388 THE FLOBAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



thoroughly dry ; but this rule must be regulated by the condition of 

 the bulbs when planted : if already vegetating, water must be 

 statedly given, about twice or thrice each week asthe weather may 

 require, until vigorous growth begins. Air should be admitted 

 sparingly until the leaves appear, after which it must be uniformly 

 attended to by being gradually admitted early and late, during mild 

 weather, and vise versa. 



On the approach of severe weather the frame, or pit, must be 

 protected by banking up the outsides with highly decomposed 

 manure, firmly and neatly pressed, to the extent of twenty inches in 

 width at the base or ground level, gradually inclining upwards to 

 within one to two inches of the top ; the remaining protection 

 consists of one or two bast mats (dry if possible) placed over the 

 lights in partial frosts, and when much more severe, the addition of 

 dry litter or straw over the mats from back to front, about nine or 

 twelve inches deep, may be advisable. During the kindly influence 

 of sunlight, and milder air by day, the upper coveting of straw and 

 mats may be removed from eight or nine o'clock in the morning 

 until three or four in the afternoon, admitting partial air by pushing 

 the lights down at the back about one or two inches, the covering 

 being replaced as required. Towards spring, as the weather becomes 

 warm, careful attention must be paid to watering. The lights 

 shoiild seldom be left entirely off, except in very mild weather and 

 cloudy sky, air being admitted as amply as possible, by tilting each 

 light sideways in the centre, and in all cases Irom the wind. Asthe 

 plants progressively show their flower-stems, they may be removed 

 to the greenhouse or conservatory, placed in a light and cool situation, 

 where they will be preserved from extreme drought, or exposure to 

 currents of air. tfor greenhouse culture, the last-mentioned soils 

 are most suitable ; if potted early, before the bulbs show symptoms 

 of growth, the pots may be placed unplunged either in a cold frame 

 or pit, with a correspondent treatment, or on a shady border 

 (surfaced with ashes), or in the most light and dry place, screened 

 from drip, under the greenhouse stage ; and, as before stated, they 

 should be only occasionally watered until the leaves appear, upon 

 which they must be placed upon the platform, and watered according 

 to their progressive growth. As a general rule, if planted early, 

 during the first month water seldom, but freely, after which they 

 may receive uniform attention with other plants. The following 

 precautions, under each method of culture, appear to be necessary 

 for maintaining a healthy and vigorous conditon of growth. The 

 dry and leafy texture of these and similar growing plants, renders 

 them incapable of enduring opposite extremes of drought and 

 moisture, or of long-continued exposure to strong sunlight, or parch- 

 ing currents of air; therefore during their advancing and mature 

 growth, deficiency of water should be guarded against as the worst 

 evil. " All extremes are dangerous." In fine weather, especially if 

 the pots are small, a gentle syringing or sprinkling over the leaves 

 with a medium-sized broad-rosed watering-pot each morning and 

 evening, previous to the expansion of the flowers, will be found 

 beneficial. It cannot be too strongly enforced upon young plant- 



