Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-06
should be planted a little deeper and

gle varieties force readily, and nave De-
come great favorites n the house IN
midwinter If potted in September
and treated as directed for hyacinths,
they may be lad in bloom in Decem-
Der. When they show tendency to
bloom lust above tn, bulbs they must
be kept longer in the dark to draw Out
the flower stems "A splendid effect is
obtained by planting from three to
dozen bulos in medium sized pot.
The single early varieties COM
mence Towering two weeks in advance
OF other sorts Of tulips, and are admir-
ably adapted to culture in pots, borders
or beds. The varieties OF Due van
Thol are perhaps more generally
known, but the other kinds are fully
as beautiful, and, when known, will be
equally esteemed.
Narcissus Thrive in Any Soil.
! Narcissus, when once established, do
not need to be reset for several years,
and will thrive II. almost any soil.
They are not only desirable for the
lawn, but equally SO for the house.
One to four bulbs set in a five-inch pot
will be sure to give flowers, even IN
| the smoky atmosphere OF the city,
where tier beautiful colors and deli
cat, fragrance are doubly welcomed.
/ The polyanthus varieties need some
protection through winter in the north,
but will do well without it in the south.
They are exceedingly valuable for flow
erlng in pots in the house. The paper
white grandiflora may be made to come
into bloom in December, and this, with
other varieties of narcissus, will give
a continuous succession Of profuse
bloom until spring. They thrive best
in acool temperature.
/ Pot at this season Of the year IN
good turfy loan, but let no manure,
rotted or otherwise, touch the bulbs
Set in cool, dark room and keep mod
erately moist for one or two months
SO that they may root; then remove to
the window OF conservatory for flower
ing. Do not cultivate too strongly, as
an extra vigor of growth is detr1men
tai to the purity Of the color of the
flower
Lilies Of the Valley are especially
adapted to wild g>srdeninng, but wher
ever planted are most charming II
large patches Any secluded snot Ii
, jrst the place for these sweet, modes
T flowers. A succession of blooms ma!
| spots, and others where they will re
t ceive two hours to a half day of sun
3 light. The more shaded the later the.
. are blooming. They are late in ri
pening and are not in the market I'm
Y til November, when they should b.
B planted. or, If planted in the spring
;. it should not be later than April
Z They should be planted three inche
q deep, the soil should be rich, soft an,
moist, and wherever planted they
t should not be disturbed for severa
years. When the plants crowd badly
s and the flowers are small, they shout
It be thinned out
It Plant Lilies Now.
=! Lilies should be planted in October
u This is as early as bulbs can be 81
!. cured.
: Dahlias. cannas, gladic'ns and CALI
l. diums should be dug, dried and store
, before the end Of October.
>, In Holland, from where most of tn
= bulbs are imported, 1t is very con
:. mon sight to see 500-acre farms d,
- voted exclusively to the propagate
y and raising of bulbs. Few people rea
- 1ze the immense industry bulb-growin
y Is in Holland. The same care is take
= OF large acreage as would be taken
- a small garden bed in our grand-morl
ars back yard.
y. None but the choicest level tracts
"a ground are devoted to bulbs, throus
y, which run canals, the bulbs at harve
a time being carried away on boats
"a order that they will not be damaged !,
~ becoming bruised while being handle
-. during the blooming season. The flo,
er gardens of beautiful California al
no comparison to the tints and hues
typical Holland bulb field.
III 1t IS very often the case that a gro,
=, er originates as high as fifty differel
~ varieties before he will have a flow
~ ~ suitable Tor market, after which it W
II require about four or five years mo
re before he will have a supply to off
en- TO the bulb trade. In fact, 1T often ,
OF qulres ten to fifteen years hybridiz
De ton before variety has suffice
ne merit to warrant its success, hence Of
TO can readily realize why new strain
IN variety demands a higher price tn;
'b- the main standard Sorts In fact eve
all grower is not competent to produce
at new offering.
~ Packing of Bulbs Interesting.
M The packing of bulbs in Holland
Nv very interesting. Each paclking-hou
~ has many different departments a
No. only one variety is packed in each
~ partment. The bulbs are packed
10 heavy paper and cloth bags containi
fifty and sometimes 100 bulbs. Betwe
ne each layer is packed chaff in order
y. ~ protect the skins; they are then pa,
on ed in large bonded crates or boxes a
~. stored away for shipment. All bul
rus for America are exported to New Yo
re. Chicago, ST. Louis and San Francis
ng In fact, ST. Louis is the largest sh
ne ping center.
Ut The custom-house inspecti
DIS through whose hands the bulbs +,
me shipped in bond, give each shipmen
ter very rigid inspection Should sh
an ment Of large main varieties be bill
'ol, as small size the government off1c
ing Immediately seize them and deman,