134 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION, 



foot of fibre refuse or cinder ashes, the former being pre- 

 ferable. No water must be given before covering the' pots. 

 After six weeks examine the bulbs weekly, and remove any 

 that have started to make growth from the covering mate- 

 rial. At this stage the pots are best placed in a cold 

 frame, and a small flower-pot inverted over each blanched 

 young growth for a few days until it becomes accustomed 

 to the light and assumes a green colour. In November 

 the earliest-potted Roman Hyacinths will be sufficiently 

 advanced in growth to be removed to the cold house. If 

 wanted in flower early, transfer in a week or so to the 

 cool house, and then to the warm one. Much finer 

 flowers will be obtained by this gradual transfer to a 

 higher temperature than if placed in heat at once. The 

 later-potted Roman Hyacinths may be placed in the cold 

 house in December. The ordinary Hyacinths should be 

 kept in the cold frame until February; then be gradually 

 introduced to the cold, cool, and warm house, according 

 to requirements. Careful watering is essential at all 

 times, and it is imperative that the plants be grown as 

 near the glass as possible, in order to ensure sturdy foliage 

 and flower spikes. Weak liquid manure may be given 

 once a week until the blooms expand. After the plants 

 have flowered remove the flower spikes, and return the 

 plants to the cold frame to harden off and ripen. As the 

 best results are obtained from new bulbs, those grown in 

 pots should be planted in the garden in autumn. As re- 

 gards H. ciliata or azureus, the bulbs should be treated 

 as advised for Muscaris further on. 



Iris. The bulbous Irises are extremely pretty plants 

 for cold greenhouse culture. Such species as bakeriana, 

 Histrio, histrioides, orchioides, and reticulata produce a 

 charming effect when in flower early in the year ; and the 

 many varieties of the Spanish and English Irises are 

 equally effective and beautiful in late spring and early 

 summer when grown in a cold house. All the species 



