172 SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



but very satisfactory results may be obtained in ordinary 

 garden soil. Soil may be enriched by adding fertilizers or 

 decayed manure. 



The depth at which the bulb should be planted depends 

 upon the size of the bulb, the larger ones being set deeper ; 

 this depth varies from two inches for small bulbs like snow- 

 drop, to twelve inches for some lilies. The depths for 

 the various bulbs are given in the table on page 171. A 

 general rule is to coyer bulbs one and a half times their 

 own diameter, with the exception of lilies, which should be 

 covered about three times their own diameter. For the 

 more northern latitudes it is well to protect the bulbs by 

 means of a mulch of leaves or straw. This should be placed 

 on the bed after the ground is frozen and then removed in 

 the early spring. 



HOME PROJECT 17 



Purpose. To plant bulbs in the home yard so as to get 

 flowers during the spring. 



Directions. Find some place in your yard suitable for plant- 

 ing bulbs. During the fall spade it thoroughly and plant some 

 bulbs, following the suggestions given in this chapter. 



Summer bulbs. The more common kinds of summer 

 bulbs are gladiolus, cinnamon vine, dahlia, and tuberose. 

 Gladiolus may be planted from the middle of April until 

 the last of June. The corms, as these underground parts 

 are called, should be planted about four inches deep and six 

 inches apart. The flowers have a great variety of colors. 

 The cinnamon vine is valued for the rapidity of its growth, 

 reaching a height of from ten to thirty feet in a single season. 

 It may be set out the latter part of April. The dahlia is 

 one of the most popular flowers, blooming in August and 

 September. The part planted is really a root instead of 

 a bulb, but it may be considered here. The roots may be 

 planted from the middle of May until the first of July. 



