78 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



tried this many times, and although many roots sur- 

 vived the ordeal, they were rendered worthless by it. 

 Nor is it well to plant them in February or March, 

 as advised in some of the books; for if the spring is 

 wet and cold they rot in the ground, and if it is dry 

 and warm they grow too soon, and their tender green 

 tops are liable to be cut off by frost in April and May. 

 Keep the corms or roots in sand, in a dry, cool place, until 

 about the middle of March, and then pot them singly in 

 thumb-pots, or in three-inch pots at the utmost. First 

 cover the hole in the pot with a convex potsherd, hollow 

 side downwards, or with two or three small pieces of coke 

 or cinder. Then put in compost to the depth of about two 

 inches ; on this place the corm, and fill in, and press a little 

 firm all round, and finally cover to within a quarter of an 

 inch of the rim of the pot. The compost may, with 

 advantage, consist of equal parts of mellow loam, leaf- 

 mould, very old rotten hotbed soil, and silver-sand. But 

 this precise formula need not be followed, because any light 

 compost will answer the purpose, if sweet and nourishing. 

 Pack the pots in a frame, or under the stage of a green- 

 house, give them one watering, and leave them untouched 

 for a fortnight at least. By that time, probably, the 

 growth will be spearing through. In such case they must 

 have light and aiir, and a very suitable place for them will 

 be the stage of a cool greenhouse, or to continue in the 

 frame, and to have regular attention in respect of watering 

 and air-giving. Be careful to avoid extremes. Keen east 

 winds, sharp frost, very much moisture, continued cold 

 and damp, are all more or less to be feared as dangerous. 

 It is but little they will require; the matter of main im- 

 portance is to keep a watch on them. 



