The sun., 1909-02-28

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 sewing table keep at my
elbow
An erterprising old lady in Iowa makes
her pin money by raising bulbs in coooanut
fibre for a neighboring florist, After the
death Of her husband she turned over the
old home to her youngest dau ghter, the
last child to marry, with whom she lives.
II have always been fond Of 'pottering
with flowers she explained when asked
about her work. That l suppose is the
reason | adopted that method OF earning
money.
After | turned things over to my
daughter reali zed for the first time that
idleness did not mean happiness. Little by
little began to take charge Of the house
plants 1t seemed to be nobody business,
80 didn't feel that was interfering.
1t was not that had any particular
secret about the way | handled the plants
so much as that gave them regular care.
They were always mass OF blooms and
people in that part Of town used always
to stop when. passing to admire our
windows.
Il read about using fibre for Towering
bulbs, and determined to give 1t a trial.
a florist in our neighborhood came to
ask me how i managed them. In reply
told him that ] would supply him with
bulbs either in blossom or Just ready to
bloom. After little dickerfng we agreed
on the price, and set to work.
There is really no art about il. II 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 me to
handle.
Il first put it into pail Of water. then
take it out, squeezing as much Of the
water out as / can without max ing too
great an effort. fill the vessel until
when the bulbs are placed on the fibre
their tops are an inch below the rim.
then cover them with half inch OF fibre
While tho fibre should not be pack ed
down too hard II should be firm enough
to hold the bulbs in place.
The next step u 70 put them in a COOL
dark, airy room for their period Of root
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: aou.u,u ,,,,,.
grown in fibre. The lily OF the valley has
the popularity OF needing to be frozen
after it is potted and after that the bulbs
must be kept in a cool room so that they
will thaw gradually.
Il usually make about forty dollars a
season on my bulbs. and while this may
not seem large amount il keeps me in
pocket money for twelve months and
sometimes have few dollars left over.
If the money were my only gain it would
hardly be worth while. but as said be-
fore am very fond OF flowers. and work.
ing with them now that have no husband
and children 10 look out for Is source OF
great pleasure to me-
In city in South Carolina where a few
dollars goes a long way dear old lady In
her eighties earns her Easter money sell
ing recipe books of her own make. They
are small blank books covered with bright
colored silks and each contains her own
chosen recipes.
Il made SIS last year. she announced
proudly. 1T seems wonderful that
people will buy such trihes when one con-