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with the above compost and well shaken down, but not 

 pressed with the hands. A little white sand must be 

 placed in the middle of the top of the compost and the 

 bulb must be j^ressed gently though firmly, down to with- 

 in a quarter of an inch of the top of the bulb. After the 

 bulbs are potted, plunge them in a strong hot-bed where 

 they must remain till they have grown to the height of 

 three or four inches ; they must be kept quite close till 

 they begin to vegetate, when a little air may be admitted ; 

 shaded when the sun is powerful, and covered up with 

 mats at night; water must be supplied very sparingly 

 while they are here, for the steam arising from the bed an- 

 swers in a great measure the purpose of water. When 

 they have grown to the height above stated, take them in- 

 to a warm spot in the green-house, allowing them a plenti- 

 ful supply of air and water, setting them Avhere they will 

 get a plenty of light, or they will be apt to draw up 

 weakly." In June, when the weather becomes quite warm, 

 the plants may be turned out carefully into the open 

 ground. As they advance in height, tie them up to green 

 sticks, six or seven feet long. By the middle of August 

 they will begin to show flowers. For plants to flower in 

 October, the bulbs may be j^lanted in pots in May and 

 carefully tended during the summer, but brought into 

 the house before they are overtaken by frost. We had 

 about fifty bulbs unsold the last season, which lay in the 

 store until the 20th of August ; they were then potted in 

 a compost similar to that described, and although weak- 

 ened by having been so long out of the ground, most of 

 them blossomed and gave a succession of their exquisite 

 fracrrant flowers from the middle of November to 

 Christmas. 



