10 



BULLETIIT 797, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



which has more hiiinus in its composition. Likewise, the intended 

 application of litter later in the season will influence the depth of 

 planting. 



In fact, the depth at which bulbs are set in commercial and decora- 

 tive plantings is far from what occurs in nature, and they thrive at 

 many varying depths. The point is emphasized in the case of many 

 tulips which drop down 2 to 4 inches below the 4-inch level at which 

 they are planted. It is not uncommon with us to have crocuses and 

 tulips which are missed in the field come up the next season from a 

 depth of 10 inches and flower perfectly. Indeed, there are indications 

 that a great deal is still to be learned about the depth of planting, 

 especially of tulips. There are accounts of tulips in Italy which have 

 flowered perfectly for 12 to 15 years when planted a foot deep. There 



_ appears to be a corre- 



lation between deep 

 planting and the per- 

 manent performance of 

 tulips which are not 

 shifted annually. 



TREATMENT AFTER 

 FLOWERING. 



Little attention need 

 be given to narcissus 

 bulbs after flowering 

 except that for the best 

 results they should be 

 kept free of weeds, like 

 all other crops. With 

 hyacinths and tulips, however, the matter is different. Here, it is 

 necessary to remove the flowers, for the reason that there is an 

 abundant seed production, which if allowed to develop would be at 

 the expense of bulb growth. Again, with tulips it is imperative 

 under certain conditions that no flower parts be allowed to fall upon 

 the beds. Under seacoast conditions of humid atmosphere and heavy 

 precipitation during the flowering season and immediately thereafter, 

 the presence of fallen petals is very conducive to the development of 

 the fungus Botrytis, the cause of the fire disease. It is therefore nec- 

 essary in such situations to remove the flowers (fig. 5) before the 

 petals fall. In varieties of narcissus which produce seed in abund- 

 ance the removal of the flowers is, of course, advantageous. 



ROGUING. 



In the process of handling bulbs, mixtures are certain to take place 

 to a greater or less degree. The laborer may be careless, or a bulb 



Fig. 5. — Removing the flowers before the petals faU in 

 order to prevent seed production and the spread of the 

 fire disease. 



