310 BULBOUS-ROOTED FLOWERS. 



hension will be removed^ and that those who take pleasure in: 

 their gardens and windows, will be enabled to grow them with, 

 entire success. 



Another reason why every possessor of the smallest village 

 lot may enjoy the pleasure which these flowers will aff'ord, is 

 that they require but little space and can be had at very little 

 cost. It is true that those who must have the latest novelty can 

 have it only at considerable expense, but those who are willing 

 to have pretty flowers without inquiring whether they are of the 

 latest introduction, and can enjoy the beauty or fragrance of an 

 unnamed tulip or hyacinth just as keenly as though it bore 

 the title of some noble Countess or Eoyal Prince or Imperial 

 Majesty, may buy them of our dealers at very moderate prices. 



The most of these bulbs are grown in Holland, where soil, 

 climate and cheap labor conspire to render their production much 

 less expensive than it would be here. For this reason our 

 florists annually import them from that country, and have them 

 on hand, ready for their customers, in time for planting at the 

 proper season. 



Those who wish to have a bed of these bulbs imder the win- 

 dow should choose, if possible, a window that looks toward the 

 south. The most of them are natives of warm climates, and 

 delight in all the sunlight and sun-heat we can give them. 

 They also prefer a rich and moist sandy loam, yet one that is 

 readily drained, free from all stagnant water in the soil. K the 

 soil be not na|uraUy of this character, the labor necessary to 

 make it so will be most amply repaid. If the subsoil be natu- 

 rally porous, all that will be needed will be to work into the sur- 

 face sufficient sand and thoroughly rotted manure to make it rich 

 and light to the depth of eighteen inches. But if the subsoil be 

 a retentive clay, it is very desirable that it should be removed 

 from under the intended bed to the depth of a foot at least, and 

 an under-drain made from the bottom to the most convenient 

 outlet, so as to carry off aU the water that would s'iltle into the 

 place from which the clay is removed. The place ccsupied by 



