58 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
bottom is well stirred and loosened to the depth of 8 or 9 inches more, but 
not turned over. The floor of the trench is next covered with 1 inch of 
road scrapings, thus raising it to within 8 inches of the surface. The 
ground is now ready to be planted. 
The bulbs, having been carefully stripped of their successive layers of 
cuticle, are firmly pressed down at the outer edge of the trench on either 
side. I should recommend a distance of 1 foot between each bulb, but 
want of space compels me to crowd my own more closely together. I allow 
8 inches between the larger, and 6 between the smaller bulbs. I am 
satisfied, however, that they would thrive better if I could afford them 
more space. Next, I completely cover each bulb separately with Keigate 
sand, and fill in the earth slightly above the surface level, leaving the sur¬ 
plus in the alleys. The operation is now complete. It will be observed that 
I plant much less deeply than is generally recommended. I consider 8 inches 
deep enough for the largest bulbs. Planting at the depth of 6 inches, by 
no means an uncommon practice, I look upon as an egregious mistake. 
May I add a word concerning M. Souchet’s new varieties sent out in the 
autumn of 1866 ? Out of the dozen there is one, and only one, which 
deserves to be classed as a first-rate flower. This is Adolphe Brongniart, 
a gem of the first water, vigorous in habit, new in colour, exquisite in 
shape, with petals of great substance, and the flowers disposed so as to make 
a handsome spike. It will form a worthy triad with Sliakspere and Meyer¬ 
beer, the two very best kinds previously in cultivation. I had expected 
much from Princess Marie de Cambridge, but was disappointed, though 
considering the superlative character sent from France with this variety, 
I should be sorry to condemn it without further trial. Thomas Moore, and 
Lady Franklin are both handsome kinds, but the latter is not better than 
Madame Furtado, nor so good as Eurydice, both belonging to the same 
class ; Ana'is is pretty, but too small; Sir William Hooker, very striking, 
although not perfect in shape ; Sir Joseph Paxton, and Felicien David are 
both of full average merit. Of the others, if, on the one hand, I have 
little to say in disparagement, candour compels me, on the other, to be 
equally chary of commendation. 
Ash, Sandwich. J. S. 
S the time for planting the bulbs of this noble flower is near at 
hand, I will explain the system I found to answer best last season. 
I tried several plans, but those planted on good rich sandy loam, 
well dug and broken with the fork about 18 inches deep, the bulbs 
planted about 3 inches deep, top-dressed with manure afterwards, 
and supplied with liquid manure once or twice a-week after they were a foot 
high, produced the finest spikes, and also the finest bulbs, many of the latter 
