OCTOBER 49 



Roses are the better for being heavily mulched in the 

 winter and spring. 



Mr. Robert Sydenham, of Tenby street, Birming- 

 ham, publishes a catalogue of bulbs, in which are the 

 clearest possible instructions of how to cultivate them, 

 both in pots and in the open, with an interesting 

 account of his own first experiences. If these instruc- 

 tions are carefully followed, I do not believe the disap- 

 pointing failures, so often seen when amateurs try to 

 force bulbs, will occur. He also makes it quite plain 

 which are the bulbs that should be planted in poor 

 places and left alone, and those which have to be taken 

 up, dried, and re-planted. Tulips, at least in this soil, 

 require much better feeding than any of the Narcissus 

 tribe, and are certainly the better for taking up and 

 drying after their leaves have thoroughly died down. I 

 planted my Roman Hyacinths, according to Mr. Syden- 

 ham' s directions, early in October, and the result was 

 more satisfactory than I have ever had before, and they 

 were in full flower by Christmas. It is a very pretty 

 conceit to plant Hyacinths in shallow earthenware or 

 china pans with jadoo, cocoanut fibre or moss, and 

 place small stones and charcoal at the bottom for 

 the roots to cling to as they grow up. They must 

 be kept very wet. Planted in this way they look 

 much more decorative in the room than when grown 

 in pots or glasses. Any fancy or ornamental vase 

 can be used for the purpose, whether it is flat or 

 not. Many kind hints have been given me by various 

 correspondents about the growing of Hepaticas. One 

 lady said that small beds with pieces of sandstone were 

 a great help. Another writes as follows : ' I thought 

 you might be glad of certain facts about Hepaticas 

 that have come under my own observation. When 

 a child I lived in Somersetshire, where the soil was 



