240 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-BOOTED PLANTS. 



Hyacinths (Page 149), and there are no bulbs that sur- 

 pass Narcissus with this method of culture. The Chi- 

 nese Sacred Lily, or Narcissus, which is one of the N. 

 Tazetta group, is readily and perfectly grown in this man- 

 ner ; but a more pleasing way is to place the bulbs in an 

 earthen dish, on about half an inch of gravel, and cover 

 them half way up with white gravel. Place them in full 

 sunlight and they will bloom perfectly. 



Before placing the bulbs in the gravel, the Chinese 

 cut away the hard skin on the top of the bulb, which 

 greatly facilitates growth ; in cutting, do not injure the 

 leaf growth, and only cut about an eighth of an inch in 

 depth. The Chinese also cut the bulb longitudinally 

 in four places, as though they were to quarter the bulb, 

 but only cut to the depth of one-quarter of an inch. 

 How this benefits the bulb we cannot say, but it is their 

 method, and we have followed it with great success. * 



Forcing the Narcissus for Cut Flowers. 

 These bulbs are now forced in immense quantities by 

 the florists, and the method employed is to plant the 

 bulbs in shallow boxes, ordinary flats, filled with com- 

 mon potting soil; the bulbs are placed three to four 

 inches apart, and covered level with their upper surfaces. 

 They are then placed in a cool, dark shed, until they 

 have made good root-growth, which will be by the first 

 of November, if they have been put away early in Sep- 

 tember, as they should be. The boxes are then brought 

 into the greenhouse as required, and given a moderate 

 heat and all the light possible. Flowers will be ready 

 for cutting in six weeks after the bulbs have been brought 

 forward. A succession can be kept up, according to the 

 demands of the trade. 



Many of the single Daffodils are available for forc- 

 ing. The best are Trumpet Major, yellow; Trumpet 

 Major, yellow and white ; Obvallaris (Tenby Daffodil), 

 rich yellow; and Poeticus Ornatus, white with crimson 



