I shall 

 confine myself to miscellaneous bulbs, which I have found necessary 

 to grow to make the conservatory under my charge as beautiful as 

 possible, and also for the sake of variety, as it happens to be rather a 

 large one. No matter how beautiful anything may be, it is quite 

 possible to have too much of it. The eye tires of constantly seeing 

 the same thing over and over again, and longs for something to turn, 

 to for a relief. Knowing that I am not at all singular in my views 

 upon this point, I resolved to say a few words upon the subject, in 

 return for the large amount of benefit I have at various times derived 

 from these pages. 



I shall not go through every cultural detail with all the sections 

 that will come under our notice ; there is so little difi'erence in their 

 management that it would be tedious for the reader to wade through, 

 the same thing over and over again, besides, it is quite unnecessary. 

 I uill first say a few words about the general culture, and then dip 

 into the sections for the most suitable kinds to grow, at the same 

 time I will indicate any special feature that may be necessary to be 

 observed. Pans and pots of various sizes and shapes have been from 

 time to time recommended, not particularly in these pages, but in all 

 the horticultural papers ; but, to tell the truth about the matter, I 

 have never found anything better than the old-fashioned 32, or six- 

 inch pot, for bulb-growing for the conservatory. When intended 

 for sitting or drawing-rooms, fancy baskets and jardinets are very 

 well, and I have not a word to say against them. Let the pots be 

 thoroughly clean and a good drainage of crocks in the bottom, and 

 for compost select good turfy loam full of the rootlets of the grass, 

 which has been stacked up for a few months, and add an equal pro- 

 portion of fat manure and a little river-sand or other gritty substance. 

 Silver-sand is very well, but it is too expensive to be used for this 

 purpose. Should the soil be deficient of fibre and rather close in its 

 texture, one-fourth part of cocoa-nut refuse, mixed with the soil, will 

 be of great service in keeping it open, and thus allowing of the full 

 and free development of the roots. Almost any of the bulbs will 

 grow tolerably well in the refuse alone, but there is not sufficient 

 nourishment to bring them to a high state of perfection ; it acts as a 

 capital mechanical agent, mixed with a rich compost, by keeping it 

 open and porous. The bulbs should be potted so as the crowns or 

 necks just show above the surface, and the soil filled in rather firmly. 

 The pots should be taken from the potting-shed and plunged in a 

 bed of coal-ashes, and then covered with several inches of it. Two 

 batches should be put in, one the beginning of September, and the 

 other a month later. The first lot should be removed into a pit 

 some time in January, and then, after a few days' stay there, be 

 shifted into the forcing-pit to bring them along. The forcing must 



