The Washington herald., 1915-01-31
Have Spring Flowers
Blooming

northward and the trees are beginning
to bud. Bulbs planted in the house now
ought to produce blossoms by the mid
die of April if they are carefully Sc
lected and faithfully tended.
There is nothing more suggestive Of
spring than the sweet, dignihed spikes
Of the narcissus, the tall graceful jon
ouiI or daffodil or the bold little crocus
blossom. Hyacinths, too. for all their
stiff waxiness and vividness Of color,
have come to mean spring. All these
can be made to bloom in the house.
The so-called early or quick Towering
varieties of bulbs should be chosen
for planting at this time of the year.
Thev should have spent the earlier part
of the winter in a trough IN the
ground or in some cool trench in a ror-
lists cold frame.
buIbs which are suitable for late plant
ing can be bought for IS or 80 cents
Zach. Crocuses in whites and all the
shades of purple can be had for 70 cents
a dozen. The narcissus, one OF the va
rieties Of the beautiful narcissus poeu-
Gus with its yellow cup and pure Whlte
petals or the polyanthus narcissus with
white cup as well as petals, is an espe-
cjally satisfactory indoor grower ana
continues in bloom for long time. The
blossoms if cut and put in water stay
fresh for more than week and are
therefore especially suitable for cut
ting and sending to ones stay at home
friends.
Best Bulbs for the House.
Double and single datfodils and jon
quils are also easily and successfully
grown in the house. The sturdy and
graceful crown daffodils in both yellow
and white, which sometimes reach q
height of twenty inches; the petite DAFT
fodils, all under ten inches hish' and
both single and double jonQuils, some
Of them especially desirable because of
their sweet Odor, can all be had for
about cents each. Crocuses too are
good indoor growers and are cheap.
There are certain other lilies and bulb
flowers which can be successfully
grown in the house late in the season.
The Chinese sacred narcissus-the
well known Chinese lily or JOSS flower
is especially satisfactory for growing
now because it blossoms in five OF six
weeks after it is planted. Chinese lily
bulbs can be bought, in the best quail
ity, for 10 cents each All the othtr
bulbs mentioned require from six to
eight weeks to root and after that
more time to grow leaves and flowers.
There are several satisfactory ways
ouirement remains the same, whatever
the method chosen, that the bulbs be
kent cool. More bulbs have been ruin
ed from overheating than from any
other cause. While the roots are form
ing the bulbs should be kept at tenn
perature of 40 degrees. Fifty degrees
is the temperature for forcing stems
and foliage and about sixty degrees Is
the proper temperature to bring the
flowers to perfection.
In whatever way the bulbs are plant
ed they should be kept in dark cool
room, where there is a circulation OF
fresh air, until there is a strong growth
of roots This period lasts from five
weeks on. When the roots look thick
and strong bring the bulbs into the
light The strong root growth should
insure long stems before the blossoms
appear, but long stems can also be in
sured by placing a paper cone about
ten inches high with an opening at
the apex a couple of inches across over
the bulb when it is placed in the light. |
Fibre Instead of Earth.
Bulbs can be planted in earth, water
or chemically prepared fibre. The fibre |
costs about so cents peck. 1t pos |
EesseS the advantage over earth that 1t |
can be used in any undrained dish. The |
fibre should be moist and the bulbs |
planted just below its surface. During |
the roofing season the fibre should al I
ways be moist, never muddy, and it |
should be kept carefully moist after |
the bulbs are brought to the light.
The best earth preparation for bulb |
growing is composed of three parts of |
rich loan TO one of sand. Earth grown |
bulbs should always be planted in a |
pot. with a drainage hole in the bot
tom, or in a wooden box with q bot
Of eli hal ~
which afford drainage room. In the
bottom of pot or box there should be
about an inch of cinders, SHE'LL broken
Crockery and stones to facilitate drain
age. Above this soil should be placed |
to within an inch or so of the top of
pot or box.
Water culture is perhaps the most
attractive way of growing bulbs, for
the whole root and stem development
may be watched as it takes place. The
water should be soft, rain water pre-
ferably, and a piece OF charcoal should
be placed in the bottom of the glass
dish which holds it. Stones or sand
should be used to hold the bulb away
from the bottom of the dish. The wa
ter should be kept just touching the
bottom of the bulb.
A Chinese bowl, either Of red and
blue or of blue and white china, is an
especially appropriate growing place
for the Chinese lily bulbs and Oriental
looking narcissus. These bowls cost
from 25 to as cents apiece. Glass bulb
bowls are sold in the same sizes from
% to IS cents apiece, so are much
cheaper in the larger sizes than the
Chinese bowls.
Hyacinths can be grown in glasses
sold for the purpose, with long glass
stem for the roots. and q shallow cup
to hold the bulb. These glasses can be
had for 10 and Is cents. They are also
made in pretty iridescent glass for
considerably larger price.
Jardinieres, brass bowls and baskets,
vases, jugs or any other piece Of crock
cry or metal can be selected for bulb
growing when fibre is used. Window
boxes, too, can be started on their sum-
mer's duty as bulb beds. and the at
tractive window stands. made of fine
woods, or caned. with zinc Innings, can
be utilized for growing bulbs.
cTpTYTHG pTACT Ann urrTTTr