Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-13
Bulbs for Winter Blooming.
BY BEATRICE CAREY.

Florists catalogues are seductive read
Ing especially those which are brought
out in the fall telling what one can do
with bulbs. 1t is charming to read of the
wealth of flowers that one can have to
brighten living rooms while outside nll
Nature Is still locked fast by Winters s
cold Easy to force" Is the legend that
accompanies numerous varieties as a cul-
tural note, and sometimes the still more
attractive statement appears, fine for
home culture" The best Of 1t Is that 1t
is all true. There are many bulbs that 1t
is easy to grow in the house and bring
to flower while outside the snow may still
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 a snug bundle,
surrounded with a stock of nourishment,
so that about all they need to develop is
sufficient warmth and water. stock
illustration in florists catalogues is ser
tional diagram showing the flower tucked
within the layers of plant tissue forming
the bulb, ready to pop out when duly In
vited, just as the round buds of the horse
chestnut tree throw out 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 exacting 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
the professional florist is in the matter Of
light. 1t is rare that dwelling house or
apartment can furnish any place where
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 how-
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 air is too dry. With ex-
ceptions not worth considering from the
standpoint of the ordinary amateur. all
plants require 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 rubber plant in
splendid condition all last winter, SO that
when 1t was brought out for service es
a porch ornament In the spring, 1t was In
finer condition than when 1t went into
winter quarters. The secret of 1t was
that had been able to and place for 1t
in a well lighted bath room where the
air was always moist. The great cause
of mortality among house plants Is dry
air, which makes them sickly, and then
casual exposure to- a draft of cold air in
sweeping and airing the room administers
the final stroke. Such is the usual fate
of house palms.
But even under ordinary house condi-
tions. without any special appliances for
the purpose, 1t is quite possible for the,
amateur to have winter blooms from
bulbs by going about the matter in the
right way and limiting efforts to certain
bulbs that are particularly accommodate