Jory grabbed the trowel and scooped up another load of potting soil and threw it over the bulb. Then he added another load. And another. Until it was covered. He made an average of the bulb's depth, his finger marking the spot on the outside of the pot. "A few more scoops should do it.'' This bulb was a bigger one so 10 cm was required.

"That should do it,'' the seventh year said to himself. He was about to level off the soil but in the nick of time remembered something. He glanced back at the instructions. "Do not pat down the soil as this will restrict movement upon germination,'' he read. That was a close one!