The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-02
BUY BULBS OF THESE.

bleak season OF the year, when domestic
delights are most keenly appreciated. If
you have two sunny windows yOn can fill
them with ninety-five plants, of sixteen
distinct varieties. all producing the most
exquisite flowers imaginable, maintaining
aconstant succession of bloom from De-
cember until May, at cost of less than
IS for bulbs and few cents for pots and
possibly earth. And if that is too much.
you will be able to pick out readily from
the list shall suggest such as you think
you would prefer, and may be assured
that you cannot possibly 60 wrong, even
If your choice is confined to Q single bulb.
But remember one thing: Once bulb
grower, always bulb grower. Taste this
pleasure once. and you will never be able
TO abandon 1t.
Primarily, few words about the selec-
ton of bulbs generally. If you 60 in for
manned varieties" your taste is going to
be costly, and is at least questionable if
the outcome is commensurately salts
factory. Minute and hardly perceptible
differences in the shape or tint OF even ono
: petal of a flower. family distinguishing it
rom others of its kind, will be to the
dealer sufficient warrant for branding it
with a big new name. placing fancy
price on it and putting forth glowing de-
scriptions of its transcendent beauty, for
he is guilefui creature. But if you do
not happen to be specialist or "crank"
{ looking for new things just because they
are new. you can get more satisfaction for
much less money by investing in mixed
sorts" Except in lilies and certain other
classes not good for amateur culture I'M
s der ordinary conditions, size is not an OBJ
= I'LL ~
hard, whether big or little. Finally. don't
buy oddities just because they are odd, for
you will soon grow tired of them.
The culture of the hyacinth bulb may be
taken for description as that best adapted
for all. with some slight notifications in
Z certain cases, which will be noted Don't
. try growing your hyacinth bulbs in water.
\ II can be done, of course. but is vanity and
vexation of spirit. The flower spikes are
sure to be inferior to those CT plants rooted
In earth. Use four or five inch pots, the
latter preferably. Put in each an inch of
pot fragments or charcoal Jumps, for
drainage, and half fill with sandy loan en-
nehed by addition OF a little well-rotted
COW manure or pulverized sheep manure.
II you can add some leaf mould or earth
containing grass roots pared from under
God. all the better. Set the bulb lightly on
n, L
rs top Just shows above the surface, and
eently press the earth. enough to settle II
and no more. Do not press the bulb
dewn, even little Bit In plant
Mg Roman hyacintbs the pres
scre on the earth must be frmer,
Tor they lift themselves when they start
moving and. il neglected. will sometimes
climb entirely out of the soil. The earth
should be moist. not wet, and its surface
hearty an inch below the edge or the pot.
81 While the bulb is making roots, say for
from four 10 six weeks, II must be kept IN
cool. damp. dark place. cellar Is best,
but closet or big dry goods box IN
garrett, or even the enclosed space under =
stationary wash basin. Will do. Set the
POI on bed of damp, weather-beaten coal
ashes and cover il four or i've inches deep
WITH the same material. or with cocoa
here, leaves, straw, or old eunny sacks. on
sn'eh you can sprinkle a little water from
ome To time Ii you cannot fix IL that
sSy, pack crumpied damp newspapers I'M
ger and around IL and throw the sacking
over IT, When you think IL has
nad time enough to make roots,
Examine II. Turn the pot upside down,
sap u gently and the contents will come
q Sus together In ball, when. If the roofing
mas been good, the fact will be readily APP
parent. II So bring II To the light graau-
sAy, aud As the foliage appears water
ueely. Ii you rush II lnto strong sun
rehi st once Its Hover spike viii he poor.
uFce give too much water before the
pant Is ready 10 Use IL IN making foliage.
your bulb will rot Shoald the spike
Mrasten 10 he short and stuhbv. surround
usta @hlte paper tube and il viii grow
taa. Once week while the flower spike
forming give !; grpld water containing
Nttic dissolved sheep manure hut stop
saat as soon as the b.oom i perfect re
%! oil patent 'ieTssis3srs." Sprinkle the