14 
planting. If planted shallow the eye is up where it can 
get the air and sunlight at once and will begin the en¬ 
largement of its base immediately. If planted deep it is 
nearly smothered; all its energy goes into the pushing 
up of a top so that it can breathe, and the base, or new 
bulb, remains small, and it will not begin making bulb- 
lets so quickly. 
The sun is a wonderfully strong source of energy; 
all life on the earth is dependent upon it. A plant 
placed in a dark cellar will make a sickly white growth, 
often poisonous. But if grown in direct sunlight it will 
be sturdy and strong and full of health-giving proper¬ 
ties. 
Hence in the early spring we sprout our most valu¬ 
able bulbs in direct sunlight for two or three weeks 
before planting. And when they are planted, they are 
planted shallow. We have tried deep planting to our 
sorrow. 
If one has only a few bulbs they may be placed on 
window sills in rooms where they will not be too warm 
nor too dry. An early placing in the containers de¬ 
scribed in a later paragraph is advisable. The peeling 
is in layers around the eyes and this may be removed 
with the small blade of a pocket knife, being careful 
not to injure the eyes. 
Having a good many bulbs to sprout, I glassed in 
one end of a large porch, making a sort of sun parlor 
for them. They must have plenty of ventilation, other¬ 
wise they will get too warm and grow too rapidly. We 
want only a strong, sturdy, slow growth at first. The 
bulbs may be placed in crates or sacks, if there are too 
many to peel, and thus exposed to the sun; and this 
should help to some extent. It may be better to sprout 
