102 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



require to bf. sown in January or February, to ensure strong 

 plants fov .flowering the same year. To rear plants from 

 seeds, a'ldo^ri 8in. pot must be half-filled with drainage, a 

 layer of moss or partially-decayed leaves placed on this, 

 then sufficient compost to fill the remaining space to 

 within half an inch of the rim. Press the soil down firmly 

 by means of the bottom of another pot, then sift some 

 compost through a fine sieve, and put an eighth of an inch 

 of it on the surface; press it level, water thoroughly with 

 a fine-rose water-pot, and let it drain a few moments. 

 Next get your seed, open the packet carefully, sow thinly, 

 and then sprinkle a, little sand over it, and again water 

 through a fine rose. This done, procure a pane of glass 

 and place it over the pot, and then remove the latter to a 

 temperature of 60 to 65 deg. Plunge the pot to its 

 rim in cinder ashes or cocoanut-fibre refuse, and shade 

 from sun. On no account allow the soil to become dry. 

 Directly the slightest absence of moisture can be 

 seen, hold the pot in a vessel of tepid water deep enough 

 to allow the moisture to ascend through the drainage hole 

 to the surface of the soil, but not so that the water rushes 

 through to the top of the pot. When the seedlings have 

 formed their third leaf, transplant them a quarter of an 

 inch apart in a shallow box or pan, water carefully, and 

 shade from sun. When the seedlings touch each other, 

 again transplant them an inch apart in other boxes or 

 pans. Leave them thus till their leaves meet, then pot 

 off singly in 2in. pots. Grow them in this size till they 

 have filled the pots with roots; then transfer to 5in. or 6in. 

 pots. Their future treatment will be the same as for 

 tubers. If you decide on growing plants from tubers, pro- 

 cure these in February or March, embed them in a layer 

 of cocoanut-fibre refuse in a shallow box, but do not cover 

 -with fibre, and put in a temperature of 55 deg. Just 

 keep the fibre moist, nothing more. When the tubers 

 sprout freely, pot each one singly in a 2in. or 4in. pot, 

 according to size. Do not bury the tuber too deeply, only 



