42 THE BOOK OF THE DAFFODIL 



the opinion of some experts may be mixed with the soil 

 and placed next the bulbs at planting time, but a better 

 plan seems to be to apply them as a top dressing soon 

 after planting, mixing them in with a hand fork in the 

 covering of soil above the bulbs but not in immediate 

 contact with them. Half a pound of basic slag, or one 

 and a half to two ounces of dissolved bones to each 

 square yard, or an equivalent in bone meal, is probably 

 the best prescription. When beds of strong growing 

 varieties and clumps of them in borders need fresh 

 nourishment, they may with advantage be mulched early 

 in the autumn with a dressing of thoroughly decayed 

 manure through which the leaves will find their way in 

 due course. It will be useful to remember with regard 

 both to manure and strong loam that the more Poeticus 

 blood there is in any variety the better will it enjoy 

 strength of food and soil. 



