r of choice seedlings is
that of naming one for a friend, and this pleasure has been mine a
number of times. The most notable example of this is the May, and I
fully expect that some of those which have scarcely been heard of as yet
will become equally as popular as that well-known variety.

In growing seedlings, it is best to use land that is nearly or quite
level, so that it cannot wash. The soil should be thoroughly pulverized,
and enriched by the use of some complete commercial fertilizer
scattered over the surface at the rate of six or seven pounds to the
square rod, and well stirred in. Then make drills twelve inches apart,
from one to two inches wide, and half an inch deep. These drills should
be laid out cross-wise of the bed, and may be made by gently pressing a
narrow strip of board into the mellow earth. Sow the seed thick enough
to cover the bottom of the drill, and sprinkle over it fine earth to the
depth of three-fourths of an inch. This should be pressed down with the
foot or a roller, so that it will be only half an inch thick over the
seeds.

Some provision must now be made for keeping the surface of the bed moist
until the seed comes up, which requires two or three weeks under
favorable conditions, and may take much longer. If the surface dries
after the seeds sprout, they are likely to perish. The best way to
prevent this is to furnish shade. For a small bed, a piece of burlap
spread over it, and kept in position by a stone at each corner, is
excellent. I have generally used a light covering of straw, held in
place with strips from the planing mill. Another method of keeping the
straw in place is by stretching binder twine directly over the row. When
the young plants appear, a straight edge is placed just outside of the
row, and the straw is cut through with a sharp knife, first on one side
and then on the other. The part over the row is then removed, and the
rest left for a mulch. There are, however, two objections to the use of
straw as a covering: moles sometimes work under it, heaving up the
ground to the detriment of the crop, and it nearly always contains
objectionable seeds. One of the most extensive growers in my
acquaintance shades his seed beds with the shallow crates in which he
stores bulbs through the winter.

After the seedlings come up they should be kept perfectly free from
weeds, and the surface should be stirred frequently. In an ordinary
season the bulbs will run from one-fourth