INDOOR BULBS 117 



There are many other classes of bulbs which can be 

 forced, but they are not so easy as the above. 



Bulbs in Pots : The potting of the bulbs is an important 

 process, upon which success largely depends. 



Get ready some good loam, and mix with it a quantity 

 of good sharp silver sand, yellow sand will do at a pinch. 

 Bulbs thrive in sand, so do not stint it. The soil should 

 be good, not poor. 



Make ready a quantity of clean pots scrub them if 

 necessary and plenty of the yellow fibre which bulbs are 

 sent in, to serve instead of crocks. Begin to pot in 

 September. 



Allow one Hyacinth to a 4 in. or 3 in. pot and five or 

 more Tulips to a 5 in. pot, or less if the bulbs are of large 

 size. Crocuses may be planted fairly closely together, say 

 about to i in. apart. Narcissus should be planted round 

 the sides of the pot 2 or more ins. apart. Three bulbs of 

 Daffodils will go in a 5 or 6 in. pot. 



The top of the bulb may be left only just uncovered but 

 crocuses should be covered. Pot firmly, that is, see 

 particularly that the soil is firm about the bulbs. Give the 

 pot a rap against the bench to settle the soil, and after this 

 water slightly. 



When all are potted, dig a hole in the garden about 

 i-i ft. deep and of sufficient size to hold all the pots without 

 standing on the top of one another. Mark the boundaries by 

 rough boards round the sides or sticks. Then bury the pots 

 completely in sand (ordinary yellow sand will do), ashes, 

 or even earth, and leave them alone for six or eight weeks. 

 It is a good plan to label the bed with the date. Fill up 

 to the original ground level, with sand or soil. For good 

 results pot in September and sink immediately ; you will 

 then get early flowers. 



Six to eight weeks should allow them time to form good 

 roots, and to start growing ; then lift the pots carefully 

 out, or they may be left longer if desired. Now transfer 

 them to an ordinary heated greenhouse, placing the pots 

 on a shelf near the glass to give them as much light as 



