The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-08-24
eEITINe REApY FoR BuLBs.
Instructions for Preparing the Bed IL
Advance Of Planting.

ADVANCE OF planting.
To grow bulbs well one must be will
ing to 90 to a little trouble. Those
who think that success can be achieved
with them by simply digging a hole in
the ground and dropping them in and
covering them with elod Of earth, are
the persons who viii by and BY COM
plain of failure They viii tell you that
they "don't see what the matter could
lave n"they are "sure they got the
best bulbs on the market and they
fought to have done well, for they plant
ed them in the best location IN their
garden, where almost al kinds Of PLANTS
grow splendidly. But they overlook
the fact that a bulb is not like most
other plants in its ability 10 adapt
itself 70 unfayorable conditions, SAYS
writer in the New York Tribune Far
mer. Unless bulbs can be given the eul-
tme they require, | would advise not
planting them, for a poorly planted bulb
is sure to disappoint its owner
It is not yet time to put out bulbs, but
/ would like to urge those who intend
to plant some later, to begin to get
ready for them now. BY "taking time
by the foreloekn the work can be done
leisurely, and therefore well DONE ii
one waits until the season is upon us,
and the bulbs are at hand, waiting to be
planted, we are pretty sure to rush mat
tiers, and this is equivalent to sighting
them. 1t doesn't pay to slight matters
in gardening, as any one viii soon find
out who makes practice Of doing it.
iii selecting 4 location for the bulb bed
choose ore, If possible, where there is
perfect natural drainage. No bulb will
long survive IN a soil unduly retentive
0f moisture. Ii You have no place where
drainage is good resort to artificial
drainage Throw the soil out OF the
Led to the depth Of a foot at least-a
foot and a half is better-and fill in the
bottom Of the excavation with at least
six inches Of material that win not
readily decay, and let the soil above it
settle down compaetly after little.
Use brick, mortar, pottery eobble stones
or coarse grayel,-anything that will
permit water TO pass through from the
soil above, and leave the passageway
open.
When you return the soil to the bed
mix manure with it. The best Of all
fertilizers for bulbs IS COW manure, old
and well rotted. Use it in the proper
ZION of about one third to two-thirds
natural soil This may seem excessive
but bulbs are gross feeders, aud in order
to do well and keep in perfect health for
a term of years they must lie highly fer
tilted. One reason why SO few collec-
tions of these plants continue to give
satisfaction, after the first season, is
the failure Of the owner to feed theen
properly. Work tile soil over thorough
" az you return it to the bed Make il
as fine and yellow as possible. II can.
rot be TOO fine to suit the bulb. You
viii find that the tightening Of the soii
by pulverizing it, and the addition OF
whatever material is used to secure the
drainage. viii result in a well rounded
surface for your bed. This is as il
should be. A fiat surface retains mois-
tue, but rounded one allows water ID
run off readily. 1t is quite important
that the soil should be in readiness fol
your bulbs when they arrive, as they
part with vitality if exposed to light
and air. The sooner they 60 into the
ground the better. Therefore in order
to expedite planting get ready for then
/ In advance