BULBS FOR WINTER FLOWERING 185 



The proper soil in which to grow bulbs is made 

 up of loam and well-rotted cow manure, with sand 

 enough worked in to make the compost light and 

 friable. It should be worked over until mellow. If 

 cow manure is not available, use bone meal in the 

 proportion of a teacupful to a half bushel of soil. On 

 no account use fresh manure. It is sure to injure bulbs. 



In potting, several bulbs can be grown in the same 

 pot, if six, seven and eight-inch sizes are used. A 

 much better effect is secured by massing them than 

 can be obtained if they are grown singly. A five-inch 

 pot is quite large enough to accommodate two bulbs of 

 Hyacinth of ordinary size. A six-inch pot will be large 

 enough for two larger bulbs, and a seven-inch pot will 

 hold four bulbs, while five and six bulbs can be grown 

 in an eight-inch pot. 



Cover the bulbs to the depth of about an inch, 

 water them well, to settle the soil about them, and 

 then set them away in whatever cool, dark place you 

 have chosen to store them in while roots are being 

 formed. Some use the cellar. This is a good place 

 for them. Others dig a trench in the ground and 

 sink the pots in it, drawing the soil about them after 

 they are in place, and covering with boards or leaves, 

 to exclude light. Others put them in a room away from 

 fire heat, whose windows can be darkened. It does 

 not much matter where they are placed, if they can 

 be kept cool and dark. These are the points to aim 

 at, at this stage of proceedings. 



Most kinds should be left in the starting room at 

 least a month, and some will require twice that length 

 of time in which to fully develop roots. There is no 

 definite period for this part of the work. They are 

 to be left there until roots are formed, be the time 

 long or short. Some will insist on making a growth 

 of top shortly after being potted. If you find that 



