Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-21
Dutch Ruits.

In these days OF advanced civilization no
one thinks of being without room plants OF
some kind. IL may be bat a pot or SO OF wv,
or hanging basket, perhaps few cut dow
erS BOW and then; or, in the case OF the hest
people, full display Of plants in bloom
These best people are not necessarily OF the
wealthy class; Indeed ii often happens that
the richest people are without flowers There
fesoIne human pleasures which even money
cannot buy, and not the least among these is
a love or Hover culture, and an ability and
disposition TO take care Of them
mong the easiest 10 grow, and perhaps
with as much satisfaction as any after thew
are grown, are Dutch bulbs, and when we see
Dutch bulbs we chiefly think OF the hyaciutb
We have in it many things usually thought
Incompatible. When Jack owned 10 his
father that he was in love with the moor
beauty, he was told that il was as easy n
love handsome girl with money as hand
some girl without; bat the world Ia gem
commoneSt of beliefs that all good things do
not JOIN together IN one. Especially is this
thou ht true o. plants; and one hardly
ever sees a philosophical florist pluck
mlgnonette. than She tells you that beauty
and fragrance are never to be found in
one hover. If you say that the carnat,on il
sweet: she urges that the whole plant j. ugly;
anu IL you refer To the rose. You will be told
mar II Is the open bud only that is beautiful,
The ugly expanded rose only that is sweet
30 We nave heard them argue; but how about
ire hyacintn? surely there is beauty here
from bud to blossom, and for fragrance what
IS there' that goes beyond They are very
SdSliy nltldSt'i, no matter Whetner they re
10 De grown IN glasses Of water or in pots OF
eaftn. The bulbs must be good. THOSE
Whlch nave hoWared last year are no g0ot az
all, especially II they lowered in water
which IS much more exhaustive that when
lowered in the ground. In all bulbs the
matter for growth Is stored uD the season he
lOre mis- Is what The bulb IL for. IL is a
magazine of prepared foot. When grown in
water the moisture simply enables the pla n
10 make use OF this matter. II does moi fur
nish anything for the future. Even bulb
grown IN earth cannot make matter for fu-
ture flowers and help In lowering now. II is
said that in Holland the young bulbs are not
allowed 10 bloom till they gre sold TO us
ear after year the young buds are taken OF
as they appear, so that all the strength NAV
be for the final display. Thus we see how
important IL is TO have good solid bulbs il
we would nave good basis to build our floral
prospects on.
The conditions OF successful growth are
very simple, and consist chiefly in getting
cut the rooLs before the lower-buds are en-
and leaves like light. So the bulb after il is
planted in the pot, or set in the water gla IS,
should be kept in the cellar. or a dark closet
Tor few weeks before being allowed the full
light. In this way often a glass will be quite
full of roots before there is any sign OF leaves
pushing; and this is the most favorable sign
there can be that we shall have ''good luck"
IL is lawful when there are green leaves
but no roots OF consequence; but this is sell
dom the case when the dark-closet system
has been resorted to. When the roots come
out freely then set them in the light, and
leaves and flowers soon follow.
Tulips, crOcuses, snowdrops and narcissus
also go under the name of Dutch bulbs: but
none are so popular for room-culture as the
hyacinth. They are seldom grown in water
In pots the general treatment is much The
same as the hyacinth receives.-Germd a,osCa
Telegraph.