The Greeley tribune., 1911-10-12

value to them than anything else
they might learn-AIrs. L. NJ. q.
BULB PLANTING
THE impression prevails to
great extent that it does not matter
when bulbs are planted, provided
they go into the ground before win
ter sets in. | have known persons
to plant them after the ground had
frozen so hard that they were obllg-
ed to break the crust. OF course
their bulbs failed to bloom when
spring came, and l suppose the
dealer from whom they were pur-
chased was held responsible for
sending out what was thought to be
worthless stock No dealers stock
could be expected to succeed under
such conditions. The fact is no one
ought to expect to have fine flowers
from bulbs the first season unless
they are planted intelligently. All
our early Towering bulbs complete
one stage of their annual growth
early in the season-immediatel
after Towering. Then they ripen
off and remain dormant until fall,
when a new growth of roots is made
by which they are to be nourished
next spring at the time of the
Towering period. If We keep our
bulbs out o. the ground until No
vember the full development OF
these important roots cannot take
place before the ground freezes, and
the result is that late-planted ones
have double task to perform when
spring comes. They try to carry
forward at the same time the COM
pletion of the roots that they set
out to form in the fall and the pro-
duction of the flowers that depend
upon these roots for development.
This explains the failures of those
who practice late planting. Their
and produce flowers simultaneously, |
and, as they must choose between
the two. the plants generally turn
of the roots, considering them as of
more importance than blossoms.
Now If We procure, early in the
tall, bulbs whose first period or
phase of growth was completed after !
Towering. and put them into the
ground Immediately, they almost at
once set about the production of
roots which will be fully developed
before cold weather sets in. Winter
will find them ready to begin the
work of spring as soon as the frost
is out of the ground, and then all
their energies can be concentrated
on the production of flowers. The
great secret OF success with bulbs Is
early planting.
l should advice sending in your
order as soon as possible after the
fall catalogs of the dealers are re-
ceived. II you unwrap the bulbs
and leave them exposed to light and
air hey will part rapidly with the
moisture stored up in their scales. |
which is to the bulb what blood is
to the person. If you are not able
to plant them as soon as they come
to hand store them away in q cool,
dark place until you can give them |
attention. Keep them wrapped in
thicl- paper.
In order to plant promptly you
must have the ground ready for
them before they arrive. Spade up
the place in which you propose %
plant them to the depth of at least
foot-a foot and a half would be
better-and work it over and over
until it is as mellow as it Is possible
to make it. II it is heavy soil add
emo gh sand to tighten it, and also a
liberal quantity of fertilizer. The
ideal food ior all kinds of bulbs is
COW manure, 30 old it is black and
friable. 1t will be safe to use it in
the proportion of third to the bulk
OF soil. If you cannot obtain COW
manure, substitute finely ground
bonemeal in the proportion of a,
pint to each square yard of soil sur
face.
A consultation of the catalogs of
the dealers will tell you all you need
to know about the depth to plant
and the distance apart. 1t will also
give you Information as to the sea-
Is OF Towering, and the colors of
the various bulbs, things that are
quite necessary to know in order to
make fitting selection. Though
all the colors of our spring-flower-
ing bulbs are beautiful, some may
not appeal to us. Any one fond of
particular colors must make selec-
tions accordingly in order to get the
greatest pleasure from his bulb
beds. 1t will be necessary, there
fore. to order named varieties. If
We get the ordinary collection we
shall have a mixture of all colors.
which though beautiful individually.
are often anything but harmonious
when seen together. Double and
single tulips ought never to be
be planted in the same bed They
may harmonic in color, but they do
not in habit.
| l should not advise planting any
bulbs with view to elaborate ef-
fects in order to work out fancy de-
signs or patterns. the flower itself
should be tfe important thing, not
the shape of the bed in which it is
planted or the form In which the
different colors are arranged. |
should always advise covering the
bulb bed with litter from the barn
yard, hay, straw or leaves Let this
covering be six to eight inches deep.
Put 1t on when the ground begins to
freeze. Be sure it is in place before
i khIc fx<arrk Il