202 The Tuberosj. 



loam, sand, and peat, well-rotted manure from last )-eAr's hot-bed, a lot of 

 dried cow-droppings from the pasture, and a little charcoal-dust : mix the 

 peat, loam, and sand in equal parts, and add a little of the manure and 

 charcoal. 



The only drainage the pots require is a crock over "^he hole in the bot- 

 tom ; and even this is not necessary. Crumble up a lot of the cow-drop- 

 pings, and fill each pot half full, pressing it gendy down. Take care wire- 

 worms, which are often found in old cow-manure, do not get in. Then fill 

 the pot with the prepared soil, shaking it gently to settle it well ; and place 

 the bulb in the centre, letting only the crown appear above the soil. Set the 

 pots close together in the hot-bed, and fill in between them with spent tan, 

 covering the pots also about an inch. 



Give a good watering with the fine rose of the water-pot full on the sash, 

 and the work is done. They will need no further attention for a week, 

 except perhaps a little air if the weather is sunny and the heat of the 

 hot-bed very fierce. 



The sash should be covered with a board or shutter. 



In about a week or ten days, the plants will show the green tips of the 

 shoots above the tan ; then give more air and water, removing the shutter 

 from the glass. Maintain a moist, warm atmosphere, and the plants will 

 grow rapidly ; but give suffxient air to prevent their becoming diawn and 

 spindling. 



As the season advances, take off the sash on warm, sunny days, being 

 careful to protect the plants in cold nights ; but, by the first of June, the 

 sashes may be left off night and day. The only care required during the 

 summer is to give plenty of water : this requirement attended to, the hotter 

 the situation where they are grown, the better. But, from the time they once 

 begin to grow until the bloom is past, they must never be allowed to flag 

 for want of water. 



As the flower-stalks develop, they should be tied to neat stakes ; and, as 

 the flowers begin to expand, the pots may be lifted from the frame, and 

 placed in the house or on the piazza or balcony. 



The later plantings must be sheltered from frost by removing the pots 

 to the house or greenhouse : they will, however, if protected on frosty 

 nights, bloom out of doors until the middle of October. 



