88 THE FORCING GARDEN. 
care not to let the fibrous roots turn upwards; and 
cover each planted drill as you proceed. 
Perhaps for an inexperienced hand it would be the 
best plan to make the surface fine by raking, then to 
place the roots all over it four inches apart, and to put 
the fine sifted soil over the whole, covering the crowns 
about an inch. After a day or two give the whole a 
good watering with a heavy rose so as to settle the 
soil well to the roots, and place the sashes on the 
frame. 
The Hellebores may be planted by means of the 
spade. There are many varieties of this genus. The 
real Niger is not so strong-growing as some others, but 
it is the best, having purer flowers than the common 
sort. ‘The best are the Chinensis and De Graaf alba. 
As much depth of soil as the pit will admit of should 
be given these, that is, nearly up to the glass in front, 
with one foot six inches at the back, and the crowns 
must be three or four inches below the surface ; give a 
good soaking with water after all the roots are in. 
Small roots may be had wholesale at 60s. per 
thousand. The pit for these will take about 300 good 
roots, and more if they are small. Some will say, why 
plant Hellebores in frames, since they can be lifted 
from the ground and forced there and then ? I admit it, 
but at the same time I know that the sorts I have 
named are very impatient of frequent removals, and 
have to be sacrificed for some time after they are lifted 
from the ground for forcing purposes, and a year or 
two is thus frequently lost in regard to such roots in 
this way. But if they can be gently forced where 
they are perpetually growing, no loss will be sustained. 
Neither this nor the Lily-of-the-valley requires 
