COMMERCIAL DUTCH-BULB CULTURE. 



9 



covered either with the plow or with a winged cultivator which 

 throws the dirt from the back furrow in either direction on the beds 

 of set bulbs. 



In the South Atlantic region bulbs are planted usually in 15-inch 

 rows, the rows being opened with a 1 -shovel winged cultivator. The 

 bulbs are then set 2 or 3 inches aj^art and then covered by running a 

 harrow over the ground. It is said that during the past two or three 

 years an innovation has been introduced in some places in the Nether- 

 lands where a special 10-inch moldboard plow, having a triangular 

 extension downward and outward, makes a depression the entire 

 length of the furrow slice. The bulbs are set in this and the next 

 bout covers the first row and opens another 10 inches from it. 



DEPTH OF PLANTING. 



About the first question asked by the novice relates to the depth of 

 setting bulbs used in decorative planting. English write-rs dwell on 



SURFACE OF GROUND 



Fig. 4. — Sketch showing the proper depth to plant various kinds of bulbs : A, Crocus ; 

 B, snowdrop ; C, iris ; D, gladiolus ; E, tulip ; F, narcissus ; G, hyacinth ; B", lily. 



this point and are explicit in their instructions. The accompanying 

 diagram ^ (fig. 4) is a useful guide in planting bulbs for decoration. 

 A common rule is to set the bulbs at a depth 2| times their diameter. 

 Such a rule, while useful to the novice, will be little followed by one 

 having exj)erience with bulbs. He will know by intuition and will 

 vary the depth with varying conditions. He will set his bulbs deeper 

 in light than in heavy soil and in exposed than protected places. He 

 will also set bulbs deeper in ground which heaves badly than in soil 



' Adapted from Wight's Pictorial Practical Bulb Growing. 



126953°— 19- 



