GENERAL RULES OF CULTURE. 31 



the general rule is that the crown of the bulb should be 

 placed an inch below the surface : if in a situation, how- 

 ever, where the bulbs would be liable to be thrown out 

 by the frost, an inch and a half will not be too deep. 

 The larger the bulb, the deeper it should be planted ; 

 and all lilies and crown imperials should be set three 

 inches below the surface, and even deeper if the bulbs are 

 very large. Crocus should be set deeper than bulbs of 

 the same size, as their tendency is to grow out of the 

 ground ; and iris rather higher, as they naturally bury 

 themselves : this upon the supposition that the bulbs are 

 not to be taken up annually. The bulb bed may be made 

 more effective if gently sloped from the back to the front : 

 if under a window, slope it toward the path ; but the 

 inclination should always be to the south, as thus, in winter, 

 it receives more sun, and the flowers bloom earlier in the 

 spring. There is often a difference of three weeks in the 

 blooming of bulbs planted at the same time under a south 

 and west window, the difference being in favor of the 

 former. If the house is stone or brick, or has a stone un- 

 der-pinning, it is a good plan to have a narrow border dug 

 close to the house. Fill this with snowdrops and yellow 

 cloth-of-gold crocus, or the pretty little striped Scotch 



