The Culture of Flowering Bulbs 



warm and sheltered gardens of the South and in light well-drained 

 soil the roots pass the winter safely. But where frost prevails some 

 protection, such as a small mound of litter or ashes, must be 

 provided; the covering to be removed immediately the danger of 

 frost is past. The most favourable time for planting is the autumn, 

 but during open weather the roots may be put in up to the end of 

 March. It is usual to plant in clumps at a depth of about three 

 inches, allowing a distance of six inches between the corms. As they 

 may remain undisturbed for several years the spacing will permit 

 them to spread and produce masses of their graceful deep orange-red 

 flowers. 



NARCISSUS 



THE NARCISSUS differs from the Hyacinth, Tulip, and some other 

 bulbs in one particular which is important, because it furnishes the 

 key to the management of this flower. The rootlets do not perish 

 during the season of rest, and this fact clearly indicates that the 

 bulbs should not remain out of ground for a day longer than is 

 necessary. 



Culture in Pots. All the Polyanthus class, and almost all the 

 Garden varieties, thrive in pots, and can be forced with extreme 

 ease. Pot them early in any rich, porous compost, and put them 

 into the soil a little deeper than is usual for Hyacinths. For a 

 few weeks keep them in a cool spot in the open ground under a 

 thick covering of ashes to promote root-growth without prematurely 

 starting the tops. With all bulbs this is an important point, 

 especially for such as are intended to be brought forward in 

 heat. When the pots are full of roots, leaf-growth will commence, 

 and the covering should be removed. A cool pit is then the best 

 place for them. The after-treatment will depend entirely on the date 

 the flowers are wanted. A low temperature, long continued, means 

 late flowering, so that within reasonable limits the grower can control 

 the time of their appearance. For the earliest display select the 

 Roman and Paper White, which are naturally early blooming varieties. 

 After a few days in a cool pit, transfer to the greenhouse, and about 

 a week or ten days before they are needed in flower plunge them in 

 a brisk bottom heat, and give plenty of water of the proper tempera- 

 ture. The forcing should not begin until the plants are sufficiently 

 advanced, or it will injure the flowers both in size and colour. Weak 

 manure water will be beneficial occasionally, but when the blossoms 



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