West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-11-26

Not only are tulips and other bulbous
plants attractive around the lawn in
early spring. bit they are also most
satisfactory for indoor culture during the
winter. They should be used in separate
pots rather than i'm window boxes. Hol-
land bulbs. such as the narcissus. tulip.
and byacinth. are practically the only
plants that will flower satisfactorily i'm
the house with ordinary care. About the
only plant giving similar satisfaction is
the begonia. according TO the depart
menrs specialist, who has experimental
with many varieties.
The essentials for growing bulbs indoors
are that they shall become thoroughly
rooted before the tops are permitted TO
grow. This is done by planting the
bulbs in soil either ia pots or what
Tourists know as pans" which are
shallow porcelain pots, or i'm boxes.
These bulbs are then pat i'm cool place
In the dark for a period of two 10 six or
eight weeks, or even longer il desired.
They should be left there until the roots
are well started. The bulbs should then
be brought into slightly warmer place.
with some light, for three or four days,
and then gradually brought into greater
warmth and full light. Duridg al. the
period OF growth the ground should be
kept moist without being water-soaked.
Occasionally the roots should be ex-
amined TO sec whether or not the plant
requires reporting. This is done by
holding the hands over the top OF the pot,
inverting plant and all, tapping the edge
OF the pot so as to loosen 1t, then lifting
the pot off This can not be done unless
the soil is moderately moist II the ball
OF eartE is completely covered with roots
the plant should be put in a slightly
larger pot with new potting soil firmed
about the old ball of earth by firming
with the fingers, and then wetted thor
oughly.
Those who do not have gardens would
do well to get potting soil of the nearest
florist. II it is desired Ia prepare it, one
part compost, one part good loan, and
part sand should be used The compost
should be cow manure AMI good turf
rotted together for year and turn two
or three times in the interim. Well-de-
composed leaf mold would answer az
partial substitute for the compost. One
twentieth part bone meal is good adj
dition TO the mixture. If the loan is
very heavy, containing much clay, it,
proportion should be somewhat diminish
ed. II the loan is light and sandy, re-
duce the amount OF sand or, in some
localities, omit it altogether.
Narcissus take about five weeks To
develop from the time they are brought
into full light. Hyacinths take a longer
time, and tulips about the same time a.
hyacinths. The Roman hyacinths come
in little less time, while the paper white
narcissus only takes about four weeks
IL is hard to hold the paper. white mar
cissus for late winter. The hyacinths
and tulips are hard to bring into bloom
before February. The various forms of
the yellow narcissus can be brought into
bloom from December until the time for
outdoor blooms by starting the bulbs
early in the fall and bringing them into
the light at intervals of week or ten
days. For the earliest bloom it is desr-
able to get the bulbs started in October,
and all OF the bulbs should be planted
before the middle of November.
Tulips require special care and atten-
ton. 1t is best to place the pots or pans
in box and cover the whole pot with
at least two inches additional soil or ashes
and leave them there until the bud has
pushed clear above the pot; otherwise
the bloom will be strangled i'm attempting
to get out of the bulbs.
Instead of placing in the cellar, these
pots and boxes may be buried in the
open ground, the pots being covered
with four inches OF soil. In localities
where the ground customarily freezes
hard heavy coating of manure should
be added as soon as the first crust freezes
over the bulbs. This LAYER of manure
will prevent their freezing and will per
init the bulbs to be removed to the house
from time to time as needed.
The hyacinth, paper-white narcissus,
and especially the Chinese sacred lily are
frequently grown in water. Special
glasses for these bulbs may be purchased
in which they may be successfully grown,
or they may be placed in any attractive
dish and supported By pebbles The
water should be kept so that it touches
the bottom OF the bulb.