200 The Tubei'ose. 



Garden," of which the first edition appeared in 1863. The mode of cul- 

 ture thus prescribed has been generally practised since, and has been 

 universally successful. 



And, first, as to the bulbs. These are generally imported from Italy, 

 where they are grown in great quantities for export. Of late years, how- 

 ever, many have been grown in New Jersey, which have with us produced 

 very good flowers ; although we are free to confess we prefer the imported 

 bulbs, as being better ripened, and more generally healthy. 



The bulbs should be procured, either by importation or purchase, early 

 in April. INIuch depends upon selection ; as poor bulbs, with ever}' care, 

 will fail to give good flowers. 



Choose such as are very firm, large, not very long at the top, or with an 

 old dried root at the base, with a clean, clear skin, and few offsets. Be 

 careful to look into the top of the bulb (especially with those grown in this 

 country) to see if the shoot is firm, and tliat there is no rottenness at the 

 heart. 



For a succession of bloom from July to November, a hundred bulbs will 

 be sufficient. 



These may be procured by wholesale or by importation for from five to 

 eight dollars. It is always better to order a few more than are needed, 

 to make up for weak or diseased bulbs. The first of April is the time to 

 plant bulbs to bloom in July ; the next planting should be three weeks 

 later, and the next about the middle of May. Thus, with three plantings, 

 we have had tuberoses all the summer and autumn. 



Later plantings will give bloom in winter ; but a warm, dry greenhouse 

 is necessaiy if we would bloom tuberoses in the short days of December, as 

 the buds are very liable to damp off. In preparing the bulbs for planting, 

 clean them thoroughly by rubbing off all small offsets or protuberances, as 

 these only weaken the bulbs, and never bloom. A few days previous to 

 planting, a gentle hot-bed must have been prepared in the usual way. The 

 simplest and cheapest but not the neatest mode is to excavate the ground 

 two feet deep in a dry place where water will not settle. Nail four boards 

 a foot wide and an inch thick together at right angles, of the size of the 

 bed, and place them on it, banking up around them with the earth removed 

 from the hole ; fill in eighteen inches of horse-manure and litter ; draw on 



