The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-13

mere was no pleasure to be obtained
walking abroad. The silence of Ma
ture was oppressive and the cold
penetrating. Our feathered friends.
mad long since migrated to warmer
cimes, while many of the familiar
wlld things were enjoying their long
sleep.. We, therefore, determined to
make our own sunshine within doors.
we had no conservatory, but an
unusually large bay-window made an
excellent substitute. Two broad
snelves ran around the entire length
OF the window. accommodating about
4V medium-sized pots. Two windows
we devoted to bulbous plants, and
tne center window to geraniums and
diiferent varieties of the coleus.
IN November, We received a present
OF Holland bulbs of hyacinths, mar
clssi. daffodils and tulips. It was
this gift which prompted us to try a
february garden. We Immediately
planted these bulbs in shallow pans.
eight or nine inches across, placing
1lVe or six bulbs in each pan. We
secured fine earth mold from the
woods near at hand, finding by pre-
vious experience that this soil is ex
cellent for most plants.
After the bulbs were planted we
placed them in a cool, dark cellar for
month, In order that they might be-
come we'll rooted before being
brought to the light. This, let me
add, is very essential to successful
bulb culture. We once tried to raise
hyacinths without observing this rule,
and the result was stunted growth
and an immature spike of blossoms.
In this instance, we were especial
ly successful with our hyacinths.
Bulbs Of different varieties were
planted in the same pot and, when
in bloom, the effect was more than
satisfactory. Spikes of flowers in
varying shades of purple, rose and
yellow made gorgeous display, even
on a dark February morning. To
our collection of Holland bulbs we
added what were termed Dutch Ro-
man" hyacinths. These bulbs are
specially adapted for house culture,
as they do not grow SO tall or so
large as the Holland bulbs. Some
people call these bulbs the pan"
variety. The smallness of the plant
and the blossom is fully compen-
sated by the fact that each bulb pro-
duces several spikes of fragrant bios
SONS.
| am not so fond of tulips as of
other bulbous plants, and had only
one pan. They added brilliancy to
our already gorgeous floral display.
Our collection comprises two pots of
white and two Of yellow daffodils.
The petals of pure white and the
crown of yellow formed pretty con-
trast; the flowers were SO perfect
that they resembled wax flowers. l
was especially fond of my pan of
yellow daffodils, for they seemed to
scatter sunshine and good cheer,
which even the dismal February
clouds could not dispel.
To our collection of bulbous plants
we added a few miscellaneous ones.
Our Cuban lily was particularly beau
tiful. The blossom was white in
color and not large. Indeed, this
modest little plant would never have
been noticed among its snowy neigh
bors had 1t not been for its peculiar
and exquisite fragrance, so different
In quality from any other, which
readily led to its discovery. A pan
OF freesias completed our list, If we
except tub containing an amaryllis
which stood on the floor. The freesia
is a free bloomer, although not a
snowy plant. We had both the white
and the yellow varieties.
The center of our bay-window was
devoted to geraniums and coleus
plants. No plants are more satisfac-
tory for Winter blooming than gera-
NUNS, as they do not require more
than ordinary care and are free
boomers. We prepared our slips
late in August, bringing the plants
into the house just before frost. Al
most every color imaginable was re-
peated in our geranium blossoms
single and double. Our coleus plants
were also satisfactory, being easy to
slip, and growing rapidly when once
rooted.
attribute large part of the sue
cess of our February garden to the
fact that the room in which these
plants we're kept was not lighted by
gas.
In the rear of this baywindow
stood a wire plant-stand filled with
ferns and palms. This made an ef-
fective background. We tried In