New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
FOR THE WINTER GARDEN.
Lovers Of Plants WI Soon Make
Ready for Cold Heather Blossoms.

For the lover of winter gardens the time OF bulb
planting will be here. and there arises the
fresh question of what to buy. To the anna
teur the catalogues present such a gorgeous array
of enticing things each one guaranteed better than
the other. that decision is matter of difficulty
Experience alone can bring the prompt Judgment
of the old bulb grower, but little advice may be
timely.
First. perhaps, in point OF popularity. come the
hyacinths. The single Dutch varieties La Gran
desse. Norma. Refine des Iacnthus may be de-
pended upon to yield magnificent spikes OF bloom
Then there the Narcissi OF these the best
are the Empress, with its grand white trumpet
and yellow perianth: the Horshedi. with yellow
trumpet white peranth and exquisite fragrance
and the Sir Watkin, the largest daffodil grown
Its immense long stemmed blossoms. often four
five inches across, show the tones of lemon
yellow and tinted orange A few bulbs Of these
should be included / every winter garden For
use cut flowers they have few equals
Requiring treatment somewhat similar to the
Narcissi are the anemones, hOwerssnot nearly so
well known they should be. They come in
various shades and combinations, but the loveuest
are the pure whites blues and scarlets. Anemones
should be planted early. bulb being allowed
to each four-inch pot. An inch OF broken
crockery, charcoal pebbles should be placed in
the bottom of each for drainage. a soil COM
posed of rich garden loan and old, we'll rotted
manure in equal parts. with trowelfu or two Of
SCOT and ashes to dozen pots. insures brilliancy
of flower and foliage. The extreme point Of a
hyacnth narcissus bulb may be allowed to ap-
pear the surface of the earth. but anemones
should be covered about inch. Each pot should
be plainly marked with date and contents watered
moderately and kept IN a dark place, but care
should be taken that rats and mice do not nibble
these succulent seeds during the alternating
period.
In something like six weeks these may be re-
perature of about 70 degrees. Water freely so
that the saucer is never airy This is especially
important with anemones, as even a temporary
failure in the supply of moisture is almost to
plenty Of fresh air but be shielded from draugHts
as these often prove fatal to flower stalks. port
bulbs and any sudden inroad of air is valuable
Will greatly proiong the bIossoming time OF most
succession of flower buds they do best in continu-
If more rapidly grown plant be desired, as all
after planting I'd reach the height of their bios
soming glory. nothing better than the Chinese
sacred lily can be found. These require but two
three weeks time after planting and less care
stand in the bottom Of a bowl or glass dish.
As the necessary hourishment Is contained in the
there is no danger OF crowding. Cover these with
%hoe with 9R0W Wae Chnese cs do not require
high temperatqre much TiII q h9eg results being Sc
being done in instances where thin coating Of
ever quantities Of light their white and golden
blossoms seeming fairy 10 dt ,l Up the suns
"A house without plants says Charles skinner,
is little better than home Without s child n{ "a
able TO afford paintings. her porcelains may sug-
gest bargain counters, and her rugs have been
made in Philadelphia, her walls may even hold a
vorsted motto but with blooming plant in the
window a long fronded fern in the hallway. the
simplest domcile Is rescued from utter forlorn-
ness
Unless one goes in for orchids and new strains
Of hvsanthernums. the expense OF starting and
maintaining numerous slips; which should be done
about this time, IS very slight The dull red Of the
common eartherware pot is a comfortable tone in
itself and complement 10 the verdure OF the ordi
nary pIant For Dubs where the green subordi-
nate the brilliant reds and puppies OF the bios
SONS do not harmoniZe well with these. The
lack OF variety in size and shape is the chief draw
Jack to this humble ware for general use. 1t is
wonder that potters do not provide more variety
In this respect There are plants with long parsnip
shaped roots that really ought 10 have almost
cylindrical pot and others with thready. fanlike
roots that need but shallow earth under the pres
ent limited circumstances. But all must go into