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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shake them out of the pots, and all offsets with a bit of root 

 attached to their base are removed, and planted in pots accord- 

 ing to their size ; but an error is more likely to occur in over 

 than in under potting. Light compost should be used, and a 

 little clean sharp sand must be placed around each bulb. 



The flowering bulbs are also carefully potted, after being 

 cleaned from all dead and decaying roots, &c. We are also in 

 this careful not to use too large flower-pots for them. I have 

 had and have now bulbs of Empress of India, and seedlings 

 from it, 18 inches in circumference, but never use pots larger 

 than 8 or 8^ inches diameter, inside measurement ; the larger 

 number of bulbs go into 6 and 7 inch pots. All the pots are 

 plunged to the rims in tan beds as they are prepared at 

 the potting-bench. The potting soil is composed of fibrous loam, 

 two parts; good dry fibrous peat, one part; one part leaf-mould ; 

 and a barrow-load of manure to six of the loam and peat, with 

 sand added to keep the mass open. The temperature of the 

 house should be 50° at night to start with, rising 10° as it is 

 seen that the bulbs have started to grow. The main collection 

 will be in flower about the end of March. When in flower they 

 may be taken from the hothouse and be placed in the green- 

 house or conservatory, where the flowers remain longer in good 

 condition. When the flowering period is over the plants must 

 not be pushed into some out-of-the-way comer where they cannot 

 get light and heat. They require a hothouse temperature to get 

 up the bulbs to their original plumpness, and to lay the founda- 

 tion for an abundant flowering time next year. When the bulbs 

 rush into flower and leaf in the early spring, the entire substance 

 of the bulbs seems to go with them, and it requires much care to 

 bring them up to a satisfactory condition again. The leaves must 

 be kept clear from all insect pests, and they must be shaded from 

 the sun in hot weather during the summer months. 



SALADINGS. 

 By M. Henry L. de Vilmorin, F.R.H.S., &c, &c. 



[Read March 25, 1890.] 



The craving for fresh, crisp, uncooked vegetable matter is net 

 only common to most men, it is also a healthy appetite, and one 



