Jane McGary wrote > Galanthus bulbs, when stored dry, often deteriorate. > It is, however, quite feasible to ship the bulbs dormant in late summer, > as > long as you keep them slightly moist (I use very slightly moist > vermiculite > in plastic bags -- I think plastic didn't exist when the "in the green" > rule was made). Galanthus bulbs 'deteriorate' only if kept in conditions of high temperatures so they 'cook'. They will keep perfectly well in a cool shed, either as loose bulbs or packed in dry sand etc, but they must be kept dry. Any moisture after about August (as nights cool) will immediately result in root formation - and I mean immediately. Washing bulbs for export last summer, and subsequent storage in a plastic bag for 2 days, led to root appearance that fortunately didn't quite jeopardise the shipping of 'dormant' bulbs, but was not far off. I would certainly not recommend moist vermiculite for shipping unless the presence of roots was not a problem at the other end. Snowdrop bulbs stored dry all last summer and planted out in the garden in November are now coming into flower, only a few days after the established clumps, to my mind totally debunking the myth of the necessity of planting 'in the green', which to my mind is a most deleterious practice that thinking gardeners should not condone. John Grimshaw . Dr John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Tel. 01242 870567 COLESBOURNE PARK SNOWDROP OPEN DAYS 2008 January 26/27 and every Saturday & Sunday in February Gates open 1pm, last entry 4 pm website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/