PLANTING— NOURISHMENT 39 



tendency of their bulbs to shrink and get very dry soon 

 when kept out of the ground, that they should be early 

 replanted. It is most desirable to get Poeticus varieties 

 in the ground by the end of July, and the whole stock 

 by the end of August. Early planting is, there can 

 hardly be a doubt, essential if the best results are to be 

 secured. 



A change of soil and locality is highly beneficial to 

 the Narcissus ; and though few people are fortunate 

 enough to have two gardens in different localities, much 

 can be done in the way of changing the soil of Narcissus 

 beds by digging in from time to time soil of a different 

 character. The beds should also be fallowed from time 

 to time, and different kinds of crops taken from them ; 

 and when old beds have to be replanted at once without 

 rest or change, there is some advantage to be gained by 

 growing Daffodils where the other sorts of Narcissi have 

 previously stood, and vice versa. 



When fine flowers and fine bulbs are wanted, rather 

 than general decorative effect, the bulbs should, where 

 possible, be planted in rows north and south, the rows 

 being a foot apart, and the bulbs planted from three to 

 six inches from each other in the rows, according to 

 size (and even a little further apart in the case of ex- 

 ceptionally large bulbs, such as " Emperor " and " Sir 

 Watkin"). This gives them ample room to stand for 

 two or three years before lifting again. When there is 

 shortness of room the planting may be closer than is 

 recommended ; but it is better for securing both good 

 flowers and fine bulbs to give the extra space, for the 

 plants are much benefited by having plenty of air and 

 light, and the foot space between the rows makes it easy 

 to keep the ground open with a small hoe, a very bene- 

 ficial operation, both in autumn and again when the 

 plants are coming through the ground in spring. Here, 

 again, as in the matter of soil and position, the White 



