The Garden Under Glass

o OQ THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS Starting the Bulbs For the dass of reader for which this book is mainly intended the beginning of the year will be sufficiently early to start the plants. The plants should have their old ball of soil well soaked by immersion for an hour in water. After draining for a day or two the soil will be in a fit state to handle and may then be shaken from the roots of such as are to be broken up. It is essential that in moving into pots which are large enough just to accom-modate comfortably the roots the latter are not huddled together. This may be prevented by shaking plenty of small soil between them. Firmness of soil is essential and the soil should be brought up just to cover the bulb at a point immediately above its largest circumference. At first no watering beyond the first one immediately after potting will be needed, but the syringe must be frequently used. A temperature of 50° to 550 is a good starting heat. The preservation of perfect hardness in the bulb is a certain sign of correct treatment in the matter of water. When it may be safely supposed that the soil is well furnished with roots (and this may be known by the rapidity with which it dries) manure water may be given to build up a good flower and good growths for the folio wing season. About August the growth will be completed, and from then may the process of drying off be undertaken. When this is completed a shelf in the greenhouse will serve for storing. In many cases a stäke will be needed to stiften the spike, which in good culture should bear four large flowers. In faet, extra good culture will induce two spikes to form, each bearing four flowers.