The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07

aDleS. They ptdHll6u iOI ilC u 9NiA eAAS'AA at the Womans Exchange, but had ideas of my own.
 T visited several shops where such things were sold and after some little persuasion succeeded in getting one of the men to say he would give my work trial. He would put it on sale at my risk and If it sold well I could make more. If nobody wanted the comforta- bles I wasn't to blame him If they were returned slightly soiled.
 "They didn't sell, and I did get tn em back more than slightly soiled. In the meantime, however, I had made two more and put them at a higher class shop. They were sold at fair price and made such a good impression that I was advised to make dozen In time for the winter season.
 From that beginning I now have as much as I care to do. It not only all lows my daughter to save more of her earnings and gives me feeling of in dependence. but it keeps me busy and that makes me happy. The work is simple and easy. Every stitch Is done with my hands and upon the little sew ing table I keep at my elbow"
 An contemplating old lady in Iowa makes her pin money by raising bulbs in cocoanut fibre for neighboring florist. After the death of her husband she turned over the old home to her youngest daughter, the last child to marry, with whom she lives
 q have always been fond of potter ing with flowers she explained when asked about her work. That I suppose is the reason I adopted that method of earning money.
 After I turned things over to my daughter I realized for the first time that idleness did not mean happiness. Little by little I began to take charge of the house plants. It seemed to De nobody's business, so I didn't feel that l was interfering.
 Tt was not that I had any particu- lar secret about the way Iahandled the plants so much as that l gave them regular care. They were always a mass of blooms. and people in that part of town used always to stop when passing to admire our windows
 q read about using fibre for Towering bulbs. and determined to give 1t trial. The bulbs blossomed so beautifully that florist in our neighborhood came to ask me how I managed them In reply I told him that I would supply him with bulbs either in blossom or just ready to bloom. After a little dickering we agreed on the price, and l set to work.
 "T here is really no art about 1t. It is even simpler than growing bulbs In stones and water. Fibre is to be had in both the natural state and ground. prefer the latter because it is easier for ane to handle.
 .sI first put it into pail of water, then take it out, squeezing as much of the water out as I can without making too great an effort. I All the vessel until when tine bulbs are placed on the fibre their tops are an inch below the rim. l then cover them with a half inch of fibre. While the fibre should not be packed down too hard it should be firm enough to hold the bulbs in place.
 "The next step is to put them in cool, dark, airy room for their period of root making. It is important to have this place airy as well as dark. Bulbs can stand light much better than stuffiness. Water should not be given until the bulbs show signs of growth, then you must be careful not to allow the fibre to become dry
 All the winter towering bulbs may be grown ill fibre. The lily of the valley has the peculiarity of needing to be frozen after it is potted and after that the bulbs