THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 137 



shaded place and cover it with about six inches of soil and 

 six inches of leaves. 



Thoroughly spade up the soil in some protected corner 

 of the school grounds to a depth of about twelve inches. 

 Plant the tulips and crocuses in this bed about four inches 

 deep. When cold weather sets in, cover the bed with 

 two feet of leaves or hay. 



All of the planting, both in boxes and beds, should be 

 done by the first of October. In about six weeks bring 

 the box of narcissus bulbs into the room, place it and the 

 box of hyacinth bulbs in a warm, sunny window and watch 

 the development of leaves and blossoms. 



In the early spring, remove the leaves or hay from the 

 bed of tuhps and crocuses. 



If desired, the bulbs of the Chinese sacred lily and some 

 of those of the narcissus may be placed in glass dishes 

 containing water and enough clean stones to hold the bulbs 

 erect. The development of the roots may then be studied 

 as well as that of stems, leaves and flowers. 



Conclusion. — Only the roots developed while the bulbs 

 were kept out of the sun by deep covering or otherwise. 

 What started the development of the leaves and blossoms ? 

 Tell briefly how to have flowers from Thanksgiving until 

 Easter. 



Why may not this exercise be the beginning of an effort 

 to make the school grounds more attractive and beautiful 

 by a general plan of landscape gardening, which should 

 include the planting of shade trees and hardy shrubs as 

 well as bulbs? 



Tubers. — A tuber is a short, thickened, underground 

 stem. Buds form on these stems just as on any others 

 though we ordinarily speak of these buds as " eyes." 

 Such plants as the potato, dahlia and others are propa- 



