Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-02-06
agricultural.
UTnter Fioscers.

tastes, who ought 10 appfeclae Wih'eI
flowers they should be our American, or
rather New England people, Our sum
mers are warm enough. We can cuiti-
yate the plants from almost every portion
Of the globe in the open ground during
that period, and for brief time enjoy the
magnifcence of tropical vegetation, The
banana, the balm, the sugar cane, the
agave, the yam, and the tobacco plant
are quite at home, delighliug US by their
handsome foliage, and adding variety to
everv garden; but before the autumn soils
I tee closes they remind us of the change
ableness Of our climate, lose their luxu-
RANT aspect, and, unless speedily removed
+ to more genial atmosphere, die outright.
Throughous the Middle and Eastern
States. our gardens, when Just in their
wealth of bloom and beauty, arc lespoiled
of everything by the September or Octo-
Der frosts, and as early as November,
scarcely q vestice Of anything green Is to
. be seen. For five long months, snow and
ice reigu supreme. In fact we can only
claim. in the average Of seasons, 4 little
more than five months Of vegetation.
Such being the fact how much greater
the desire of something to remind rs Of
summer than in ciimes more favored, and
where flowers grow and bloom the grea-
f ter portion of the year. Even in the cool
and humid climate Of Great Britain, the
gardens arc not wholly without flowers,
+ for Mr.. McNab, the curator Of thc Botanic
garden of Edinburgh, has gathered in
/ some years in'Jauuary, in the open air,
as many as $50 kinds OF plants IL bloom,
and rarely less than thirty or forty
With rs, however from the time Of the
few solitary chrysau;hcmums in early No
vcmbcr. We can gather nothipg-saying 4
tow snow-dro1s or crocuses, until April,
and often far into May.
Winter flowers are, therefore, almost q
necessity, and th9asrtenhouse or conserva-
tory Is a charming appeudage to any dwell
inc; but these are expensive and not al
WAYS convenient; and the veranda or par
Tor window, must take their place. Here,
under proper care, may be cultivated
many varieties Of plants, Int more espcc-
ially the dubious root, such as the hya-
c.nih, the tulip, the narc;ssus, the crocus,
etc. They are especially the winter flow
c-s for everybody, easily grown, iuexpen-
-iye, requiring bu; little space, and afford
Ing a succession OF bloom, from January
TO Arril,-ealivening the period Of snow
aud with the bloom and fragrance Of
spriu-. And among these bulbs the hya-
cinth holds the first place, with Its tall
and graceful spikes Of various colored
flowers. exhaliug delicious perfume. and
c5utiuu.u- in beauty a IoEg period. The
hyaciuth has been cultivated for a great
many years, and the Dut.h florists have
brought /, &c high perfection at the pre-
sent tine 1t Is grown in immonce quaint.
ties, acres of land around Haar.cm being
devoted 10 It's cultivation. and the bulb,
are sent to all parts Of the world. They
are Of jhc easiest culture, Yet often they
bloom iui5E-rgutly, because the proper
treatment. simple Is it i, is neglected, or
J., not understood Il should always De
borne in mind that oil. hardy bulbs, III
Guiding the hyaciuth, should not be a.
lowed 10 make any growth anti, there are
roots 10 support il and the proper way
10 accomplish this, Is to put them IN a
cool place, where Tor four or five week,
they will make plenty Of roots. Ii then
brough, out 10 the light aud air, they wi.
grow win yieor, and bring the beautiful
flowers to perfection. The following, gen.
cral rules, it carefully followed, will in.
. su5e success
l. ScL.-IIyac,uths will grow anJ
flourish ia any good, light, sandy soil
such as Is found in eyeryo.d garden. Ii
Is not absolutely necessary to manufacture
q compost, as with some particular plants
yet they grow better AMI give finer bios
SONS in soil iust suited 70 their wants
The principal requisite is TO have a light
and sandy. and it rich, with very old man,
urc or decayed leaves, all she better il
does not Ike fresh manure, which often
when too mnch is added, materially in
lures their growth. Where there are nc
/ couvcuienccs Of soil, aud It has to be ob.
tanned. it should be composed Of egua
parts Of light loan, very old manure, anC
sand that is, about one-third Of each.
>. PoTuNG.-Pots FIVE inches in di
ameter are large enough for one bulb, ant
pot six inches in diameter for thrc,
bulbs. In the latter manner, they form
rich masses Of flowers, some Of the bulb.
throwing up two or three spikes making
from SIX TO nine in all. Place a single
crock over the hole in the pot, and GIL
even full with the compost; then insert
the bulb, pressing it down tgo-thirds OF
/ it, depth settle the soil firm to within al
inch Of the rim after potting give a gen.
tie but GOOD watering. Then place the
pots in a deep frame or pit, where severe
/ frost viii not reach them, and cover the
whole TO the depth Of four inches with
| loose, light earth, half decayed leaves, or
in fact, anything If neither Of these are al
hand, the object being to exclude the light
and supply an eyenness Of moisture with,
cut water, until the pots are fllei with
roots, which Is usually in four Or five
weeks. When the quantity is small as
Is often the ease, and there are 10 con-
veniences as above directed, they may be
f. placed in a box in the cellar, and covered
III the same way, sand, or common coal