328 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
with the above compost and well shaken down, but not 
pressed with the hands. A little white sand must be 
placed in the middle of the top of the compost and the 
bulb must be pressed gently though firmly, down to with- 
in a quarter of an inch of the top of the bulb, After the 
bulbs are potted, plunge them in a strong hot-bed where 
they must remain till they have grown to the height of 
three or four inches; they must be kept quite close till 
they begin to vegetate, when a little air may be admitted ; 
shaded when the sun is powerful, and covered up with 
mats at night; water must be supplied very sparingly 
while they are here, for the steam arising from the bed an- 
swers ina great measure the purpose of water. When 
they have grown to the height above stated, take them in- 
to a warm spot in the green-house, allowing them a plenti- 
fal supply of air and water, setting them where they will 
get a plenty of light, or they will be apt to draw up 
weakly.” In June, when the weather becomes quite warm, 
the plants may be turned out carefully into the open 
‘ground. As they advance in height, tie them up to green 
sticks, six or seven feet long. By the middle of August 
they will begin to show flowers. For plants to flower in 
October, the bulbs may be planted in pots in May and 
carefully tended during the summer, but brought into 
the house before they are overtaken by frost. We had 
about fifty bulbs unsold the last season, which lay in the 
store until the 20th of August; they were then potted in 
a compost similar to that described, and although weak- 
ened by having been so long out of the ground, most of 
them blossomed and gave a succession of their exquisite 
fragrant flowers from the middle of November to 
Christmas. 
