The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
RULES IN THE HOUSE.
Directions for Treatment That VIII
Give Abundant Bloom.
How to Grow Flowers.

How TO Grow Flowers.
In making selections of bulbs do not stint
Yourself there is always room where one
more can be tucked in" Have the pots
boxes, baskets and whatever else you are
going to plant them in, ready for the bulbs
arrival. Have a generous allowance of good
rich soil on hand. The ideal soil for bulbs
as well as nearly all plants, is mixture OF
well-rotted sod, with some well-rotted cow
manure ana some clean. sharp sand. Any
one who has yard or bit Of lot back Of the
house can have, with little labor, a heap
Of such soil always ready for use. The clip
pings from the lawn are fine addition to
1t; so are the gathered leaves from shade
trees in the autumn. compost heap Of
this sort, with an occasional layer of sods
and manure to start fermentation makes a
soil almost equal to leaf mold from the
woods
coarse gravel or bits of broken pots for
drainage; fill two-thirds full of the good
soil and put the hyacinths or tulips in, and
fill around with soil to within half an inch
of the top. The crown of the bulb should
project through the soil. Pound the pot
gently to settle the soil firmly about the
bulb. The pots are then ready to put in the
cellar and be thoroughly watered Once a
week Is enough to water while I'm the cell
lar, but it must be thorough. One real dry
ing OF the tender rootets and your bulb will
hardly get over it. I am not an admirer OF
ulbs grown in water, so will not say any
thing about them. I always think 1t pity
TO see a fine bulb used so. For while bulbs
grown in earth in the house are fine for
outdoor planting the next fall. the water
".
The bulbs should be brought from the
cellar when the leaves begin TO sprout
i'm warm place and watered literally.
do not think a window ledge is the best
place for them at first because there ara
cold draughts which chill the earth and
roots. Far better for them, when first from
the cellar Is a warm floor over the sitting
room where fire is always burning day and
night, and where the room above is warmed
also; this comes, as near giving the bottom
heat OF greenhouse as you can get OUT
side of one. Have you not seen how tho
steam pipes in greenhouses run along under
the benches of plants, thereby sending the
heat directly to the roots of the plants? Re.
verse the order of these pipes and the roots
would be cold and the tender top growth
withered. This bottom heat as 1t Is called
i'm the trade, is the secret of quick growth
both of florists plants and Of the market
gardeners early vegetables.
When the flower stems begin to push Up
we'll, take the pots to your sunny window,
and through all their life until done bloom
ing give the plants water each day until
the pots will hold no more-and 1t is amaz-
ing how hot the water used may be, If not
poured directly on the bulb or flower. l have
given water as hot as l could bear my hand
in. We give hot water 10 all our plants in
winter and they like il. AS soon as they
have finished blooming we return to the cell
lar and let them dry off until warm weather,
when we shake the bulbs free OF earth
throw them on board somewhere in the
open air until fall, when we plant them
outside, and they give us as fine blooms as
before.
This IS the treatment we give all bulbs
lof WINTER blooming, except we DO not save
me bulbs OF the crocus or narcssus fami-
lies, They are too cheap and I doubt il II
would be successful.
Two things which. once grown, viii always
be grown, are buttercup oXalis in baskets
and freesias in pots-the first for their cheer
full beauty and the latter for its exquisite
fragrance. The latter is much like the wild
crab-apple blossom. If ii had no odor It's
beauty would make IL sought for. Both OF
these flowers do well in house culture.
Since competition has brought plants so
low in price it does not pay to keep many
through the winter for the young plants Go
better anyway. Yon are spared the labor
Of caring for them. and Ii leaves you free
to give the room to bulbs Next month I
will write OF spring and summer bulbs.