El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-20
TULIPS CAN Be
NATURALIZED
Time to Plant the Bulbs
Has Arrived; May be
Raised Indoor.

Washington, D. c.. Nov. 2O.-Tulip
bulbs that are expected to brighten the
lawn in the early spring must be plant
ed in the late fall after heavy frosts or
light freezes have checked vegetation.
These plants are adapted to out Of door
culture in all parts of the United States
where the weather is cold enough to
freeze the soil for a few weeks in the
winter and they should be planted
about a month before the ground Is
liable to freeze up. Other Holland
bulbs" such as the hyacinth and mar
cissus, should be planted at the same
time as the tulip.
Do Best When Naturalized.
The U. S. department of agriculture's
specialist considers that tulips are
most appropriately planted among
shrubbery where they may be natural
lied or where they may remain perma-
nently. In general they are used to
advantage in formal beds or in borders
on the lawn.
The best soil for the tulip is a light,
lOamy soil The soil should be well
drained and sand is better than clay
In clay soils it is desirable to set the
bulbs on a layer of sand, to insure
drainage, while in very heavy soils
the sand should completely surround
them. They do best in a rich soil, but
manure should not come in contact
with the bulbs. It is best applied to
previous crop. When fertilization rs
necessary at the time of planting, well
rOtted manure compost should be used.
The soil should be put in excellent con-
dition.
Should be Set -Four Inches Deep.
Tulips should be set four inches deep
while hyacinths and narcissus Should
be set SIX inches, in all cases meas
uring to the bottom OF the bulbs. care
should be taken to have the bulbs OF
any variety Of a uniform size and 10
set them at a uniform depth as on this
depends the uniformity in time OF
blooming.
After blooming, the naturalized
paintings need no further attention
except when planting becomes neceS-
sary, which in the case OF tulips
would be in about three years, and or
the other bulbs about five. Bedded
bulbs should be left as long as possl-
bic before digging so as to ripen them
They arc ready when the foliage begins
to die. II necessary to dig before ripe
they VIII deteriorate more rapidly than
if well ripcned. After digging, dry in
the sun until the tops are well cured,
take off all the leaves, store on shall
low trays, where mice and rats Will NOT
trouble. till the following autumn.
Bulbs May be Raised Indoors.
WI yLlAy are Jumps anu OLlLCA INAS
Gus plants attractive around the lawn
in early spring, but they are also most
satisfactory for indoor culture during
the winter. They should be used in
separate pots rather than in window
boxes. Holland bulbs, such as narcis@
sus, tulip and hyacinth, are practically
the only plants that will flower salts
factorily in the house with ordinary
care. About the only plant giving sim
liar satisfaction is the begonia, &C
cording to the department of agricuI-
lures specialist who has experimental
with many varieties.
The essentials for growing bulbs IN
doors are that they shall become thor
oughly rooted before the tops are per
mitted to grow. This is done by plant
ing the bulbs in soil either in, pots or
what florists know as pans" which
are shallow porcelain pots, or in boxes;
These bulbs are then put in cool
place in the dark, for period Of two
to six or eight weeks, or even longer II
desired. They should be left there I'M
til the roots are well started. In the
case of bulbs planted in pots, the pots
may be inverted and gently tapped,
when the bulb and soil will come out
in mass. When the bulbs have been