Morris tribune., 1899-09-09
TULIPS IN THE WINDOW GARDEN.
Brilliant Blooms Which Can be Had IL
Quantity In Mid-Winter.

Taking into account it's brilliance OF
bloom. perfect shape, ease OF culture
when once understood, and the moderate
ccst OF the bulb, the tulip should be more
largely grown for winter flowers. both as
a decorative plant and for cutting. In
addition to the qualities mentioned, there
is one other that will commend itself to
most flower lovers. Many Of the bulbs
usually employed for forcing have such
a marked perfume that when grown In
too large number this really detracts
from their presence in the home. This
drawback can be usually overcome by
only bringing on a few pots at a time,
when the fragrance will prove delight
rather than a disagreeable feature; but
with the tulip, the perfume of which is
very delicate where it exists at all. we
are not compelled to take this point into
consideration in the least, and can fil o1E
windows full of them If we please. There
is no flower that will give quite the
warmth to the window garden that the
tulip will, or afford greater variety OF
distinct colors and interesting markings
It is perhaps true that great many
amateurs have found difficulty in grow
ing the tulip as a house plant and
ceIlent success with it until an incident
revealed to me the right course of Gull
ture Usually The bulbs when brought
to the light would throw up such large
flower buds that they seemed incapable
of opening perfectly, and at the same
time there would be an almost entire alb
sence of foliage, without which the chief
beauty Of tie plant would be lost
few seasons since a lot of bulbs were left
over from the usual planning time in
September, and it was in December be-
fore they were placed in pots. They
made root growth very quickly when
placed in a dark cellar and at the same
time threw out an abundance of foliage,
and when brought 70 the light doomed
magnificently there being an equipoise
of flower and foliage that met my ideal
of what the plant should be at its best.
Since then repeated experiments have
confirmed the impression that the trouble
experienced by most growers has result
ed from too early planting. l should say
that October Is is sufficiently early to
pot up the first batch of bulbs, and for
succession / would continue pott.ng ev-
cry two weeks until the end of the year.
The bulbs should be kept in cool place
meantime, and not allowed to be injured
either by drying out or decaying from
dampness.
= Three bulbs of one variety should al
ways be grown in a five-inch pot, but five
or more can be safely placed in larger
nots. The same SOL used for hyaclnthS
and other bulbs will answer for tulips,
and i'm nearly every particular the direc-
ti6ns for growing the former Will an
sNer for the latter. Keep the bulbs quite
Use together in the centre of the pot, as
" look best grown in this way, and
sy can be entirely covered with soil.
( bulbs are quite apt to lift out when
the roots start in the dark, and to avoid
this cover the pots with some soil or coal
ashes. although if the work of potting is
carefully done this will not usually oc-
cur. After a top growth of four or five
inches has taken place, the pots are
ready to be brought to the light, and
then will require only ordinary attention
to bring them along. The green aphls
will sometimes develop on the foliage
and should be washed off if once discov-
cred
All Of the single and double early tulips
will do well in pots, but the former are
to be preferred. Among these some OF
the best are KeiZerkroon, crimson, band
ed yellow; the three Pottebakkers, scar
let, white and yellow; Chrysolera, large
yellow; Cottage Maid, rosy pink, edged
white; Belle Alliance, scarlet; Rose girls
de lin, delicate rose, shaded white; Won
Werman, large, dark clarets Standard
Royal Silver, white, feathered rosy GRIM
son. etc Of the double sorts. Imperaror
Ruororum, dazzling scarlet; La Can
ieur, pure white; Tournesol Yellow, gold
ell yellow, and Mur.lIO, blush white,
shaded rose, are among the very best
The striped-leafed tulips. the foliage Of
which is banded with silver and gold,
are distinctly beautiful for pot culture,
and are a fine ornament whether in
bloom or not. OF these. the best are Pur-
pie Crown, purple maroon; Lac van
Rhyn, pale rose violet Rex Rubrorum.
crimson, and La Candeur pure white. If
4 lot of flowers are wanted for cutting,
the mixed early single and double sorts
can be grown in boxes of earth, planted
IN inch under the surface Of the soil, and
placed in the dark until a good growth Of
foliage has resulted, when the box can
be placed in the window until all have
L. r. BENEDICT