36 THE BOOK OF THE DAFFODIL 



in loose soil. If for any reason you are obliged to pre- 

 pare your beds in summer shortly before planting time, 

 it is a good and simple plan to take some opportunity 

 when the soil is not wet and press them down firmly 

 by placing a fairly wide board on the surface and 

 standing upon it. This very primitive method gives an 

 even and not too great pressure, and will relieve you 

 from the necessity of planting in too loose soil. 



Though the Narcissus likes plenty of moisture when 

 it is in vigorous growth, it likes that moisture to pass 

 through, and not remain stagnant in the soil ; and the 

 bulbs of most of the varieties strongly resent being 

 water-logged, in fact they soon get diseased under such 

 a condition. Those bulbs which are in deeply dug beds 

 do better both in dry and in wet seasons than those 

 planted in shallow soil. A good deal must, of course, 

 depend on the nature of the subsoil, but as a general 

 rule deep digging and good drainage are necessary to 

 permanent success. 



In the case of very dry and sandy soils, when the natural 

 drainage is free, it may be found advantageous to place a 

 layer of stable manure at a depth of at least 12 inches, 

 so as to be quite out of reach of the bulbs ; it should 

 not be mixed with the soil but be merely a layer, as it is not 

 intended for a stimulant (which would be injurious to 

 many of the varieties) but only as a sponge to retain 

 moisture in the soil. 



GROWING IN GRASS. Almost all Narcissi look well 

 and do well planted in grass, if you can spare them a 

 corner of a lawn or meadow which can be left without 

 mowing until the end of June. For the Narcissus leaves 

 must not be cut, but left to die naturally. Any of the 

 delicate sorts, which you cannot induce to grow happily 

 in cultivated beds, may be dibbled into the grass in 

 holes, filled up with maiden loam, and left to them- 

 selves. They should not be planted stiffly, but in 



