158 DUTCH BULBS AND GARDENS 



holds water !) also runs a risk of bursting the bulb, which 

 may be already showing roots, or young bulbs hidden within 

 might be knocked off without its being perceived. The 

 same method is used in planting bulbs in garden borders. 

 The surface of the earth is taken off and laid on one side, 

 the bulbs are placed in rows, and are very carefully re-covered 

 with the soil which was laid upon the side. 



The frames used over show flower-beds should be raised 

 not more than a foot above the earth, and not less than half 

 a foot. If too high, the air dries the roots ; if too low, the 

 damp (from the vapour) may reach them. The back of the 

 frame should be buried rather deep, so that when it is 

 necessary to cover the flowers with planks, the frame will be 

 able to support them, or planks must be put at the back and 

 sides, fitting into each other, upon which those which form 

 the roof over the flowers can rest. The frames should be 

 slanting from the back downwards to the front, to let the 

 rain run off and prevent it from dripping into the bed. If 

 the cold is very intense, the planks may be covered with 

 manure to prevent the frost from penetrating beneath. If 

 the season is a fair one, the flowers may be given a little air ; 

 but in cold seasons it is a risky thing to do, because the 

 early bedding plants are exceedingly tender, and the heat 

 of the manure, or whatever is provided to shelter them from 

 cold air, causes a damp vapour to rise inside the frames, and 

 as this cannot evaporate it falls back upon the flowers, 

 covering them with a little dew, which, if the cold air were 

 admitted, would freeze directly. It only takes an instant 

 for young buds to freeze, then the flowers come out, looking 

 dried up, with burnt tips. When the cold weather is past 

 the manure is taken off, and air is admitted to the beds for 

 a few hours in the daytime, care being taken to cover up 

 again at nightfall. The manure which serves to protect the 

 bulbs from frost also brings forward young shoots, so that 



