The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-01-09
FLOWERS FROM BULBS
~ Fred StoItenberg, Florist, South
Dakota State College,



Dakota State College,
erookinos.
For the winter window garden and
for first early flowers in the garden
and lawn. imported bulbs such as hya-
cinths, tulips, daffodils, are a neces-
sity to be certain of satisfactory
lowers early grown in ordinary living
rooms. Fol beauty and fragrance
these often excel the choicest summer
flowers. The contrast of these beau
tiful blooms indoors with the stormy
winter in South Dakota is a constant
pleasure. These bulbs contain in
themselves the stored up material for
leaf growth and flowers and are not
easily affected by common changes in
temperature or liable to injury from
gas.
Hyacinths, tulips. d%affodils, crocus
and similar bulbs are grown in Hol.
land and are sent to us in late sum-
rner or early autumn and may then
be had from florists Of seedmen dry
and dormant. We need only to plant
in rich, well drained soil any time be-
fore December. The bulb should be
ordered some time in advance, If pos
sible, and are to be planted from Sep
TENDER to the first Of December. Tu-
lips do not force as well bnt all OF the
Narcissus family, including the Chin
ese or sacred "lily," the miniature
hyacinths and many others. are easily
grown.
A rich garden soil mixed with leaf
mould or well rOtted manure and
sand should be used. DO not use
heavy clay soil nor fresh manure.
Four and fve-inch pots are commonly
used. Fill them half full Of soil. place
in a dry corner Of the cellar and
with earth or sand. Ii the soil
is kept moist by frequent sp~rinkling.
in five or six weeks the pots will be
filled with roots. | find ii taken in
the house too early that the be- b. won't
bloom as well as if taken in later,
will say the first Of February. Hya-
cinths may be grown in water. Glasses
for this purpose may be had at flor
lists. Large necked bottles will ansW-
err as well. Fill with water and place
toe bulb, with the base resting on the
water, in a warm, dark room, keep
the bottom filled with pure water and
when the roots are three to -four
inches in length bring to the light.
The outlook culture OF bulbs is ex-
tremely simple. They care for them.
selves throughout a greater part OF
the year. While all the so-called Hol-
land bulbs thrive in any kind of soil.
they will all do better by being plant
with well-rotted manure. When plant
ing your bed spade well. After the
beds are prepared for planting. the
bulbs may all be set on the surface
of the bed, make the holes for plant
ing with the fingers. Tulip bulbs
should be planted from three to four
inches deep and from four to six
inches apart. Do not push the bulbs
into the soil without first making the
holes, for this leaves them on a bed
of hard soil and the straight down.
ward growing roots will tend to push
the bulbs to the surface.
The bulbs here recommended for
planting out Of doors are all hardy to
withstand the cold, but all require a
winter mulch to prevent freezing and
thawing.
After Towering the tops turn yell
low and die and the bulbs may be al
lowed to remain in the ground the
first year. In case it is desired to re-
move them leave them in the ground
until the tops die; then lift the bulbs.
dry a day or two in the sur and
store in a dry place until fall.