The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-08-27
Floral correspondence.

When shall plant the Cyclamen for winter
blooming? To which l reply, at any time from
now until October and November, although in
my own practice 1 usually start them into
growth in August. This year, in order to make
sure of an abundance of early flowers l ported
off several extra strong Cyclamen bulbs early in
July. and as / write can look from the Office
window into the greenhouse and observe that
some of the bulbs have already put forth their
leaves. As | stated, the bulbs are large, but
purposelv put them in 2 : nch pots. The soil
IL about as rich rs it can be. and consists of
thoroughly rOtted sods from an old pasture
field, some two-year-old manure from an old
hotbed, pieces of charcoal lroken up fine. to-
gethcr with little SCOT made from wood ashes
The bulbs are set just on the surface of the
soil. and for the present are kept as cool as
possible and watered only when the surface of
the soil is dry. As soon as the flower stalks
show themselves ] Will set the pots in sunny
place and AZ near the glass as possible. This
Is one of the easiest grown understanding
plants, and one which gives wonderful amount
Of flowers for little trouble.
From far-oif Montana comes query if /
have what is called white day Lily, and if so. to
give it's proper name and description. When
wrote .Lilies' couple Of weeks ago. had this
Funka or day Lily then in my mind. but as it
is not strictly a Lily. although included by many
people III that class of plants, passed it by.
and yet here Is one who wants to know about
it. Well, this Funiia (for that is its name) is a
hardy autumn-blooming plant, more commonly
cllled day Lily because one of its blossoms.
which come in clusters, opens each day. There
are two varieties-white and blue-but / have
only the white. The leaves are very broad. and
prettly veined. and the flowers are formed in
clusters on stem about six or eight inches in
length; although | have one growing in pot
by the side of our doorstep whercon the flower
stem ia at least a foot long, and four wonder
fully fragrant blossoms now open. This and.
indeed, all hardy plants-the Peonies, Phloxes.
Bleeding Heart-such endure our winter. are
far better planted in the fall, SO a. TO start with
the spring and obtain flowers from them next
summer. Coleous cannot be kept over winter
III q cellar. They are tropical plants. and gen.
orally perish with the first frosts. They must
be wintered in warm temperature, with
abundance of light. and the atmosphere at all
times well saturated with moisture
A flower lover writing from Chicago SAYS she
tx one of those hard-worllng bread-winning
women who earns by diligent toll the necessa-
l1es Of life with but little to spare for Injuries
or even pleasures. She must be content with
one or two flowers in her window Mt the most
and asks what think would be suitable for her.
There are several GeraniTms. Fuchsias. and
other house plants that a dime for each will Sc
cure delivered at her door, Where one or two
plants are wanted such as are easily grown
and abundant boomers, l unhesitatingly re-
commend the Chinese Primrose and Cycamen.
but then II is not every one who can spare
quarter or a half dollar to procure some
plants for winter flowers. but still no one need
be without some flowers in winter if they will
take the trouble to SOW the seeds any time be-
AJre the middle of September.
Callas at rest may be left in their pots and
put either under the greenhouse benches, the
plant stand, outdoors undera tree, or any other
place where they do not get water. Along in
September knock ont of their potts. shake off all
old soil, and start them growing again by re-
water until started, and then in abundance.
Mr. RENNn
AISswoRTH, Iowa.