16 PICTORIAL PEAGTIGAL BULB GROWING, 



experience, it frequently proves a stumbling block to the tyro, who is 

 either too ligl^t or too heavy handed in carrying out the work. The 

 correct degree of firmness to which the soil should be carried is not 

 easy to explain, indeed it can only be thoroughly realised by constant 

 practice ; but the observant grower soon grasps what is wrong with 

 his plants, and a little thought will usually lead him to the true 

 reason of the trouble. The first thing is to have a goodly number of 

 pots of one or more sizes, according to requirements, prepared for use, 

 all crocks being carefully placed in position ; then will commence 

 the actual operation. Sufficient soil should be placed loosely in the 

 pot to reach within about inches of the edge of the rim, then lift 

 and rap sharply on the potting bench, and the soil will generally be 

 found to go down far enough to allow of the bulb being placed on the 

 surface or in a very slight depression, and leave its upper extremity 

 level with the soil when the work is completed. Should this not prove 

 to be the case, less mould must be put in to start with, and when once 

 the proper amount has been ascertained the progress will be rapid 

 and the work well done. (For potting Hyacinths, see Fig. 3b, p. 17.) 



Some successful cultivators pursue a different system with equally 

 satisfactory results. They put in a little soil at a time, making it 

 firm as they proceed, until the correct amount is in the pot ; but 

 in this there is an ever present liability of getting the mass too 

 solid, vrhich will never occur if the previously recomm^ended method 

 is adopted. It is necessary that the rapping upon the bench be 

 very sharp, or the soil will not settle down properly. 



If the soil is in a properly moist state at the time of potting, it 

 will not be necessary to apply any water either then or for a consider- 

 able time afterwards ; but there must be no doubt in the matter, 

 and if dryness is suspected let the soil be well moistened through to 

 the drainage before the pots are plunged. Unless this is done, the 

 soil will become like dust in the plunging material, and the roots 

 of the bulbs will not w^ork in it in anything like a satisfactory 

 manner. This involves a loss of valuable time, and the flowering 

 season is much retarded and often so prejudiced that handsome 

 spikes are never developed. Assuming that everything possible 

 has been done to ensure a good start, the next phase of bulb culture 

 in pots may be considered. 



Plunging',--At the first glance novices are sometimes unable to 

 see the utility of this operation, but its desirability can never be 

 called into question by those who have seen the results of its 

 neglect. So important is it that it may justifiably be termed one 

 of the chief essentials to success. To make its importance more 

 readily appreciated by the uninitiated, the objects of plunging may 

 be briefly set forth. There are three things for which we aim, and 

 they are of equal imi)ortance : 1, the encouragement of root action ; 2, 

 the discouragement of top growth until such time as there are 

 plenty of roots to su]>ply it with food ; and 3, the reduction of 

 evaporation to a minimum, so that it will not be necessary to apply 

 water until the pots are ready to be removed from the plunging 



