St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-12
AMONG THE FLOWERS.
Some Varieties That Need At
tention Before the Winter Sets


in.
Special to the GLOBE.
FOUNTAIN, Mimi, Oct, 4.-The
heavy frosts that lay our flower treas
ures low. have not as yet laid its icy
hands upon them, and the chilling
winds are passing us by and giving
place to warmer winds and clear sun
shine. Many of the floral pets have
lived, fulfilled their mission and died a
natural death, while the more hardy
ones still maintain all of their summer
beauty and make the garden look gayly
in their robes of many cOlOrs.
But this month is the time for clean
ing up the wlthered leaves and dead
flower stalks, making changes and
transplanting perennialS into new
places, or making room for new bulks,
or rather new varieties of such as we
have.
There has been rains sufficient to wet
down into the earth several inches
Just enough to be all right for our re-
Quirements and the safety of the bulbs
we set out this fall. The Hyacinths
have been delusion and snare for
our unwary paintings. Why, we really
thought they would come out into this
world and be delightful sight to be-
hold, a pleasure to look upon. but they
never did. Never even peeped above
the soil that we had placed above and
about them with so much care and so
many anticipatiOns of enjoyment in the
coming spring time of blooming plants.
But that was only one more diSap-
pointment added to the many that we
have met, incurred over and became
recOnciled and resigned to as life has
rippled over the rough and rocky bed,
wherein its waters ran so many times,
only to fret and foam over the dead
flowers, and then rise up determined to
conquer the fates Or-dO so something
or nothing. Well, we did try again,
and succeeded in growing such beauti-
full beds of hyacinths, and tulips of
wOndrOus mixture of many colors.
And now after the hyacinths diSap-
pointed us again last spring, we will
try them again, by purchasing more
bulbs to plant out just as soon as posi-
BILE. Again, they will be set in sand,
not the fine white sand that is found
about here, for [ just think 1t dead
sand of no good for any purpose, unless
it may be mixed With cement that is
used for foundation walls. as it seems
to form hard. lifeless mass of earth
when mixed with soil for potting pur-
pose of house plants, so l condemn it
for use among plants in the garden.
Coarse river sand is used to
set bulbs on with old COW
manure under it for the roots
to find for themselves which they surely
will, and then the bulbs are set on. the
sand an inch in depth. or more sand is
placed around on the bulb, with bits Of
the old COW manure carefully laid around
the bulb, but not on the sand that covers
it, as it might penetrate the top of the
bulb and cause it to rot instead of pro-
viding food for the growth of the bulb
from the roots themselves. There should
be about five or six inches depth after
the sand has been placed Oh top Of the
bulbs to fill with rich soil. Tulips and
narcisSus may be treated in the same
way, and good covering of stable waste
spread on the whole surface.
Nearly or quite all the hardy spring
Towering bulbs may be planted this
way without loss, and will give any one
that has even love for flowers thrill
of admiration and pleasure on behold
ing the advento of spring arTayed in such
gorgeous colOring as these bulbs al
ways present to our view; coming into
bloom so early after the snow has dis
appeared, and often before the snow
has left the fence corners. or out OF the
places where the sun does not reach it.
Among the bulbs, one can sow the
annual flower seed in the early spring,
and, have them grow as shade for the
soil in the summer sunshine, and keep
the bulbs in cool condition, and give
you flowers until late in the fall. If
you SOW petunia seed in the fall, before
covering the bed. you will be rewarded
with flowers until the snow flies all
other fall in the month of November,
as the petunia Is much better blOomer,
and endures more cold than is usually
found among the ANIMALS.
Mrs. MARTHA CRANDALL.