Evening journal., 1915-09-22
WASHINGTON TIPS OFF
THE FLOWER Lovers
If You Want CrocuSeS and
NarcissuS Next Year,
Plant at Once
FARMERS INSTITUTES
ON THE INCREASE
By The United Press.

Dl Inc 0nANtn iNHns
WASHINGTON. Sept 22.-Garden
lovers who wish their gardens, or the
grounds around their houses, TO be
rich in spring with crocus. narcissus.
tulips and Spanish iris, should begin
their work without delay for fall is the
time to plant the bulbs of these flow
ers. The work should be undertaken
as soon as early frost has injured the
foliage in the beds Of annual flowers
for, while the bulbs will succeed. If
planted as late as November in the
latitude of Washington, they are much
better planted earlier and in the
northern states will not succeed when
planted later than October.
In the case of crocus. many will find
it desirable to establish the plants SO
that they grow and blossom on the
lawn much as wild flowers do, or they
may be mixed with other bulbs in the
border where they will be one Of the
earliest flowers TO appear in the
spring and will have disappeared be-
fore the narcissus begin TO bloom.
The list Of varieties Of the latter often
known as daffodils OF jonquils. is al
most tewiidering and some OF the
more vigorous growing kinds may
also be established in the lawn in a
more or less natural state. Many Of
the varieties. however, that succeed in
this way in England, where the flower
is exceedingly popular. will not do so
well in this country, except in the
southern states and on the Pacific
coast Perhaps the best for this pur-
| pose are the Poeticus varieties, which
are certain to be hardy. They should
never be planted in the lawn in rows
or geometric figures. An easy meth
cd OF giving them a naturalized ap-
/ pearance is to scatter the bulbs as If
one were sewing seed, and then plant
them where they happen to fall. This
| should be done only where II is de-
sired to leave the lawn in half wild
/ condition, for the grass cannot be cut
until the foliage begins to die. which
will be a few weeks after the appear
ance Of the flowers. In many Of the
parks OF the large estates of Eng
| land, in portions OF North Carolina,
on estates along the James River in
| Virginia and even in old New England
gardens, narcissus that was planted
many years ago is still vigorous and
produces every spring a beautiful dis
play of blossoms.
Tulips may also be obtained in
many varieties and by making the
proper selection they will give a sue
cession OF bloom for several weeks
No attempt should be made to utilize
them except in the border on the for.
NAL bed
Coming after all except the lates
tulips. is the Spanish iris and though
one Of the most attractive for the
border it is one of the cheapest ol
bulbs, often being called the pool
mans orchid" To be most effective
they should be planted in groups OF
masses OF the same kind.
All of these bulbs will do well in
moderately rich loan that is well
drained. but they will often succeed
very well in less favorable cOndi-
tions. If they are to be planted in
the border or in beds the soil should
be worked deep, but no manure
should come in contact with the mar.
cisus. crocus or Spanish iris. though
well-rOlled manure may be worked
into the soil where tulips are to be
planted
The depths at which bulbs be pIant.
ed varies with the soil. light sol
recurring deeper planting than heav,
and with the size of the bulb. AS I
rule a crocus may be planted tbre,
inches and Spanish iris four inche.
deep. Narcissus have from four tC
iive inches of soil above the bulb anc
should be five to six inches distan
from each other. Tulips should b,
four inches below the surface anC
six inches apart each way.