The evening times., 1896-11-05
BULB PLANTING IN SEASON
They Should Be Bedded Out
Before the FrOStS Come.
SOME HINTS FOR AMATEURS
The Flowers That Bloom in the
Spring-HOw to Choose Bulbs.
Little Ones VS.. Big Ones-Every
One Can Have a Garden, if It's
Only in the Window.

| Now is the time for the fall bulb planting.
| Before the ground has been robbed or all
| its summer beauties we should set out the
! hardy bulbs which nestle under the ground
lhfUugn the long winter months, ana grow
| and thrive all the better for "a good snowy
| covering.
1he beds should be kept deeply spaded and
some well rotted manure, street sweeplngs
or LEAF mold worked into them. After mix
ing well The soil should be allowed to stand
until settled by good rain. Then any time
before freezing weather. the bulbs should be
planted fully SIN inches deep. Not with SIX
| Inches of loose dirt, but with six inches or
actual soil that will settle down into good
protection, requiring only light covering or
leaves or straw Ior the seyercst winter
weather
The hyacinths are sure TO receive the frs
consideration in planning for the bulb plant
ing. In their selectiUni it is a great mista ke
TO choose the largest bulbs:it is far better to
take the second size, but OF first quality as
regards health nd sUundness, not simply be-
cause they are cheaper. but because they
are bettcr-better because they will last
longer. When The bulbs have reached perfec-
ton. which all large bulbs have, they break
up into sjnaler bulbs after Towering, some
thing which tine smaller bulbs will not 10 for
Iiany years
NOVEL ONLY IN NAME.
For general effect, we should advise
planting what are generally termed bed
nIns nyacintns,' which simply means
sinall-sized bulbs OF standard varieties,
snch nave been III common cultivation
for The past hundred years; and in that
period but little if any improvement tas
been made III this popular flower, either
Us regards size, form or color, notwithstand-
ing there are annually brought out many
new varieties, differing in many ways,
without any real increase in beauty. They
are novel only in name.
There are three other classes OF bulbs
on which we most depend for garden
decoration; these are the tulip, the mar
Cis-us and the crocuS: Il nd for more varied
collections we have the snowdrOp, scilia.
Crown imperial, etc What is true Of the
hyacinth is equally true OF these ether
DIips in regard 10 the age of the standard
varieties The very best tulips of t,flay
We're cultivated over one hundred years
ago. What was first-class then is held
ia The highest esteem now. Mixed tulips
OF various classes are now vert cheap, ana
are effective for garden decoration. or for
The window garden. Where large quanti-
ties are wanted for masSing, a. FOR ribbon
gardening, II is better To buy named
varieties, in order to secure harmony OF
color in their ARA ngement.
The tulip IL a very profitable as well as Il
satisfactory bulb to grow, as in suitable
soils, wei enriched, they increase rapidly
rather than deteriOrate as Is the case with
the hyacinth.
The crocus ana narCiSsus are also Constant
and do not require much attention for many
years after pla utins. In fact, the narCissus
should not be disturbed after planting 50
long a II tcuntinueS u bloom well. We know
Of beds that have been planted for twenty
years and longer. which continue To- improve
annually. The CrOCus planted on the l;iwnin
the grass INA kes cheerful appearance, -
the sprung, without in the least injuring the
grass of marring Its beauty.
ACTIVEIN GROWTH.
The class of bulbs under consideration pos
sess one important characteristic which is
nearly universal among bulbs namely, that
during the winter and spriuguhey y areaCtiye
III growth, and during the summer and
autumn they are in dormant condition.
These bulbs are usually considered hardy
from the fac thatthey are ablcto sta nd con-
siderable freezing without apparent injury;
while such j. the case they should all be So
protected, especially during the
first winter, by liberal mulChing of the
leaves or coarse litter, that frost cannot
enter the sTOunG.
In Holland, the home Of the bulb, they are
protectedby hatch of reeds 50 thoroughly
Ll4dl the lIiiSl never IttNlttS tItffi. MS
allows the bulhS L. make their growth at
the appointed time. which they cannot do
II the ground is hard frozen; in fact, If
frozen at all
me best plan with hyacinihs and tulips
Is To- plant In beds to the depth OF inches,
andCnvcr the beds with newly fallen leaves;
the best because the most natural pruteC-
ton There they can remain undiSt urbed
for number or years, and as soon as the
flowers have faded each spring a little
wellrotted manure may be worked in over
the >urfacr of tie beGS, and some favor
ltcannualS Sown for summer blooming. Pc
tunlaS, sweet alvSSum, etc, Will soon cover
up the dying forms OF the hyaCinth and
the tulip, and make d desirable mulch
during the summer for the butts without
which the soil will become too hot and dry
for their well-being. This is better plan
thanthe usual practice of lifting & nd storing
the bulbs each summer.
After the beds are Thoroughly spaded
and feriilized there should be little
coarse sand in readiness when the bulbs
are planted. After making a hole in the
soil about inches deep, place little
sand in the bottom and surround the bulb
with 1t before pressing the other soil
firmly about it.
The crOcus, the snowdrop and the scilla
Siberica Will be the first to send up their
Aussoins in the early spring and though
small and insignificant in appearance these
small bulbs hold great possibilities for early
beauty Crocuses make u beautiful border
for any bed. and particularly so for bed OF
hyacinths and tulips. For this purpose they
should be planted not morct than three inches
apart in the rows. and three rows for 4 bor-
der. White for the center. yellow for the
outer and striped or purple for the iuncr row
VIII give beautiful effect.
few croCus bulbs should he planted in
some warm, coZy corner near the hnuse
where, II out Of the reach Of cGi,l winds,
they viii ceme into flower early in March:
and, even If winter makes several visits
after that. the crocus will seem to soften
its chill, and SO with the snowdrops. which
usually flo wer about the same time. or some
times little earlier.
With these two should be planted a few
bulbs of scila siberica, which flowers quite
as early as the others, and its beautiful in
tense blue flowers contrast richly with the
crocus and the snowdrop.
FLOWERS QUITE EARLY.
The narcissus will soon form stately