Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-17
pondered the lesson in thoughtful fashion;
The Lily was virtue, the Wind was passion.
DUTCH BULBS.

"We have sold thousands of Dutch bulbs
since September for fall planting said the
proprietor of a seed and agricultural store
to me the other day. By Dutch bulbs he
meant hyacinths, tulips, etc, all early
boomers in spring, and the great bulk of
which are imported direct from the grow
ers in Holland.
''Is it not almost too late to plant flow
ers when winter is already beginning to
show itself?" / asked the seedman.
"Oh, no; 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 col
lection grown in the parlor and filling the
air with the sweet fragrance from their
lovely trusses 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 tastefully ar
ranged 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 the 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 ninety cents per dozen.
In cultivating in glasses of water the
vase, or whatever vessel is used, should be
filed 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
ascertained 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 fully grown, when the
glass may be placed on the mantel or win
dow sill, or any other desirable and con-
venient place. Give as much fresh air as
possible, without letting the plant stand
in a draught, and when the flowers begin
to unfold sprinkle them every day with
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 a 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. 1t is 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 ex-
tremely 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 a layer of
moss on the surface, which will make a
bright, tidy appearance and hang up in
any suitable place. Give water about
three times a week and treat after they be-
gin to grow the same as for glasses. Gro
cuses, tulips, snowdrops, etc, may be
blended with the hyacinth. For pot-cul
ture use two-thirds good loan and one
third clean sand, or use good sandy loan,
and plant the bulbs in six-inch pots, leav-
ing only the tops visible. Press the soil
firmly around them and put in an airy, Sc
cluded spot until they begin to grow
then give light, the same as those in
glasses The bulbs may also be planted in
the ground any time before it freezes; set
three or four inches deep, with little
sand around and under them. In the
spring, after blooming, the brlbs should be
taken up and stored away in a dry place,
to be kept for next season.
Tulips should be planted in every gar
den or doorway, and the price is within
the reach of alas low as % cents per
dozen for some varieties. They are hardy,
easily grown, and if properly cared for
will retain their beautiful and peculiar
markings for an indefinite period. If al
lowed to remain 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 up often, will
bury themselves more than a foot deep.
They should, therefore, be taken up every
year and packed away until the following
fall. The true depth for planting tulips
is three and half inches, and they may
be set about six or seven inches apart.
Crocuses may be dropped into little holes
dug in the grass or flower border, and they
will be among the first to blossom, often
times peeping through the snow in the
spring time. think that these few rules
on the care of bulbs, which have had so
large sale this fall, will be of interest
and perhaps profit to amateur flower
growers, for | have answered any number
of questions and have had to give direc-
tions any number 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
showers, and how it refreshes them, espe
cially after hot, dry time. Plants in the
liohSO Will nave ~ USpSliu Vu you " wash
them When does Dame iature do this ?
She never washes her plants when the sun
is shining hot upon them, s. we must take
the hint and wash our plan 5 in the morn
ing, before the sun shines hot-neyer to-
wards night, when the air grows cold or
frosty. She does not dash Gown cold water
when the air is warm, so sc must warm
the water slightly for our plants. She
does not pour the rain Gown from big
dipper, so we must follow natures exam
pie and sprinkle the plants geatly with
fine hose, or better still, rubber sprinkler, |
which is the best thing l know of for
watering plants.
How often or how much water plants re-
quire can be governed hy no fixed rules, |
much depending on the dyyness of the at
mosphere, the nature Of the individual
plant and whether the plant be Of slow or |
fast growth. II the top soil looks dry and |
the pot feels light when you lift it, it will !