Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/96

88 a layer of crocks in the bottom. Put one bulb in each pot; press the soil slightly firm in the pots, and when they are filled to within an inch of the rim, insert the bulbs and fill the soil firmly about them. The neck of the bulb should show just above the soil. When they are simply placed on the surface with a little loose soil about them, the weight of the spike will probably topple them over. The soil should be used in a moderately moist condition, and then no water will be necessary until they come from the plunge beds. When all are potted, make up a good bed of coal-ashes and stand the pots upon it. This done, turn a small sixty-pot over each bulb, and cover with coal-ashes, spent hops, or cocoa-nut-fibre refuse, to the depth of six or eight inches. Here they should remain for five or six weeks, and then be brought into the forcing-house as wanted. The young growth must be inured to the light in a gradual manner, and the plants kept near the glass. After they are well started into growth, water liberally, and let them have a breath of fresh air during the warmest part of the day; but it must be admitted without chilling the tender growth.

The bulbs must not be left in the plunge bed long enough for the foliage to grow long and become blanched. Therefore, when the flowers are not wanted until late in the spring, lift them out of the plunging material and place them in a cold frame or pit, where light and air will have free access to them. Those for early flowering must not be exposed to a great heat, or the flower-spikes and foliage will be drawn up weak and spindly; and at all times keep as close to the glass as possible, because neat, properly-developed foliage, that will maintain an erect position without support, is nearly of as much importance as good spikes of flowers.

It is a waste of time to pot hyacinth bulbs a second season, and, therefore, to secure an annual display there must be an annual purchase. But the bulbs may be turned to good account in another way. When the flowering is over, put them in a cold pit or frame and take reasonable care of them until they are beginning to die down. Then plant them all out without breaking the roots in the shrubbery or hedgerows and forget them; they will in time remind you of their existence and supply you with welcome garlands of bright and fragrant flowers.

.&mdash;This genus of Cape bulbs supplies a few choice