FLOWERING IN WINTER 53 



inch of the top (this much space being needed 

 for watering). A little of the neck of each 

 bulb will remain exposed, excepting in the 

 case of the very small pea-like bulbs of minia- 

 ture varieties, which should be covered with 

 soil to a depth of about half an inch. 



If earthen pans are used, the procedure 

 will be the same as for pots. Eight-inch 

 pans make ideal receptacles and when the 

 plants are in flower look better than pots. 

 Shallow boxes (flats) are used when flowers 

 are to be grown in quantity for cutting. This 

 is discussed in detail in Chapter V. 



AFTER POTTING COMES "PLUNGING" 



The secret of success in flowering bulbs is 

 to make them develop roots before top growth 

 starts. The object of "plunging" potted bulbs 

 out of doors is to induce them to do this by 

 keeping the lower portion of the bulbs 

 warmer than the top. Failure to do this is 

 responsible for most disappointments in grow- 

 ing and flowering bulbs under artificial con- 

 ditions. Without roots the flower can only 

 develop as far as the stored up nutriment in 

 the bulb will sustain it; and, as the bulb's 



