FLOWERING IN WINTER 49 



cent, leaf mould. Compost this by turning 

 the pile three or four times during the season 

 to get all ingredients thoroughly mixed. Be- 

 fore using, add about four quarts of sand and 

 two quarts of fine bone meal to a bushel of 

 the mould. 



If it is too much trouble for an amateur 

 to prepare the soil as directed, it would be 

 better to buy prepared potting soil from a 

 florist, than to rely on the ordinary garden 

 soil. Of course, it will be necessary to add 

 the sand and bone meal just the same. The 

 next best thing, if, for some reason, soil pre- 

 pared in advance by yourself or the florist 

 is not available, is to lift some sod, tear it 

 apart, shaking out the soil and allowing the 

 small pieces of fibrous grass roots to remain 

 in it. Add bone meal and sand as in the other 

 case, but omit manure. This last injunction 

 is of paramount importance. 



IMPORTANCE OF AUGUST POTTING 



Too much" emphasis cannot be put on this : 

 get your bulbs as early as possible and pot 

 at once. 



