BULBS. 
265 
PLANTING BULBS. 
The month of November is usually received as the most proper 
time for planting the majority of bulbous-rooted plants : a word 
or two as to the manner of doing it may therefore be, at least, in 
season. Plants of this class afford a very large proportion of the 
expectant display in the early part of the sncceeding year, and 
consequently deserve our best attention; yet how seldom are they 
regarded with the proper care except just at the time of flower¬ 
ing. And as respects the planting, nine times out of ten, it is 
done in a manner that would prove fatal to the greater part of 
far less valuable forms ; a hole made with the dibble into which 
the bulb is thrust, without any other apparent desire than to place 
them out of sight, is about the sum of attention they receive 
in this very important operation. Every bulbous-rooted plant 
should have at least equal facilities for the spread of its roots as 
is given to plants in pots, and the only way to ensure this is to 
thoroughly dig the ground in which they are to be placed, for a 
depth proportionate to the strength of the plants intended to 
occupy it, and in the operation of planting, the surface of the 
bed should, in every case, be removed to the required depth, so 
that the bulb may be placed in its position, and afterwards sur¬ 
rounded by loose friable earth; this rule ought to be observed 
from the little snowdrop up wards, to the tulip, iris, or lily. In 
the opposite case of planting with the dibble, the soil is com¬ 
pressed on all sides, and if of an adhesive nature, is a receptacle 
for water, which is necessarily retained to the utter destruction of 
the roots. As a rule then, let me urge that all bulbs be planted 
in loose soil, by removing the surface over the whole of the space 
they are intended to fill, which, after they are properly placed, 
should be returned as lightly as possible, and thus left; it is then 
unnecessary to plant so deep as is usual, because frost does not 
penetrate so far or so fast in ground of this description as in 
that of closer texture, and the work may also be done, not only 
better but much quicker. 
T. L. 
22 
