i879-] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 79 



quired for. By the end of September or October they should be re- 

 moved from the cold frames to a house where a little warmth is main- 

 tained and abundance of air can play amongst them. They should 

 be placed as near to the glass as possible. They will soon commence 

 to throw up their flowers, especially if placed into a little more 

 warmth. By so doing, the plants can be brought into flower in 

 batches as required. 



Single bulbs treated as described will produce 100 to 150 blooms. 

 These will not all be open at one time, but will be produced in succes- 

 sion for three months or more, provided they are not kept in too 

 much heat. It is well to raise a set of young plants annually. 



After blooming, the plants are carefully attended to, and are 

 occasionally watered with manure-water, to assist them to develop 

 and mature their bulbs thoroughly before they go to rest. Planting 

 the bulbs out in the early part of June is a good system, mulching 

 with cocoa-nut fibre or old tan, to prevent the ground from drying 

 too frequently. Another good plan is to plunge the plants out in 

 their pots in any material that will hold moisture. In either case 

 the plants should be repotted in the early part of September, and 

 kept close in a frame for a time, and there treated as described for 

 the seedlings. The bulbs must be cared for after the flowering 

 season, if success is again looked for. A Growek. 



THE AMATEUE'S GARDEN. 



SEEDS AND SEED-SOWING. 



It is scarcely time yet (February) for getting in the general ruck of garden 

 seeds, though in dry warm soil many kinds may be sown, at least by the end. 

 of the month, with great propriety. Now is the time to calculate and procure 

 the quantities to be sown. Indeed, this should be seen to before the soil is 

 prepared, so that ground intended for the various crops may be properly 

 treated. In giving directions for choosing seeds, the general rule is to say 

 how much of this, that, and the other thing will be required for a quarter of 

 an acre, half an acre, and so on. Such advice only serves to puzzle. The 

 fact is, no two individuals' wants are the same, and hence a selection of 

 seeds which might fit one person very well would be of little use for another. 

 What I propose is, to give as near the amount of space required by a given 

 quantity of seed, and by this means each person will be enabled to calculate 

 to a nicety the seed required for his own individual wants. 



Beet — 1 oz. will sow a row 50 feet long. 



Broad Beans — 1 lb. will sow a row 60 feet long. 



French Beans — 1^ lb. will sow 60 feet. 



Carrots— 1 oz. will sow 130 feet. 



Cress — 1 oz. will sow 20 feet of a row 4 inches broad. 



