The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-09-26
Culture Of Bulbs.

Next to food and clothing something
to adorn and beauty the home and thus
administer to the aesthetic nature of the
members Of the household, is essential to
the happiness and refinement of every
intelligent family. Among the refining
and eevating influences of we'll order
ed home, flowers occupy very conspcu-
Gus place.
Everybody likes to see beautiful flow
ers;even those who will not take the troub
lie to raise them will stop to admire them
in the grounds Of neighbor, and meL-
tally resolve that next year they will
have supply Of them themselves.
These beauties are so easily secured that
every one who has the will can have
collection of them Very early spring
flowers coming Immediately after the
dreariness of winter, and in advance of
the advent of the general bloom of sum
mer flowers, are doubly welcome and in
terestng. In the cultivation Of what are
known as Holland or Dutch bulbs we
have that which meets this want more
fully than any other class of flowers.
Many persons, when they see a beauti-
full display of flowers Of these bulbs ear
ly in the spring when the snow has
scarcely Disappeared resolve that when
another season comes around they will
certainly have supply Of these flowers;
but the time for planting comes and goes,
and the matter is forgotten till the bloom
lug season Is on hand. As the time for
procuring 2Id planting these bulbs is at
hand~we wish to call attention to a few
- 81 III s.lo
The earliest lower of spring Is the
Snowdrop, a delicate little flower as white
as snow. 1t grows about six inches
and appears about the first of March, in
the northern part of the country; often
before the ground ceases to freeze or the
SHOWS cease to fall. The bulbs are small,
perfectly hardy and may remain several
years without removal. They should be
planted in the fall in beds or masses,
about two inches deep and the same dis
lance apart. They may be planted in
the lawn, and after blooming ripen their
leaves so early that the bulbs will not be
injured by moving the grass.
The Snowdrop is excellent for winter,
blooming in pots in the house. The
Snowflake resembles this flower, but is
larger and more robust in habit. 1t is
very hardy, thriving with care after it is
once planted. Another very early
blooming flower is the Narcissus, inclu
ding the Jonquil and Daffodil. There
are numerous varieties Of this, the most
of which are quite hardy. The single
Narcissus is very popular; being en-
tremeIy hardy, and the different parts of
the flower being of different colors gives
= l.
border plant. The double Narcissus in
its different varieties is quite desirable.
The Polyanthus Narcissus, which pro-
duces its flowers in tresses or clusters of
from 6 to 20 or more is the most beauti
full class Of this whole family; but unfor-
tunately it is not quite hardy where
some of the others succeed quite we'll.
In warm, sandy soil, however, and south
of the central part of the country they
do we'll. They should be well covered
up with straw, leaves or other litter to
protect them from severe freezing.
The Crocuses are well known flowers,
and are popular for their tasteful form
and gay colors. They appear quite
early, even before frost is all out of the
ground and the last of March and fore
part of April, for several weeks they are
largely the source of beauty and bright
ness to the garden. They must be set
in the fall, two inches in depth and three
inches apart. Before freezing weather
begins they should have a coveing of
straw or other litter to keep the frost
from heaving them out. There are va
rious colors, blue, yellow, white and
striped They may be purchased at
from 81 80 to 81 90 per hundred Prob
ably the most beautiful of all the spring
towering bulbs, is the Hyacinth. Both
single and double varieties are deserved
" popular bota for their beauty and
their delicate fragrance. There are both
early and late varieties; some tall and |
some are low. The low varieties gener-
ally grow about six inches high, and are
generally early. The late varieties are
generally double There is from two to |
three weeks between the blooming of the |
early and late sorts There is a great !
Inference in the habits of growth Of the |
different kinds, some growing very com
pact and others rather loose and spread
ng. The colors are red, white, blue,
fellow, and a general commingling of all |
hese colors. Hyacinths shonld be
planted ont during the fall. They should |
'e planted from two to four inches deep,
nd have a good mulching of litter be-
ore hard freezing sets in. Hyacinths
may be cut freely without any injury, in
deed all flower stalks should be cut out
Is soon as the flowers begin TO fade.
TheIast, though not least that we shall
lention at this time is the Tulip, than
hitch none of the spring Towering bulbs
i've more satisfaction. The early and
ate, single and double, and Parrot Tu-
.os, give an assortment and display of
lch' gay colors hardly excelled by any :
ther cIa~S of flowers. We shall not stop !
? speak OF t@e different classes and vari-
ties, whose nameis legion but we can
My wish our readers the fortune of a
lrge supply of these t,aiy fine early
overs, Nothing can excel tue dazzling
of bed of tulips They
lould be planted in October and No,
ember in good garden soil, made fine
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