The morning times., 1896-09-17
FORTY THoUsANDPLASTs.

property of the general government. andtheir
care devolvcs upon the bureau Of public
buildingsand grounds. which is q subdivision
OF tire War Department. The public gar
dener. who is directly In charge OF tie pub
lie grounds. has, for twenty years, Teen
planting spring flowers and each years set
has been larger than It's predecessor. Last
year 10000 plants were set out, and this
year 90 900 Will be used.
Every year about the middle OF October
the planting begins, and, as the force of
men is large and their work rapid. 1T is
completed naahorttinic. Amongthe plants
To he set out this year are 5000 hya-
cinths. both single and double. and OF all
colors; Il 900 tulips, also single and double
and OF different cOlors; sOne narcissus or
daffodils "a few Easter lilies; som giadioIii
iris; but by far the greatest number is made
up Of crOcuses. Of all colors, CT which about
3O,0OO are used.
These bulbs are planted in beds, of differ
ent designs, from three to six inches apart
and about six inches deep. Thcu they re-
quire no attention excerpt light layer of
well-rolled manure. This substance not
only protects the bulbs from snow and rain,
but acts as fertilizer for the soil enrich
ing it for subsequent planting.
FIRST CONE CRoCCSEs.
\ pretter sight can hardly be imagined
than these fair fOrerunners OF spring holc-
ing their smiling faces to the SUI as IL TO
bid him welcome TO earth again. Although
the flowers are all planted at the same time
and in the same beds, their time of blooming
varies.
First come the crOcusAs, which n re among
the earlist flowers OF spring, and their
bright blossoms are often covered with
snow during March and April These Will
thrive under the most adverse conditions,
and are considered one OF the best growers.
Next come byacinths, whose handsome
spikes and great variety of colors make
them, particularly when planted in large
numbers, a very striking flower.
The tulips, for brilliaucy and variety OF
colOrs, are unequaled by any spring flower.
The plants are so arranged that u continual
bloom is afforded from late March to
early June.
The parks in which they are placed com
prise the larger and more important ones,
some OF them being Lafayette Square,
Franklin Square, Thomas Circle. Scott
Circle. the Capitol grounds. stanton Square,
Mcpherson Square, Farragut Square, and
judiciary Square.
OUR VARIABLE WEATHER.
As the number of plants each year grows
larger new parks are added To the list
until. in a short while, all Of the available
space will be utilized. or course at the
White House the flowers are obtained
from the conservatory there, which is large
and we'll appointed.
The money for this work comes from Con
gress and although there is no direct ap-
preparation for it enough has been obtained
from other appropriations to keep the work
from laDguishing.
The climate of Washington is not the
best that could be had to obtain the most
satisfactory results in bulb growing. Al
though the winters are usually mild there
comes a time in the spring warm enough
to open tue buds, but which is often sue
ceetied by a cold spell severe enough &c
kill them.
The residents of, and visitors to. Wash
ington are favOredin many ways by the sight
OF eminent men and noble public buildings
and by the machinery oil = iicdt hatIOn.
but nothing, however great. can surpass
the flowers in beauty or in interest, and
none can supplant them in their hold on
the affections of tic people