HARDY AND HALF-HARDY GARDEN BULBS. 371 



loose. This being done, about the first of October plant 

 the bulbs in lines and circles, or as may suit the fancy. 



The usual fault in planting bulbs is not setting them 

 deep enough ; they are often thrown out by the frost. 



Hyacinths should be planted four inches deep ; Crocus, 

 two inches ; Iris, three inches ; Snowdrops, two inches ; 

 Jonquils and Narcissus, three inches. 



The bulbs planted, a good covering of coarse manure 

 and straw should be laid over the bed about the first of 

 December, or just before the ground freezes up. 



In the spring, say about the first of April, rake off the 

 straw. The bulbs will be found well up ; the blanched stalks 

 will soon turn green, and an abundance of bloom will follow. 



After the leaves have died down, if you have fine varie- 

 ties, it is best to take them up, and keep them in a dry 

 place until the season for planting comes again. The gen- 

 eral practice is, however, to allow the bulbs to remain in 

 the ground, where, if undisturbed, they will bloom year 

 after year. 



This treatment is suitable for Hyacinths, Crocus, hardy 

 Gladiolus, Iris, Jonquils, Narcissus, and Snowdrops. 



The POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS, of which we have before 

 spoken, are not perfectly hardy ; the bulbs live, but 



