West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-09-30
NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT
BULBS FOR SPRING FLOWERS
Directions Given for Planting Tu-
lip and NareiSsus Bulbs and their
Cultivation and Trcatment-Arc
Hardy and Not Injured by Sc
we're Gold If Soil is Well Drained

II YOU would have rich beds of tulip
or give the beds or the corners OF your
lawns beautiful springlike yellow or
white glow of narcissus, daflodu, and
jonquil YOU must begin to think OF the
early spring appearance of your gar
den in the fall. for the bulbs of these
howcrs must be planted i'm the fall be-
fore the ground is frozen. In fact. this
work should be undertaken as soon as
or before an early frost has begun to
make the annual flowers in the beds
look weakened In dealing with mar
cissus. which is the family To which
the dafrodil and jonqul belong. it
! might be well TO think OF trying to
naturalize the narcissus TO grow and
| blossom on the lawn much as do the
wild flowers. How to plant and han
die the bulbs. as well as the hest
method OF getting them to become
| spring residents OF grassy corners.
are described in the following direc-
tions issued by the bulb specialists OF
the department
These bulbs should be planted I'm
light, rich soil that has been dug To n
depth OF at least 10 inches. The tulip
bulbs should be set inches apart and
inches deep and the narcissus bulbs
about 10 inches apart and inches
deep
III they are TO be grown I'm pots or
window boxes, light. rich soil should
be used. Place 1 to inches of Gin
ders or broken pots i'm the bottoms OF
the pots or boxes to insure good drain
| age After planting, place the pots or
boxes out of doors and cover them
with about inches OF ashes or sand.
or they may be placed In dark. cool
| room or cellar for a few weeks until
the bulbs have formed quantity of
roots They may then be brought into
the light and heat for towering. Keen
the soil well moistened from time of
planting, but avoid over-boisting. for
II kept too wet the bulbs will decay.
If planted in beds, the surface OF the
soil should be loosened after each rain
and the bed kept free from weeds. In
the late fall or early winter months.
1t is well to cover the beds with a
light mulch OF straw or leaves TO pre-
vent injury to the young roots from
the alternate freezing and thawing OF
the soil This mulch should be grad
ually removing In spring, as soon as
growth appears above ground. The
bulbs are quite hardy and are not in
jured by the severe cold If the soil is
well drained.
Iullp and narcissus plants are pc
rennial, and If given proper care and
grown under suitable soil and climat-
ic conditions will increase and multi
ply from year to year. The bulbs may
remain In the ground two or three
years. or until the clumps begin TO
crowd. After blossoming i'm the spring.
from six TO eight weeks should elapse
to allow the foliage to die partially
down, when the bulbs may be lifted
with spade or folk Shake the soil
from the roots and store the bulbs I'm
cool. shady place where they will
ripen and cure. When the old leaves
and roots are thoroughly dry they may
be easily rubbed off and the clusters
of bulbs divided. The bulbs may then
be planted in the same manner as the
original bulbs. In this way the stock
may be increased i'm few years.
The narcissus often becomes natur-
allied when planted in the sod or par
tial shade, where II will continue TO
grow, blossom, and multiply for many
years without further attention Sim
ply make small hole I'm the soil 8 or
inches deep, insert the bulb pointed
end up, press the soil over the top. and
nature will do the rest For natural
izing, avoid planting i'm rows or rigid
geometrical figures. a good plan is to
scatter the bulbs like seed and plant
where they fall This method OF plant
ing is extensively followed i'm the home
grounds and parks Of England and
| other countries in Europe. In portions
OF North Carolina on large estates
along the James River i'm Virginia. and
in old gardens in New England narcis-
suses that were planted over half a
century ago are still growing vigor-
ously and every spring produce beau
tiful displays OF blossoms.