BULBS 35 



As far as varieties are concerned, the cost of tubers has to be 

 taken into account. One can buy new, named varieties, just as 

 one can of all special flowers, but they may cost several shillings 

 each. Older sorts may cost ninepence or a shilling a tuber. If 

 the grower does not want named varieties he will be well advised 

 to buy mixtures from a reliable merchant or nurseryman. Very 

 good "strains" are procurable for four or five shillings a dozen. 

 A still cheaper way of getting a stock of plants is to sow seeds, 

 but an early start must be made, in heat, if flowering plants are 

 to be had the same year. January is not too early. If the sowing 

 is deferred until the spring, the best that the grower can do is 

 to get tubers for flowering the following year. It is necessary to 

 exercise great care in the sowing, as the seed is expensive, and 

 almost snuff-like in its fineness. The surface soil for its reception 

 must be reduced to very small particles in fact, it is a good plan 

 to compose the surface of silver sand, and after very carefully 

 brushing the seed over it from the palm of the hand with a fore- 

 finger of the other, to merely cover with a few light flakes of clean 

 moss. A square of glass, shaded with paper, may be put over 

 the receptacle, which should be stood on a shelf in a warm green- 

 house. If watering is required before the seeds germinate, it should 

 be done by dipping the vessel nearly to the brim in water, which 

 will rise through the drainage hole to the surface of the soil. 

 Directly the plants appear the moss and the paper shading must 

 be removed. The seedlings may be pricked off two inches apart 

 in boxes when they are about an inch high, and potted singly 

 from these when they have grown large enough to touch each 

 other. They will grow slowly in their early stages when forming 

 the tuber, and it will perhaps only be some of the strongest 

 plants which will be forward enough to bloom well the first year. 

 However, if a good supply of strong tubers be got one should 

 be satisfied, because they will be all ready for the next year's 

 flowering. 



