Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-10-04
Planting and Care Of Flower Bulbs,
BOTH INDOORS AND our.

Towering bulbs have had a hard
time Of il this year in the gardens.
The dry weather was little too much
for them. and the bulbs either died
out in the ground before they ripened
or they have disappeared altogether.
Even the generous towering gladiolus
has had a hard time to keep up its
spirits and there have been but few
perfect spikes Of bloom this summer,
and the fall crop Of bulbs is slight in
quantity and small in size Only
deep planted and well cared for bulbs
have been able to stand the unusual
drouth As natural consequence
there viii be fair demand for new
stock Flower lovers rarely get so
discouraged that they will not try
again. Besides there is nothing from
which more genuine pleasure is de-
rived than from fragrant blossoms,
especially those that mas be easily had
during the winter when gay and
green things are doubly enjoyed. es-
pecially 10y women folks who must
necessarily spend 80 much Of their
time in the home
In the line Of winter boomers. there
are no flowers that excel those pro-
duced from bulbs, and none which can
be had more odeaply or require less
care, while results are always fully
realized For IN or outdoor culture
the hyacinths. erocuses and lilies are
equally good. Tulips do fairly well
in the house but not nearly so well as
they do out Of doors for early bloom
ing in the spring The hyacinth can
be made to adorn every store and a.
most every shop window in town.
Bulbs may be potted at any time from
now until early in November Our
experience teaches us that empty fruit
cans answer fully rs we'll if not bet
ter than errthenware, for pottery pur-
poses. An ordinary can will hold but
one bulb The cans should have holes
punched in the bottom and some
pieces of charcoal or brick put in for
drainage good soil mixed with one
| fourth sand to keep it from packing
should be used to till the can. Leaf
mold or loan from the woods is still
better The can should be filled about
! three-fourths full before the bulb i,
set in The bulb should be preS>el
down bur very little. as pressure pack
he earth under the buln and inter
teres with the easy growth OF the ln'
roots. The top Of the bulb should b,
barely covered with earth. and room
enough should be left at the top o
the can so that the plant can be liber
ally watered without the water run
ming over the sides When the bull
is set, water thoroughly and set th
cans away in the coolest and darkes
part of the cellar. Look at then
every week or two. and if they ar
dry, water again. The first waterin;
may be sufficient for month in som
cellars. while in others. especially on
near furnace, water will be neede'
every week. Don't keep them to
wet. As soon as the bulbs have mad
a good start, which can generally b
told 10y the short, thick growth with
out leaves at the top, they may b
brought gradually to the light an
watered freely This will force then
into bloom in hurry. If you desir
10 lengthen the season of bloom, d
not bring all the bulbs up at once.
In planting hyacinths in the garden
spade the ground deep and plant til
bulb 50 that the top Of the bulb vii
be four inches from the surface.
handful of sand placed about the bul
will help it If they are eovere
slightly with leaves or coarse manur
to keep them from being damaged D
successive freezings and thawings,
viii pay They should be plante
from six to eight inches apart or
clumps Of two or three. They wi
show flower stems Just as soon As til
frost is out in the spring. Nhe
done blooming and the leaves ar
dead they may be taken up and deied
They will then be again ready for fa
planting After hyacinths have bee
blossomed in the house. they will no
be useful for that purpose again, bu
can be planted out doors. The colo
OF the bulb is some indication Of TIL
color Of the flower. Crocuses can d
planted in almost anything, 50 tn
soil is good and mixed with a litt
sand for house culture Six or eigh
can be planted in a strawberry box 9
} a box can be made long enough to 8
on the inside window sill Trea
them like hyacinths, only cover ther
up about an inch With earth. Whe
planting ont doors plant four niche
deep and two or three inches apart
October is the time to plant Yello'
ones are considered the J andsomest
Plant some both in doors and out
Scilla Siberica Or Squills, are sma
bulbs producing flower Of the mos
intense blue very early il the spring
They are best planted ont Of door
and whca once started VIII grow 70
many yna without care On the law
if placed where they will not be tran
pied over too much They do We
l.l-1 t(.4 orgru.