Decorah-posten., 1898-10-14
Edited b, fKor G A. orrvss
Hardy Bulbs for Farmers
Wives.

irom country residents. To the SIS
tiers who enjoy the ~unspeakablt
pleasure OF beautifying their own
homes l write-plant bulbs. Have
at least one bulb bed, and ii space
and means will allow have 4 dozen
II is a deplorsble fact that coun,
try homes often lack beauty and
pleaSantness. The space is almost
always ample for the completing OF
beautiful plans, more or less clab-
crate it is usually a spirit to make
a beginning that is the missing ele-
ment.
Farmers wives are in the habit
Of depending upon ANIMALS Tor
their supply Of blossoms, and habit
is a hard thing to overcome. Not
for a moment would we think OF
advising anyone 10 omit planting
seeds. ANIMALS are a very large,
beautiful and important division OF
Towering plants, but if only aunu-
ais are cultivated the spring is a
long dreary season without a single
blossom TO aid the Frightening sun
and warm rains in making it pass
quickly and pleasantly. In a gar
den wholly without bulbs summer
is we'll upon us before many bios
SONS appear. but a bed set with
hardy bulbs wisely chosen with re-
gard to color and time OF bloom
ing, will be beautiful for weeks at
a time when each blossom is worth
almost its weight in gold.
II hardy bulbs could be planted
in the spring while they are in
bloom we would drain the market
of them but as they must be
planted in the fall our ardor cools.
other matters I'LL our minds, and
the bulbs are forgotten. This neg
lect costs us the coveted blossoms
for another year. And so. year
after year, the bulbs are not plant
ed. We mourn our loss as the
spring arrives, and forget to do our
part as fall puts in ar appearance.
II the planting OF hardy bulbs was
attended to in the fall as faithfully
as seeds are sown in the spring we
would have no occasion to envy
the owner OF those beautiful bulb
beds that we see in the cities, but
would possess as beautiful d dis
play as they, if not finer, for we
have much better conditions than
they for successful gardening.
OF course, the pleasantest part
OF planting bulbs is choosing them.
In this the catalogues will greatly
aid us, giving descriptions and
plates showing form, color, and
size, besides valuable hints on the
necessary culture. In this respec,
they are a mine OF wealth to the
would-be ou~ltivator, and one can
do no better than follow their d.
rections fully.
Unless we find ourselves the
happy possessor OF abundant
means (Which is not often the case
with farmers wives il is best to
confne ourselves mostly to stand
ard varieties, the tested and tried
sorts that we know will do we'll for
US and prove entirely satisfactory
The novelties are all right in their
place but not always in the hand.
Of an amateur Of limited means.
For several reasons our selec.
tons should be made and our or.
der sent out as early in the season
as possible - principally that we
may receive h~rst-class bulbs. The
orders are filled in the order If
which they are received; conse,
quently, if there is a choice OF bulb.
the person sending in the first or.
der receives il. II our order is sen
very late, oftentimes we must sub
nit to substitutions which are, al
though unavoidable and mostl,
our fault, very trying. Ar orde,
sent early in the season is off on,
minds and actually done, and III,
rush and hurry OF work will no
drive it from our minds; il any
thing that we especially are 70
has been omitted there is abundan
time TO send the second order ant
have the articles arrive beior
planting time has passed.
And what shall we order? W
viii choose from Hyacinths, Tul
fps, Crocus, Narcissus, Jonqui'
Scilla, Snowdrop, Lily, and t
these we will add numberless 9th
ers Of every form, size and colo
under the sun. We will revel i
brightness and beauty to on
hearts' content. or. more likely. I