148 BULBS AND TUBEKOUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



sufficiently large. Fill it with any good potting mold, 

 a light, rich one being preferable. Remove a little soil 

 from the central surface, and into this opening lightly 

 press the bulb, so as not to have the soil hard beneath it, 

 but pack the earth firmly around it, leaving about one- 

 third of the bulb visible. If the bulb is pressed too 

 firmly in the soil, when the roots begin to grow, instead 

 of penetrating, they will lift the bulb out of its proper 

 position. After potting set the pots in any sheltered 

 position, where they will not get too much water, and 

 cover with soil, or, what is better, coal ashes, to the 

 depth of six or eight inches ; over this throw leaves or 

 coarse litter, to prevent freezing, so that they may be 

 brought into the house as required. It is a common 

 practice to put them in a cellar or shed. This is not a 

 good plan, however, as the soil is apt to get too dry after 

 the roots start, from the ill effects of which the plants 

 never fully recover. For a succession of bloom, bring 

 in as many as desired about December first, and every 

 two weeks thereafter until February first. If the bulbs 

 have been kept from the frost, as they should have been, 

 they will have made considerable top growth, in which 

 case bring them gradually to the light until they get 

 their natural color, after which they will stand all the 

 light and heat the living room will afford. It will aug- 

 ment the beauty of the flowers and prolong their period 

 of usefulness to grow them in a low temperature, 

 although they thrive in any other, provided watering is 

 proportionate. The best time for potting is as soon as 

 possible after the bulbs arrive from Holland, when they 

 have had a sufficient period of rest, and are ready for 

 the first period of root growth. The quicker the pots 

 are filled with roots, the sooner the bulbs will come into 

 flower after they are brought into the house. Besides, 

 without a healthy root-growth, there will never be a 

 healthy flower spike ; the flowers opening close down to 



