78 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
tried this many times, and although many roots sur- 
vived the ordeal, they were rendered worthless by it. 
Nor is it well to plant them in February or March, 
as advised in some of the books; for if the spring: is 
wet and cold they rot in the ground, and if it is dry 
and warm they grow too soon, and their tender green 
tops are liable to be cut off by frost in April and May. 
Keep the corms or roots in sand, in a dry, cool place, until 
about the middle of March, and then pot them singly in 
thumb-pots, or in three-inch pots at the utmost. First 
cover the hole in the pot with a convex potsherd, hollow 
side downwards, or with two or three small pieces of coke 
or cinder. Then put in compost to the depth of about two 
inches ; on this place the corm, and fill in, and press a little 
firm all round, and finally cover to within a quarter of an 
inch of the rim of the pot. The compost may, with 
advantage, consist of equal parts of mellow loam, leat- 
mould, very old rotten hotbed soil, and silver-sand. But 
this precise formula need not be followed, because any light 
compost will answer the purpose, if sweet and nourishing. 
Pack the pots in a frame, or under the stage of a green- 
house, give them one watering, and leave them untouched 
for a fortnight at least. By that time, probably, the 
growth will be spearing through. In such case they must 
have light and air, and a very suitable place for them will 
be the stage of a cool greenhouse, or to continue in the 
frame, and to have regular attention in respect of watering 
and air-giving. Be careful to avoid extremes. Keen east 
winds, sharp frost, very much moisture, continued cold 
and damp, are all more or less to be feared as dangerous. 
It is but little they will require; the matter of main im- 
portance is to keep a watch on them. 
