Evening star., 1908-01-27
A WINTER GARDEN.
To Grow One Put Hyacinths, Tu-
lips, &C.. in Window Boxes.

January is the beginning of the gar
dening season for women who want to
raise flowers. and. limited as is the scope
within which those who dwell in cottages
must work. it is still possible to dig and
watch green things grow and develop
blossoms The garden site at this time
Of the year must be sunny window.
and in place of cold frame or n forcing
bed the cellar or other dark place is sub
stituted.
In the surroundings jonquils. hyacinths.
tulips and narcissus would soon send out
sweet smelling flowers with but little
care.
For suitable soil an even temperature,
water and very little sun. after the roots
are made. are the only requirements for
blooms.
Fortunately bulbs are cheap and an
economical lover of flowers saves hers
from season to season. knowing that each
year they will repay the watchfulness.
People who have never grown any bulb
Gus spring flowers indoors do not under
stand that the secret of having many and
'big blossoms lies in developing strong
roots before conditions are right for MAX
ing top growth That is, if the bulbs are
put at once into light place they will
grow Immediately from the top up. in
stead of striking down roots into the soil.
The consequence is an abnormal top de-
velopment plenty of foliage. but few. If
any. flowers. The latter are impossible,
unless from strong. well nourished roots
that will give plenty of life.
In planning these bulbs do not use pots.
for they take up too much room. are too
deep and apt to be overturned. while a
window box of wood makes a really ex-
cellent garden bed.
To construct such box make it about
four inches deep This is what the horti-
cultursts call fiat"
Better make. several flats than large
one. for in the small kind may be planted
i succession of bulbs two weeks between
each set. so that when the first blooms
are exhausted the second relay will be
ready to bring on.
The soil needed is fairly rich. but neces-
sarily light: that is. with percentage of
sand. SO that drainage is good.
With this mixed dirt fill the fiat to
within half an inch of the top. and the
bulbs should then be planted four inches
apart either way
In planting the tulips. etc. thrust a
sharp point such as a "dibble" makes.
into the SOIL boring a hole big enough for
an ordinary bulb the top of which should
not be more than half an inch below the
surface of the dirt
When these are planted the nat should
be watered but not soaked and put into a
but where the light is neither direct nor
strong. Then the box should be moist
ened every day and at the end of three
weeks there should be little green shoots
above ground. If none shows at the end
Of this period let in more light but do not
have it strong. Gentle light and very
moderate warmth will. with tie constant
moisture. develop root growth, and until
this is strong the top should be subor-
dinated
At the end of month the box may be
brought into warmer and lighter room
but still kept from the sun In these
conditions It should remain for; a week
and then go directly into a sunny window
From then on growth should be rapid
and satisfactory. buds appearing on each
bulb The moisture should be even
never soaking wet. but never dry and
when the whole fiat is a mass of blooms
one will feel more than repaid for the
work