84 HOUSE PLANTS 



When the bulbs are received from the 

 bulb merchant, about October ist, put them 

 in a good soil. I have used the soil described 

 in Chapter 11. Leafmould is not an essen- 

 tial, but I prefer to use it. 



PANS OR POTS 



Put the bulbs in pans rather than in pots. 

 Six-inch pans are the best for the small 

 bulbs like crocuses, snowdrops, and bulbo- 

 codiums; the polyanthus narcissus are gen- 

 erally grown in six-inch pots; one, two, or 

 three bulbs to a pot, according to the size 

 of the bulbs. Tulips, hyacinths, and daffo- 

 dils are best grown in eight-inch pans. 

 Pans look better than pots — there is not 

 such an expanse of red clay — and besides, 

 they do not take up as much room. Set 

 the bulbs to a depth to have them just 

 covered with soil. After potting give them 

 a good watering and set them away to make 

 roots. 



The secret of bulb culture lies almost 

 entirely in the root development. If the 

 bulbs are not well rooted before they are 

 forced they will not make good flowers. 



But no amount of care will increase the 



