28 GENERAL RULES OF CULTURE. 



same general rules of culture, however, apply to both, 

 whether they are hardy or tender. 



Imported bulbs are often weak from being kept a long 

 time out of the ground : this is especially the case with 

 lilies and erythroniums, of which a large proportion never 

 survive the first winter : crocus and hyacinths, being of a 

 different nature, are seldom injured. The bulbs should be 

 planted at once in proper soil, according to the species : 

 if out of doors, in a well-drained bed ; if in doors, in well- 

 drained pots. There are few bulbs which need a wet situ- 

 ation, and all are impatient of standing water : therefore, 

 to secure good drainage is one of the points of primary 

 importance in bulb-culture. Hardy bulbs may be planted 

 as late as the ground keeps open ; and we have often set 

 them out when it was necessary to take off a thick crust of 

 frozen earth before we found ground soft enough to work. 

 In one instance, a lot of hyacinths and crocus, received 

 very late, were planted in the frozen ground (the holes being 

 made with a crowbar), and the next spring showed a fine lot 

 of flowers, but little later than, or inferior to, those planted 

 earlier. It should, however, be stated, that the winter was 

 most favorable to the winter-growth of the bulbs ; the earth 

 being covered with snow, and the frost never penetrating to 



