DECEMBER 245 



being replanted in the basin of sand. More sand 

 is then strewn over and around them to keep them 

 steady, and finally a layer of moss is laid over the 

 roots. The sand is kept wet, and so long as this 

 point is attended to so long will the bulbs thrive as 

 well as though they were still in their original 

 boxes. My bulbs this year are the best I have 

 ever had. Each one is throwing up at least three 

 or four flower sprays, some as many as nine, the 

 new shoots growing up from below, and coming to 

 as full expansion in their fresh quarters as if they 

 had never been disturbed. 



A big beau-pot has a number of double Roman 

 narcissi treated in the same way ; and a third con- 

 tains paper-white narcissi. A thin green stick 

 should be inserted deep in the sand at the middle 

 of the pot, rising to within a few inches of the top 

 of the leaves, and to this stick each flower stem 

 can, if necessary, be tied back invisibly with a fine 

 green thread. It is worth while to take consider- 

 able preliminary pains with an arrangement of this 

 sort, because it will last in good condition for two 

 or three weeks at least, and will be immensely 

 admired by all who see it. 



I daresay there are gardens and greenhouses 

 which are so large in extent and so well stocked 

 that they may be depended upon to give sufficient 

 results without the need of any special expenditure 

 of trouble. But the small gardener who, like 

 myself, wishes to get large results from a limited 

 space, will find that the secret of success lies in 

 unwearying effort. Nothing must be neglected at 

 any season of the year ; systematic culture and 



