The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-19

Florists catalogues are seductive read
ing, especially those which are brought
out In the fall telling what one can do
with bulbs IL Is charming TO read Of the
wealth OF flowers that one can have TO
brighten living rooms while outside nll
Nature IL still locked fast by Winters
cold. Easy to force" is the legend that
accompanies numerous varieties as a cul-
tural note, and sometimes the still more
attractive statement appears. zine for
home culture" The best OF II is that IL
is all true. There are many bulbs that IL
ls easy TO grow In the house and bring
10 flower while outside the snow may stu
be flying And yet amateurs who make
the attempt are more likely than not 10
reap disappointment instead OF pleasure.
What makes the growing Of bulbs easy.
is the fact that both flower and leaf are
there already, coiled up In snug bundle.
surrounded with n stock OF nourishmcnt,
so that about all they need TO develop Is
tufflcient warmth aud water. A stock
Illustration In florists catalogues is a SEC
,loDal dlagSam showing the flower tucked
within the Tayers OF plant tissue forming
the bulb. ready 10 pop ont when duly In
yited. Just as the round buds OF the horse
chestnut tree throw out n bunch OF leaves
when the warmth OF the Spring unseals
the envelope that has enclosed them. All
quite true, but the conditions while sim-
pie are exactlng and unless they are com
piled with, failure will result.
Amateurs who undertake to grow bulbs
should note that one great disadvantage
under which they labor as compared with
ho tof u II, tho .&f
light. II Is rare that n dwelling house or
apartment can furnish any place whore
the amount Of light will even approx.
mate that which comes In steady supply
through the glass roof Of the Florists
greenhouse. But the general rule Is that
while you can get plant growth without
much sunlight you can rarely get flow
ers. So the curtains and window draper
les. which are the usual appurtenance OF
living room arrangements, make against
satisfactory results In growing bulbs for
winter blooming Another disadvantage
from which the house grower usually suf-
fers Is that the ai- Is too dry. With ex-
ceptions not worth considering from the
standpoint OF the ordinary amateur, oil
plants require n moist atmosphere. Lack
OF that Is the usual cause of the afflicted
condition which palms. ferns. and even
the tolerant rubber plant soon display
after they have been moved In doors for
the season. ! kept a rubber plant Ia
splendid condition all last winter. 30 that
when IL was brought out for service es
n porch ornament In the spring. II was In
finer condition than when II went into
winter quarters. The secret OF X was
that had been able 10 hnd n place for IL
In a well lighted hath room where the
air was always moist. The great cause
of mortality among house plants Is dry
air. which makes them slckly, and thea
casual exposure 10 a draft % cold air In
s.c,'gsag ana ai,snE In, rosa ae1siA!stsgr
the final stroke. Such Is the usual fate
of house palms.
But even under ordinary house condl-
tions. without any special appliances for
the purpose. n IL quite possible for the
amateur 20 have winter blooms from
bulbs. by going about the matter IN the
right way and limiting efforts 20 certsin
bulbs that are psrticulsrly accommodate.