FORCING BULBS. 147 



earlier than those that are to be grown in the cold or cool 

 greenhouse. Roman Hyacinths, for example, that are re- 

 quired to flower at Christmas must be potted as early in 

 August as is possible, and those for flowering in ftie New 

 Year, not later than the middle of September. 



Bulbs that Force Well are narcissi, early tulips, 

 Roman hyacinths, freesias, and jonquils. In the way of 

 Narcissi the best sorts are Golden Spur, bicolor Horsfieldi, 

 Empress, Stella, Sir Watkin, poeticus ornatus, Paper 

 White, Double Roman, Grand Monarque, White Perfec- 

 tion, Soleil d'Or, telemonius plenus, Henry Irving, Queen 

 of Spain, and Madame Graaff. The white Roman and 

 the Pink Italian are good varieties of Hyacinths for the 

 earliest crop, and any of the others may be grown to 

 flower in January and February. Of Tulips the single 

 Due Van Thol varieties and the White Pottebakker, Pro- 

 serpine, and Vermilion Brilliant are all good sorts. 

 Allium neapolitanum, Freesias, Lilium Harrisii, and Gla- 

 diolus Colvillei The Bride are likewise useful bulbs for 

 forcing. 



Potting: and Boxing the Bulbs. Small quanti- 

 ties of narcissi, hyacinths, and tulips may be grown in 5in. 

 pots, but where a large number of flowers are desired they 

 should be grown in boxes 4in. to 6in. deep, 12in. to 18in. 

 wide, and 2ft. to 3ft. long. Narcissi do well grown thus. 

 The soil should be similar to that advised for each kind 

 in the chapters on warm, cool, and cold house bulbs. 

 Those that are to be grown in boxes should be planted 

 about a couple of inches apart. Press the compost down 

 firmly, then stand the pots or boxes at the foot of a north 

 wall outdoors, and cover with a foot or so of fibre refuse 

 or cinder ashes; or store them in a cold frame until they 

 begin to grow. In November the Roman hyacinths and 

 the Paper White narcissi will be forward enough to move 

 into the cool house for a week or two, after which transfer 



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