THE BULB GARDEN 



naturally well drained, and has a slope to the 

 south. 



Unless drainage is good success cannot be ex- 

 pected, as nothing injures a bulb more than 

 water about its roots. Therefore, if you do not 

 have a place suitable for them so far as natiu'al 

 drainage is concerned, see to it that artificial 

 drainage supplies what is lacking. Spade up the 

 bed to the depth of a foot and a half. That is — 

 throw the soil out of it to that depth, — and put 

 into the bottom of the excavation at least four 

 inches of material that will not decay readily, like 

 broken brick, pottery, clinkers from the coal- 

 stove, coarse gravel — anything that wiU be per- 

 manent and allow water to run off through the 

 cracks and crevices in it, thus securing a system 

 of drainage that will answer all purposes per- 

 fectly. It is of the utmost importance that this 

 should be done on all heavy soils. Unless the 

 water from melting snows and early spring rains 

 drains away from the bulbs readily you need not 

 expect flowers from them. 



After having arranged for drainage, work over 

 the soil thrown out of the bed until it is as fine 

 and mellow as it can possibly be made. Mix 

 whatever fertilizer you make use of with it, when 

 you do this, that the two may be thoroughly in- 



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