20 PIGTOniAL PR AG TIG AL BULB QUO WING. 



tops food to their liking, and this, of course, will mean more or less 

 damage to the plants. In respect of the best place for the plunging 

 bed, there is often not much choice, but beside a wall of any kind is 

 as good as any, as it is there usually comparatively easy to afford 

 protection whenever it may be deemed necessary. When an open 

 position has to be utilised, it is wise to have permanent provision 

 made for throwing off the heaviest rains ; old mats, pieces of 

 tarpaulin, or unused lights can be requisitioned, and will render 

 invaluable service. 



Indoor plunging beds are frequently made up, and with proper 

 care answer well, but there is always greater liability to drip when 

 beneath stages, as well as the probability of the warmth encouraging 

 earlier growth than is desirable for the good of the plants. However, 

 they must be used at times, and in these cases they should be as 

 carefully covered as those out of doors. Broadly speaking, all bulbs 

 should be plunged, but in Freesias we have a notable exception, these 

 often causing much trouble when treated in the orthodox manner. 



Removal from the Dark.— This is really one of the crucial 

 periods in the cultural life of the plant, for it is easy at this stage to 

 spoil our chances of success by a small error. It is not likely that 

 anyone would so treat the plants as to preclude the development of any 

 spike, but they might prejudice them sufficiently to represent the 

 difference between an exhibition specimen and one that was drawn 

 and poor in colour both in flower and leaf. When the time is reached 

 for removal, the grower should bear in mind the fact that until now 

 the progress has been wholly in darkness, and this will impress upon 

 him the importance of guarding against a sudden shock, such as is 

 entailed by bringing the pots directly from total darkness into 

 brilliant light. Immediately on removal the pots should be tested 

 to ascertain if water is required, giving or withholding it according 

 to the result of a careful test ; then they should be stood on the stage 

 in a greenhouse, or upon a table if grown indoors, and covered with 

 two thicknesses of brown paper or several sheets of newspaper. Allow 

 this to remain for two or three days, and then reduce it slightly so 

 as to admit an appreciable amount of light ; in a few more days take 

 away more paper, until it can be seen that the top growth is assuming 

 a deep green colour, when all protection can be dispensed with, and 

 the plants have the fullest benefit that unobstructed light can confer 

 upon them. 



Feeding. — Whether special food is employed in the mixing of 

 the compost or not, it is desirable, if the finest spikes are wanted, to 

 feed when the spike is half developed with some suitable manure. 

 Application may be made either in dry form or as a liquid, and, all 

 things considered, the latter is preferable. The utmost care must 

 be taken not to overdo the applications, either in frequency or in 

 strength, as such an error leads to harm rather than good. One 

 of the most valuable aids to advancement will be found in soot, 

 as, apart from encouraging growth, it serves an excellent purpose in 

 enriching the colours of both the leaves and the flowers, and thus 



