Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-10-08
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 all
Nature Is still locked fast by Winters
cold. Easy TO force Is the legend that
accompanies numerous varieties as eu!-
tural note. and sometimes the still more
attractive statement appears. fine for
home culture" The best OF IL Is that II
is all true There are many bulbs that II
Is easy to grow in the house and hrin-
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 a Sc"
tional diagram showing the flower tucked
within the layers OF plant tissue forming
the bulb. ready to pop out when duly IN
NltsA. guel lut DutS OF Tue uOt>c-
chestnut tree throw ont a bunch Of leaves
when the warmth Of the Spring unseNis
the envelope that has ENCLOSED them. All
quite true, but the conditions while sim
PIE are exacting anS unless thcy are com
piled with. failure will result
Amateurs who undertake to grow hGibS
should note that one great disadvaRtaca
under which they labor rs compared with
the professional florist Is IN the matter %
light. II Is rare that n dwelling house or
apartment can furnish any place where
the amount Of Light will even approx
mate that which comes TN steady supply
through the glass roof of the Florists
greenhouse. Bat the general rule is that
while you can get plant growth without
much sunlight you can rarely get flow
ers. So the curtains ard window drnp9r-
les. which are the usual appurtensnce Of
Hving 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 Gi- is to- 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 % 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 thar
when it WINS bronsht out for service "a
u poich ornament In the spring. IL was IN
finer condition than when II went into
winter quarters. The secret OF II was
that | had beeu abe 70 fEd place for II
in u we'll nghte6 ba III room where the
air was always moist The great cause
OF mortality among house plants Is dry
air, which makes them siesly. and tbesB
casual exposure TO n draft OF cold air IN
sweeping and airing the room administers
the final stroke. Such is the usual fate
" house palms.
But even under ordinary house rondi-
tons. without any special appliances for
the purpose. II Ia quite possible for the
amateur 10 have winter blooms from
bulbs. by going about the matter In the
right way and limiting efforts TO certain
bulbs that are particularly accommodate