266 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



The crocuses, bulbous irises, and other small bulbs should 

 be planted when received. In very light soil planting should 

 be an inch or so deeper than the figures given above: in 

 grass or sod slightly shallower planting will usually do, as 

 they are more protected than in the open ground. 



While most of the bulbs do well in any kind of soil, for 

 the best success it should be made rich; you should not, 

 however, use fresh manure for this purpose, as portions of 

 it are quite sure to come in contact with the bulbs and 

 injure them. Bone meal, prepared sheep manure or very 

 thoroughly rotted and fine stable manure may be used, or 

 nothing at all added if the ground is in fairly good shape 

 from manuring of previous plantings. 



While the bulbs may be set any time until the ground 

 freezes, the best results are to be had if they are planted 

 immediately after the first hard, killing frost, as this gives 

 them a longer period in which to take root growth in the fall 

 before the ground is frozen so hard that all growth stops. 

 If put in too early, however, they will make some top 

 growth, which should be avoided. If you have not yet 

 ordered your bulbs for this year you should send in your 

 order immediately. Get the bulb bed or border ready now, 

 and plant as soon as you receive the bulbs from the seeds- 

 man. 



How Deep to Plant Bulbs 



As to the depth at which they should be planted, place 

 them down far enough, being sure to get them right side 

 up, so that the top of the bulb is about one and one-half 

 times as far below the surface as the bulb is thick through. 

 This will give a depth of from three to four inches for the 

 average size hyacinth and two to five inches for tulips, and 

 two to four inches for the various sized narcissi. Where 

 bulbs are naturalized in a sod they need not be put in quite 

 so deep, as the sod and grass form part of the covering and 

 also form some protection from freezing. 



In planting in the beds first lay out all the bulbs with their 

 proper tags, to be sure of getting them evenly distributed 



