THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 91 



and pot as quickly as possible. Eemove the weakest bulbs tbat are 

 not likely to flower from eaoh clump, and then put the latter rather 

 closely together round the outside of the pots, as they do much bet- 

 ter than when put in the centre. The number of clumps in each 

 pot must be regulated by their size, but generally speaking four for 

 the smaller and six for the larger size will be quite sufficient. When 

 the potting is completed, place them in a shady position, water 

 liberally to settle the soil, and ^then sprinkle the foliage slightly once 

 a-day to assist them in becoming established at once. They should 

 be kept in the shade until the roots have taken possession of the 

 new soil, which can be readily ascertained by turning one of them 

 out of the pot in a careful manner, and then they should be removed 

 to a position where they will have full exposure to the heat of the 

 sun. 



The stock potted in the summer as advised above will fill the 

 pots with fine healthy roots before the foliage has died down, and be 

 in grand condition for forcing early. On the other hand, those 

 potted after the leaves have perished will not make a single root 

 until they have flowered, and they will have to rely exclusively for 

 sustenance on the food laid up in the bulbs previous to their being 

 taken from the open ground. The only matter to which special 

 importance is attached in connection with summer potting is to put 

 them into the pots immediately they are taken up, and to keep them in 

 the shade with occasional sprinklings overhead, until established. 

 The offsets should be planted for stock in preference to putting out 

 plants that have been forced. They must of course be planted 

 without delay, and well watered occasionally, and for the first week 

 or so they should be shaded by means of a mat placed over them 

 during the day, or a few branches of evergreens, or spruce fir, 

 fixed permanently in the ground so as to screen from the sunshine, 

 and they may be allowed to remain until the end of August. By 

 following the directions here laid down, the most inexperienced 

 amateur may make himself entirely independent of the Dutch 

 grower, and have a profusion of those beautiful flowers throughout 

 the winter and spring. 



London Gardeners in the Olden Time. — The following may be interesting, 

 as illustrative of the manners of the gardeners in the olden time. In 1345 (19 

 Edw. HI.) ** the gardeners of the earls, barons, and bishops, and of the citizens of 

 the City of London," petitioned the Mayor, John Hammond, that they might 

 " stand in peace in the same place where they had been wont in times of old, in 

 front of the church of St. Austin, at the site of the gate of St. Paul's Churchyard, 

 there to sell the garden produce of their said masters, and make their profit. But 

 the Mayor, finding that " the scurrility, clamour, and nuisance of these traders 

 and their servants there selling pods, Cherries, vegetables, and other wares to their 

 trade pertaining, daily disturbed " the priests in the church of St. Austin, well as 

 the reputable inhabitants, ordered that henceforth the gardeners " should have 

 as their place the space between the south gate of the churchyard of the said 

 church and the garden wall of the Friars Preachers (Black Friars) at Baynard's 

 Castle." — City Press. 



