364 FLOWERS ALL THE YEAR ROUND 



BULBS, such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocuses, &c., which have not 

 been planted, will have commenced growing, notwithstanding the 

 precautions taken to prevent it, thus showing that they ought to be in 

 the ground. The growth has been made at the expense of the bulb 

 itself, for there are no fibrous roots from' which to draw support. 

 Therefore it can scarcely be expected that the flowers from them 

 will be quite so good as the same bulbs would have produced had they 

 been put in at an earlier period. Still there are cases when the delay 

 is unavoidable, and it is reassuring to know that such bulbs, when care- 

 fully set at the proper depth, will produce flowers only in a degree 

 inferior to those from earlier plantings. 



BULBS IN STORE, such as Begonia, Dahlia, Gladiolus and Gloxinia, 

 should be passed in review. Examination will almost certainly reveal 

 some unsound specimens, and their removal may save valuable com- 

 panions from their contaminating influence. This practice should be 

 followed up about once a fortnight until all are eventually planted. 



