THE BTTT.T? BOOK 



soil that the tops are either level with the surface, slightly helow 

 it, or a little ahove it. 



In the case of hardy bulbs, however, that are grown in the open 

 air and are planted in the autumn, the conditions are not identical. 

 There is no protection from frost on the surface of the soil, and rats 

 and mice and other marauders would more easily destroy bulbs on or 

 near the surface. The main point involved, however, is one of 

 protection from frost. As the bulbs vary so much in size, some 

 being very small and some very large, it becomes necessary to plant 

 them at various depths, according to their size. It would never do 

 to plant a Crocus corm or Snowdrop bulb so deeply as the large 

 bulb of a Lilium. But how is one to know the proper depth for 

 the many kinds of bulbs in cultivation? By the adoption of this 

 simple rule: — Plant a bulb, corm, or tuber in the open air at a 

 depth about equal to three times its own diameter; or, in other 

 words, cover the bulb, corm, or tuber with twice its own depth or 

 diameter of soil. 



CULTIVATION UNDER GLASS 



Although the preparation of the soil for the reception of outdoor 

 hardy bulbous and tuberous plants may entail a good deal of time 

 and labour at first, it is easy when compared with the trouble and 

 expense of cultivating plants in greenhouses and hothouses. Here 

 the soil has to be brought from a distance, and the wise gardener 

 will make arrangements to have stacks of good turfy loam (the top spit 

 from a piece of pasture land), peat, and leaf-mould always at hand; 

 in addition to which there should always be a good supply of sharp 

 silver or river sand available. Different sizes of pots and pans must 

 also be purchased ; and sieves or riddles of ^-inch, i-inch, and 1-inch 

 mesh will also be handy for sifting and mixing the various composts 

 that will be required from time to time. 



The operations of growing plants in pots or even in borders or 

 beds of soil under glass are much more intricate and detailed than 

 those in the open air. The pots or other receptacles used should be 

 quite clean to begin with, when any fresh potting is necessary. 

 Pots that have been in use for a year or two often become covered 

 with a greasy slime on the outside. This makes them not only 

 unsightly, but also difficult to handle ; besides which the passage of 

 air through the pores of the burned clay is rendered difficult 

 or iiupossiljle. This means a certain amount of harm to the roots 

 ^ 12 



