154 Nature-Study Agriculture 



Kinds of the onion and the hyacinth, are made up of thin, broad 

 coats ; (2) those made of thick, narrow scales like the 

 lily ; and (3) solid bulbs (or corms) , of which the gladiolus 

 and crocus are examples. 



Suitable The soil for bulbs should be a sandy loam rather than 



futons C "~ a heavy cla Y soil sucn as roses need - It: should be very 

 fertile, but no manure except that which is thoroughly 

 rotted should be used. Bulbs (except those of water 

 plants) need good drainage. Soggy, water-soaked soil 

 is bad for them. Nearly all bulbs require sunshine. 

 A few, however, as tulips and hyacinths, will develop 

 taller stems if grown in the shade. 



Planting A large proportion of the bulbs sold in the market 



are grown in Holland. The common bulbs, such as 

 crocus, tulip, and the like, are for this reason often spoken 

 of as Dutch bulbs. October is the best month to plant 

 them, for if they are put into moist earth then, they will 

 have time enough before the ground becomes frozen 

 to get their roots established in the earth and to draw a 

 supply of nourishment for use as soon as spring comes. 

 How to treat After the bulbs have bloomed, the faded flowers should 

 ^have thal ke removed, for there will be a serious drain upon the 

 bloomed plant if they are allowed to go to seed. The most ex- 

 hausting process in the life of any plant is the production 

 of seed. Annual plants die when their seed is ripe. 

 After the leaves begin to fade, the tops should be cut 

 off. Then the bulbs may be left in the ground if it is 

 moderately dry, or they may be removed and stored 

 until planting time. Bulbs multiply in the ground, and 

 at transplanting time they should be separated. 



When bulbs are grown in a dish of water, as is some- 



