14 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



aid of chlorophyll in the leaves, converted from a crude 

 state into special food, which is conducted down in due 

 course to the bulb scales and the reservoirs of corm and 

 tuber, to await the requirements of new growth in spring. 



CHAPTEE II. 



SOILS AND MANURES. 



THE majority of hardy bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants 

 will do very well in good ordinary soil, as a reference to 

 the list of genera and species on page 53 will show. A 

 few, however, require special composts, such as peat, 

 leaf-mould, etc. As to manures, bulbs do not appreciate 

 these to the same extent as other hardy plants, a little 

 sufficing to meet their requirements. Most of them like 

 a rich soil, it is true, but if manures are added they must 

 not be of a rank description, nor be placed in close con- 

 tact with the bulbs. 



Soil. This should be deeply dug, in order to ensure 

 free drainage and absence of stagnant water. Heavy soils 

 should be liberally dressed with grit and leaf-mould, in 

 addition to well-rotted manure. The earlier the soil can 

 be dug and got ready before planting the better. The old 

 florists used to pay a good deal of attention to this matter, 

 and the modern ones would be well advised also to do so. 

 Bulbs generally do best in a sandy loam. The secret of 

 the bulb industry in Holland is due entirely to the sandy 

 soil and the judicious use of cow manure. Those, there- 

 fore, who possess a sandy soil may hope to grow bulbs 



