The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-17
Dutch Bulbs.


boomers in spring, and the great bulk of
in Holland.
ais it not almost too late to plant flowers
when winter is already beginning to show
itselfp' asked the scotsman.
''Ob, 70; because Dutch bulbs, especially
the crocus and other hardy pets of the
early spring garden, can be safely planted
in the ground at any time during October
or November, or any time before the ground
freezes"
The hyacinth is general favorite both
for garden and house culture, and holds the
leading position among Holland bulbs by
the remarkable beauty of its flower, its
delicious fragrance, and easy culture. 1t
is of almost every imaginable shade of color,
and nothing can be more charming than
bed of these delightful flowers, with the
colors nicely blended, or choice collection
grown in the parlor and filling the air with
the sweet fragrance from their lovely trus-
ses of blossoms.
For blooming indoors, hyacinths may be
cultivated in variety of ways; in glasses
of water, baskets filled with moss, in pots,
boxes, vases, old china bowls, or, in fact,
almost anything that will hold plant, and
when their colors are tastefufly arranged
with tulips, crocuses, snOwdrops, etc, the
effect is splendid. For glass culture the
single varieties are decidedly the best, and
only the choicest bulbs should be used for
this purpose, although some Of the double
varieties grow well in pots and glasses.
For outdoor bedding the unnamed or mixed
bulbs are very suitable and much cheaper,
selling as low as 80 cts. per Dozen
In cultivating in glasses of water, the
vase or whatever vessel is used, should be
filled with clear water until it touches the
base of the bulb, and no more, for to cover
it half over will cause it to decay perhaps.
The water should be changed whenever it
becomes impure, which may easily be as
certained by the sense OF smell, and at the
same time rinse the roots and glass with
fresh water Choose dark colored glasses
and keep the roots shaded from the light
until they are full grown, when the glass
may be placed on the mantel or window
sill, or any other desirable and convenient
place. Give as much fresh air as possible,
without letting the plant stand in draught,
and when the flowers begin to unfold
sprinkle them every day with a fine spray
of water, which will keep them fresh longer
and they will bloom better. DO not place
them near hot stove, and, if possible, do
not grow them in room where much gas
is burned. The water should always be
kept at the base of the bulb, even if it does
not need to be changed. It's of the utmost
Importance in growing hyacinths in the
parlor that the atmosphere in which the
plants are growing should be kept moist,
as an extremely dry atmosphere is almost
sure to cause failure.
For cultivation in basket. either of wire
or rustic work, cover the inside with fresh,
green moss and place the bulb in sand in
the centre, covering the bulb until only the
top is seen. Then put layer of moss on
the surface, which will make bright, tidy
appearance and hang up in any suitable
place Give water about three times a
week and treat after they begin to grow the
same as for glasses. Cfocuses, tulips,
snoWdrops, etc, may be blended with the
hyacinth. For pot culture use two thirds
good loan and one third clean sand, or use
good sandy loan, and plant the bulbs in six
inch pots, leaving only the tops visible,
Press the soil firmly around them and put
in an airy, secluded spot until they begin
to grow. Then give light, the same as
those in glasses. The bulbs may also be
planted il the ground any time before it
freezes. set three or four inches deep, with
q little sand around aud under them. In
the spring, after blooming, the bulbs should
be taken up aud stored away in dry place
to be kept for the next season.
Tulips should be planted in every garden
or doorway, ana 5ne price is within the
reach of alias low as 20 cts. per dozen for I
some varieties. They are harry, easily |
grown, and if properly cared for, will re- |
tain their beautiful and peculiar markings
for an indefinite period. If allowed to re-
main in the ground year after year the bulbs |
Will work down so deep into the soil that |
they become weak and lose much of their |
beauty. The new bulbs are formed every !
year below the old ones which unless taken
l,yr5.vr thor
foot deep. They should, therefore, be taken !
up every year and packed away until
the following fall. The true depth for
tulips is three and half inches, |
and they may be set about six or seven in
ches apart. Crocuses may be dropped into
little holes dug in the grass or Hover border,
and they will be among the first to blossom,
oftimes peeping through the snow in the
spring time. / think that these few rules
on the care of bulbs which have had so large
a sale this fall will be of interest and per
haps profit to amateur flower growers, for
| have answered any number of questions
and have had TO give directions any num-
Der of times.
Much of the success in raising plants
after they are properly planted depends on
their future care A plant out of doors has
its leaves washed often by frequent show
ers. and how it refreShes them, especially
after hot, dry time! Plants in the house
will have to depend on you to wash them.
When does.Dame Nature do this? She never
washes her plants when the sun Is shining
hot upon them, so we must take the hint
and wash our plants in the morning before
the sun shines hot-never towards night
when the air grows cold or frosty. She
does not dash down cold water when the
air is warm, so we must warm the water
slightly for our plants. She does not pour
the rain down from a big dipper, so we
must follow natures example and sprinkle
the plants gently with a fine rose, or better
still, a rubber sprinkler, which is the best
thing 1 know of for watering plants.
How often or how much water plants re-
quire can be governed by no fixed rules,
much depending on the dryness of the at
mosphere, the nature of the individual
plant. and whether the plant be of slow or
fast growth. If the top soil looks dry and
the pot feels light when you lift it, it will
be safe to water. Give enough to run
through into the saucer. Then turn out
any that is left in the saucer (plants don't
like wet feet, and do not water again until
dry. Study your plants. Notice their
drinking habits, and you can soon tell which
needs the most water. When the days are
clordy and short, they will not need as
much as when the days are longer and are
sunny.
Holland bulbs are natives of that country,
where they are grown in large quantities
and sent to Europe and this country