148 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 
sufficiently large. Fill it with any good potting mold, 
a light, rich one being preferable. Remove a little soil 
from the central surface, and into this opening lightly 
press the bulb, so as not to have the soil hard beneath it, 
but pack the earth firmly around it, leaving about one- 
third of the bulb visible. If the bulb is pressed too 
firmly in the soil, when the roots begin to grow, instead 
of penetrating, they will lift the bulb out of its proper 
position. After potting set the pots in any sheltered 
position, where they will not get too much water, and 
cover with soil, or, what is better, coal ashes, to the 
depth of six or eight inches; over this throw leaves or 
coarse litter, to prevent freezing, so that they may be 
brought into the house as required. It is a common 
practice to put them in acellar or shed. This is nota 
good plan, however, as the soil is apt to get too dry after 
the roots start, from the ill effects of which the plants 
never fully recover. For a succession of bloom, bring 
in as many as desired about December first, and every 
two weeks thereafter until February first. If the bulbs 
have been kept from the frost, as they should have been, 
they will have made considerable top growth, in which 
case bring them gradually to the light until they get 
their natural color, after which they will stand all the 
light and heat the living room will afford. It will aug- 
ment the beauty of the flowers and prolong their period 
of usefulness to grow them in a low temperature, 
although they thrive in any other, provided watering is 
proportionate. The best time for potting is as soon as 
possible after the bulbs arrive from Holland, when they 
have had a sufficient period of rest, and are ready for 
the first period of root growth. The quicker the pots 
are filled with roots, the sooner the bulbs will come into 
flower after they are brought into the house. Besides, 
without a healthy root-growth, there will never be a 
healthy flower spike; the flowers opening close down to 
