Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-30

" HE easiest, cheapest and most sat
isfactory method of obtaining
flowers during the season of frost
and snow is to grow them from bulbs.
The all-important point in connection
with this is to get the greatest possible
root development before the tops start
into growth. and the more time bulbs are
given to develop their roots the larger and
better will be the flowers, although all the
skill in the world will not add to their
total number, which was settled when the
bulb ripened.. For this reason the best
bulbs always produce the best flowers.
Pot culture produces the most satisfac-
tory results, and the soil used for the
purpose should be composed of two parts
good .loam, one part sand and one part
.eaf mold. with the addition of pure bone
meal, one part to fifty of soil. Five
smaller size, as they do not dry out so
quickly, and can. be kept at more even
temperature. This size Will take only one
of the hyacinths known as firsts. What
are. known as bulb pans are really, better
than pots, as their extra width enables
a larger number of bulbs to be planted
together, and the best sizes to use are
those Of six or eight inches in diameter,
the latter size being used for the largest
bulbs. A six-inch pan will take three of
the first hyaeinths, FIVE Of seconds, six
Roman hyacinths. four narcissus, six
tulips, seven crocuses, nine freesia, ten
oxalis and eight ixia.
4*
Place broken crockery or charcoal at
the bottom of the pot or pan and shake
the soil down. plant the bulb deep
enough SO that its top will not show.
but do not press 1t into the soil. as this
packs the soil directly under the bulb.
causing the root growth to force the
bulb out of the soil. AS mentioned
above, good root growth is important,
and after pOtting the bulbs the pots
must be placed where the roots will
grow and not the tops, and for this
purpose there is nothing better than a
trench in the ground deep enough to
cover the pots with foot of soil. Fail
ing ground in which TO make trench,
they can be placed against the house
wall, or in an clubhouse. and covered
with ashes. In either positiony they can
be allowed to remain until Christmas. A
cellar may be used for the purpose il it
has no heating apparatus or II it is
enough away from the furnace that the
heat will not reach them. In this case,
too they must be well covered with soil
ashes.
Ii should be mentioned that after pot
ting the soil should be thoroughly moist
ened. and no further watering will be re-
quired until the pots are ready TO be
brought into the light. Pots are generally
brought into the light few at a time, SO
as 10 have a succession of flowers. al
though where several different species
are pOtted at the same time there will be
a natural succession OH account OF some
t,,king longer time to develop than 9TH
ers. For instance, the paper white. mar
cissus are the earliest to flower, as they
make sufficient root growth in fourteen
days. while hyanc.nths take about a
month and tulips six weeks.
In bringing the bulbs in for Towering
place them in the coolest room first, and
gradually bring them INFO the Warmes.
with a sunny window
Like other rules. that of getting the