266 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Although it has been observed that most of these flowers 

 blow in April and May, this only applies to such as are 

 left in the earth to blow at their own season ; but, accord- 

 ing to their time of planting and their situation, they may 

 be continued for many months in succession. Those 

 planted in pots should be covered an inch over the top of 

 the bulb ; and the pot should not be less than seven inches 

 in depth. According to the size of the bulb, one or more 

 may be planted in each pot. They may be planted any 

 time from September to February. Careful admissions of 

 air in mild weather will be beneficial; and they must 

 on no account be denied the enjoyment of daylight and 

 sunshine, towards which they will lean with an almost 

 animal yearning, which it were a sort of cruelty not to 

 indulge. 



Water must not be given them until the green begins 

 to appear : they should then be gently watered once or 

 twice a Aveek. In a warm inhabited room they may be 

 blown even in the midst of winter. 



Such as are blown in glasses should have fresh water 

 about once in ten days. The leaves should never be 

 plucked off before they decay, or the root will be thereby 

 deprived of much of its natural nourishment. When they 

 have decayed, the bulbs should be taken up, laid in the 

 shade to dry, cleaned, and put in a dry secure place till 

 wanted to re-plant. The offsets should be taken off, and 

 sorted according to their size. When planted, they may 

 be put two or three together, until they have grown large 

 enough for flowering. 



When the plants are somewhat advanced in height they 

 will require a stick to support them. Such plants as are 

 kept in the open air in the spring must be defended from 

 strong winds, which would otherwise be apt to break the 

 stems, particularly after rains ; when their cups, being 

 filled with water, will be more heavy : 



