Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-02
WINTER HOUSE PLANTS.
How the Fragrant Roman Hyscinth
Should He Cared For.

From the Louisville Courier Journal
In anticipation of the winter months, no
better investment can be made than in a
well-cnosen collection of winter blooming
bulbs. Reserve the heaviest, plumpest
bulbs for the house and give them a rich,
turfy loan with the usual admixture of
coarse sand to secure porosity and add body
TO the compost.
Freesias crave early planting and should
be pOtted during late August or early Sep
TENDER to have them bloom at Christmas
time. For a succession, plant at intervals
of three weeks on through October. The
flowers will be much larger and richer If
little old decayed manure he added to the
compost above. SO old that It looks like
black earth. \ level teaspoonful of sifted
wood ashes added to a heaping quart of
the aimixture Will keep it sweet and fri
able. Manure may be dispensed with if the
sol! be rich in decay cd vegetable matter,
as ola rotted leaves and straw. The free
sia fairly rCVels in a soil Of This kind. and
it pays to buy the larger sized bulbs. Al
low sin Of theu-eisht small Ones-l0 a five
iLch pot, planting them in u circle and COW
eriug them with an inch of soil.
This depth Of planting renders them self
supporting, If grown slowly and in a cool
atmosphere. When all are planted set the
pots in warm water till the moisture begins
~ @-l'" At mt sax i.'I'- INful'Nt 'ht ~tl OIL
pots outdoors in a shady place, secure from
rain. and cover the soil with an inch Of leaf
iunniSh or straw Examine from time to
time, watering them lightly if they become
dry, and as soon as the shoots begin to
snow remove the mulch and accUstUm the
plants gradually to iull sunshine. Leave
them outside until actual freezing threat
ems. ti"n transfer 10 sunny window in
irrteSS ROOM " hen well established give
warm water sufficient To satdrate the soil
every morning, pouring il into the saucer
and removing the surplus. They are SEMI
aquatic in their requirements. With these.
as Sltn the entire winter bulbs family, the
grIascst results are obtained by giving
ihen an atmosphere as cold as possible
without actually freezing, with plenty Of
sunshine, moisture and fresh air. Do not
hurry them IL 1Feesias are planted by the
dozen IN boxes, setting them two or three
In hes apart each way, they will yield a
perfect m ass Of bloom and the fragrance Is
Roman hyaclHths follow next, because of
Their delicious sweetness and early flower
ing. Buy these by the dozen ana you will
nave none too many. y good bulb of the
Roman hyacinth produces several spikes of
bloom. and when three or four are planted
In a five or siX-inch pot or a dozen or two
N a box or basket they yield a mass of
WaXen beauty ana delicate sweetness that
eaptivates the beholder at sight There are
several delicate cOIOrs buf none so ex
quisitely beautiful as the snow white. Pot
ted in late September or early October, we
may have them bloom for Christmas On
through October and November they must
be pGtted ~ intervals for a succession. CIV
ing Us their lovely waxen bells for Easter,
Provide good drainage and In filling the
pots place them with the crowns just above