328 CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS, [chap. XII. 



with two parts of fresh sandy loam, and one of 

 thoroughly rotten dung, is admirably adapted 

 for these plants. In planting the tubers, care 

 should be taken to arrange them in such a 

 manner that the colours of the flowers they 

 produce shall have a harmonious effect. In 

 this month the auriculas generally begin to 

 come into flower in pots, and the polyanthuses 

 and primroses in the open ground. Tuberoses, 

 some of the kinds of gladiolus and ixia, and 

 other showy autumn-flowering bulbs, may be 

 planted towards the end of April, or the first 

 week in May. A bed should be prepared for 

 their reception, by digging the ground about a 

 foot deep, and taking out about half the soil, 

 which is to be replaced by equal parts of vege- 

 table mould and well-rotted dung. When this 

 is well dug over and mixed, drills should be 

 drawn in it, about three or four inches deep 

 and eighteen inches apart, in which the bulbs 

 (after first taking off their offsets) are to be 

 placed about nine inches apart. The bulbs 

 should be made quite firm in the soil, and then 

 covered with mould an inch or an inch and a 

 half deep. They will not require any water till 

 a week or ten days after planting, when the 

 roots have begun to grow, but after that they 

 should be watered regularly. Heart's-eases for 

 autumn flowering may be sown this month, or 

 cuttings may be made of favourite kinds. The 

 heart's-ease requires a shady situation, and a 

 rich loamy soil, plentifully supplied with water. 

 The box-edgings may be pruned in this month, 

 but they should never be clipped. A garden- 

 line should be stretched alono- the edoino- at 



