Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-02
PLANT YOUR TULIP BULBS NOW
Should Be Set in the Fall Be.
fore Ground Freezes.
Nnrcissus Also. II Planted Now, Gives
Best Results--United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture's Direc-
lions for Cultivation.

rich beds of tulip or give the beds or the
corners Of your lawns beautiful spring
like yellow or white glow OF narcisssus'
daffodil and jonquil, you must begin to
think OF the early spring appearance OF
your garden In the fall, for the bulbs OF
these two flowers must be planted In the
fall before the ground IL frozen. In fact.
this work should be undertaken as soor
as or before an early frost has begun to
make the annual flowers in the beds look
weakened. In dealing with narcissus
which is the family to which the daffodil
jonquil belong. it might be well to think
OF trying to naturallze tho narciAus to
grow and blossom on the lawn much as
do the wild flowers. How to plant and
ne nde the bulbs, as well as the best
method Of getting them to become spring
residents of grassy corners, are described
in the following directions issued by the
bulb specialists of the United States de-
partment of agriculture:
These bulbs should be planted in light,
rich soil that has been dug to depth
of at least 10 inches The tulip bulbs
should be set five inches part and four
inches deep and the narcissus bulbs about
10 inches apart and five inches deep.
If they are to be grown in pots or win
dow boxes, light, rich soil should be used.
Place one to two inches of cinders or
broken pots in the bottoms Of the pots
or boxes to insure good drainage. After
planting, place the pots or boxes out OF
doors and cover them with about four
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
a quantity OF roots. They may then he
brought into the light and heat for flower
ing. Keep the soil we'll moistened from
time of planting, but avoid Overmoisten-
ing, for if kept too wet the bulbs will
decay
CULTIVATION.
II planted In beds, the surface of the
sou should be loosened after each rain
and the bed kept free from weeds. In the
late fall or early winter months 1t Is well
20 cover the beds with light mulch of
straw or leaves to prevent injury to the
young roots from the alternate freezing
and thawing of the soil. This mulch
should be gradually removed in spring,
as soon as growth appears above ground.
The bulbs are quite hardy and are not
injured by severe cold II the soil is well
drained.
LIFTING AND DIVIDING.
Tulip and narcissus plants are peren-
NAL. and II given proper care and grown
under suitable soil and climatic conditions
will increase and multiply from year to
year The bulbs may remain in the
ground two or three years, or until the
clumps begin to crowd. After blossom
Ing In 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 fork. Shake tho
soil from the roots and store the bulbs
in a 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 increa sed
In a few years
NATURALIZING THE NARCISSUS.
The narcissus often becomes naturalized
when planted in the sod or partial shade.
where 1t will continue to grow, blossom,
and multiply for many years without fur
Their attention. Simply make small hole
in the soil five or six inches deep, insert
the bulb pointed end up. press the soil
over the top, and nature will do the rest.
For naturalizing. avoid planting in rows
or rigid geometrical figures. A good plan
is to scatter the bulbs like seed and
and plant where they fall. This method
OF planting is extensively followed in the
home grounds and parks of England and
other countries in Europe. In portions OF
North Carolina, on large estates along
the James river in Virginia, and in old
gardens in New England, narcissus that
were planted over half a century ago are
still growing vigorously and every spring
produce beautiful displays Of blossoms.