88 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



care not to let the fibrous roots turn upwards ; and 

 cover each planted drill as you proceed. 



Perhaps for an inexperienced hand it would be the 

 best plan to make the surface fine by raking, then to 

 place the roots all over it four inches apart, and to put 

 the fine sifted soil over the whole, covering the crowns 

 about an inch. After a day or two give the whole a 

 good watering with a heavy rose so as to settle the 

 soil well to the roots, and place the sashes on the 

 frame. 



The Hellebores may be planted by means of the 

 spade. There are many varieties of this genus. The 

 real Niger is not so strong-growing as some others, but 

 it is the best, having purer flowers than the common 

 sort. The best are the Chinensis and De Grraaf alba. 

 As much depth of soil as the pit will admit of should 

 be given these, that is, nearly up to the glass in front, 

 with one foot six inches at the back, and the crowns 

 must be three or four inches below the surface ; give a 

 good soaking with water after all the roots are in. 



Small roots may be had wholesale at 60s. per 

 thousand. The pit for these will take about 300 good 

 roots, and more if they are small. Some will say, why 

 plant Hellebores in frames, since they can be lifted 

 from the ground and forced there and then ? I admit it, 

 but at the same time I know that the sorts I have 

 named are very impatient of frequent removals, and 

 have to be sacrificed for some time after they are lifted 

 from the ground for forcing purposes, and a year or 

 two is thus frequently lost in regard to such roots in 

 this way. But if they can be gently forced where 

 they are perpetually growing, no loss will be sustained. 



Neither this nor the Lily-of-the-valley requires 



