MANURING BULBOUS PLANTS.
Reading edition
MANURING BULBOUS PLANTS.
When bulbous plants, like Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, &c., are planted and lifted annually, they can hardly be said to require any special manuring during the period of their growth, as the soil in which they are planted is, or ought to be, usually well prepared and manured in advance in the way recommended at p. 16. But even when such bulbs are planted and lifted every year, they might be considerably improved by the application of a little artificial manure at the right time. For instance, in December or January a little basic slag (10 to 20 pounds to about 30 square yards) would supply phosphatic food to roots later on in the season when it would be useful for the development of the blossoms.
A little superphosphate of lime at the rate of four to eight pounds to 30 square yards, would also be useful, applied about March or April. Kainit is a cheap potash manure, and may be applied at the same time as the basic slag at the rate of one or two pounds to the same area—either by itself or mixed with the slag.
It contains a good deal of common salt, and should therefore be applied before root-action commences, otherwise it may prove injurious to the new roots.
The necessity for manuring becomes more important in the case of bulbous plants that are to be left in the same soil for several years. Like other plants, of course, they rob the soil of a certain amount of food, and unless this is returned in some way the soil gradually becomes poorer and the plants less vigorous. One of the best ways, perhaps, to supply fresh food for the roots of the bulbous plants is to give the soil a good top-dressing or mulching of well-decayed manure in the early autumn months. This will gradually decay during the ensuing winter and spring months and yield up its food. During this period it will also prevent the heat, that was taken into the soil in the summer, from escaping too rapidly by radiation. It would be more harmful than useful to apply a mulching of manure in the depth of winter or early spring, as it would prevent the sun's rays from warming the roots.
Where Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils, Crocuses, Snowdrops, and many other kinds of bulbous plants are naturalised in the grass, in flower borders, or amongst trees and shrubs, a good dressing of well-decomposed manure in the early autumn will prove highly beneficial each year. The basic slag, kainit, and superphosphate may be also applied at the seasons mentioned, if considered desirable.
Transcribers Note 1. Preface Hynenocalis changed to Hymenocalis 2. Page 50 End of first paragraph word added "umbels form on the top of the that spring out of the bulb" changed to "umbels form on the top of the shoot that spring out of the bulb" 3. Page 56 "three or fours seasons" changed to "three or four seasons" 4. Page 57 "(also known a Calliprora lutea)" changed to "(also known as Calliprora lutea)" 5. Page 57 "rose-red to to pinkish-purple;" changed to "rose-red to pinkish-purple;" 6. Page 110 "when the leaves have begun to turn yellow, Seeds may" changed to "when the leaves have begun to turn yellow. Seeds may" 7. Page 134 "a large flowering bulbs," change to "a large flowering bulb," 8. Page 75 Closing bracket added "(finely figured in "Flora and Sylva")" 9. Throughout ligature [oe] changed to oe 10. Page 175 Madame de Graaf changed to Madame de Graaff 11. Plate 25 TERMIFOLIUM changed to TENUIFOLIUM to match List of Plates and Text.