Evening star., 1886-11-04
Bulbs for Fall Planting.

Autumn is the time for planting hardy bulbs
Tor early spring flowers. Those bulbs zivii
the most satisfaction tberause absolutely hardy
and certain I'd bloom abundanuy at the nrst
hint OF spring. are really few in numOer and
are called Holland bulbs, though all except the
Hyacinth are now grown in perfection In this
country. Though two or more kinds blossom
al the same time, they usually appear IN about
the .oiiu"ing order; snowqrop, orocus, Iuiip,
Win the exception of the Hyacinth these
bulbs are inexpensive, and they require very
little care. For these reasons they saouid be In
every garden Though IL Is almost impossible
to hinder them from blooming ii put In tine
ground at all, the best flowers are produced
when the bulbs are planted In soil both rich
and sandy. As a rule bu. Two things prevent
their tiOomIng: If set In undrained ground
which Is soaked with water throughout the
winter they will De likely 10 decay, and If the
winter be severe and long ground-moies some
times gnaw the bulbs, especially II they
near ANY old building.
Tue season for planting is the same for all
from Ociooer 1st until the ground is frozen too
hard TO wor1. which often does not occur until
December. They should be covered during
winter with IA litter OF dry leaves. Eacn sort
may De planted In a group by itself or Snow
drops and Crocu-e es may be employ ed to border
y bed of Tulips or Hyacinths. As soon as they
cease Towering TOR be. ore If the season is favor
able), SOW some light annual over the bed, either
Sweet Alyssum, Miguonnette, Swan River
Daisies or Aster, scattered broadcast with n
little earth siited over; or ii the bed be round
star-shaped, SOW the iour ANNALS in circles or
rows in tue order mentioned, beginning at the
coiored Asters in the center.
The bulbs do best If left undsturbed until
their green leaves begin to wIther. which is
usually about the LIST oI July. Tulips and Hya-
einths should then be taken from the ground,
dried gradually but thoroughly in the open air,
and stored In cool, dry place until October,
when they may be planted Ior blooming the fol-
lowing spring. But If they are not given proper
attenIiou, tney had better be lett in the ground
ali summer, although they give smaller flowers
the coming year.
The Snowdrop is a small white flower, rarely
priced because il blooms in the very edges of
the SHOWS. 1t takes care oi itself, and need not
be removed from the ground oItener than once
IN three or four years There are single and
double sorts, the single variety being the
CHEAPER and quite % as pretty st as the double
two inches deep. as they are small
The Crocus mas small bulb also, which
should be planted precisely like the Snowdrop;
III Can remain in the ground year after year, but
desirable to extend the season vi Towering,
which Is usually brief. a portion OF the buius
may be taken up in the summer, dried, and
planted again in autumn, as this process delays
the flowers about a week. Crocus blooms are
violet blue, yellow, white or striped. Wnen
purchased lin quantity the bulbs cost but a cent
each, and the unnamed sorts are rarely more
than two cents each 10y the dozen.
Tulips are far more snowy than any other
spring Towering buIb. Their chief colOrS are
red and yellow, sometimes Violet, purple,
brown white and even an intense green. They
are striped. DOrdered anu biotcned IN the most
fantastic style, ana "a bed OF Jumps in bloom is
a most dazzling sight. single ones are usually
PREFER u; "A beli-snaped flower is rarely I'M
proved by doubling. Plant The bulbs six inches
apart and cover three inches deep.
The NarcisSuS has many varieties, both
double ana single. and is either white, yellow
or boIn. The IOet'S NarcIssus, or PheaSanIs
Eye, Is the most popular single variety, being
White. with pale yellow cup edged with reu,
in the center oi the flower. The Daffodil is "a
douu.e yellow variety OF the Nafci,sus Ian
Sioa). The Jonqui belongs 10 the same Iamily,
and the bulbs SHOULD All De planted in ciuinp,,
nye inches apart and three inches deep, and
not be DISTURBED tor years.
The hyaclntn j. perhaps the most graceful
OF the spring Towering bulbs, anu is especialI
priced Tor lorcIng. Many sorts bloom, finely in
tine gardeE. tue cOiOrs include various shades
OF red, blue aud yellow. and many rich
creamy white. Both double ana single varieties
are popuiar, but single varieties are better
adapted glasses than double ones. Plant
covering of iour inches o! soil above the bulb.
The Hyacinlh likes "a ricn soil, and should
always be lifted and slowly dried, in summer.
Tne garden Iris is exceedingly snowy, the
colors being blue, yellow, rose, white, brown
and even back. The English aud Spanish Iris
are best adapted for garden beds. They like a
rich, damp soil, and the bulbs take of
themselves year alter year.
All of the above bu bS may be forced into
flower in the house during the winter. Plant
the larger bulbs in from five 10 seven-inch pots
in autumn, leaving the top oil the bulb exposed.
Water well, and set in cool, dark place Tor the
roots TO form. When the roOts are well de-
veloped, bring to the light, and water freely
They do not like too much heat. The snow
drop and Crocus may be planted in six-inch
pots, about six bulbs TO a pot; 10 bloom in per-
lection they require great deal Of light and o
moderately cOOi room.