South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-06

The best bulbs for the novice are
those Of the freesia. Roman hya-
cinths. the paper-whre naroissus.
the Chinese lily. the Due Won Tho
tulip. and Dutch hyacinths. The pa
per-white narcissus Is the most Ger
tain 20 bloom and il requires less
time than most Of the other bulbs
By starting IN September, one can
easily have these beautiful, fragrant
flowers all through the winter
or course, tulips make a hand
some display In the window garden.
They are less easy TO handle than
some OF the other bulbs vet many
kinds viii bloom freely one should
not expect. though. 20 have tulips
before the first OF February. except
a few OF the single sorts. like the
diminutve Due Won Thol. already
mentioned. This Lhlputian variety
can be grown successfully by any
one, and often will flower BY Christ
mas. When ordering tulips. be sure
that you tell your scotsman that you
want them for forcing. or else make
a selection from a catalogue which
[
Otherwise. you are likely to be dis
appointed. Most catalogues now de-
/ vote considerable space TO the bulbs
which are best adapted TO house
culture; so that, II you are careful
+ in making up your list. you will
base 20 difficulty in avoiding mis-
takes.
-.-.Hough starting bulbs early is an
important point. it is just as mecca
/ sary 10 produce a strong root growth
4 before forcing is begun. With the
exception of the freesias. callas.
lilies. and ovalis, all the bulbs must
be set away in a dark, cool place.
after being potted up, while they
make their root growth. The quar-
tet named has a little different habit
of growth. and the pots do not need
TO be stored away in the dark at all.
DO not have the earth in your pots
come quite TO the top. for il will be
difficult 10 apply water supply
drainage by having some pebbles or
a little sphagnum moss under the
earth. Hyacinths, narcissi and DAT
fodils should De potted so that the
nose of each bulb will protrude from
the soil. The others should be just
under the surface.
The simplest way 20 store the
bulbs. while root growth is being
started, is TO place them on the Gel
lar bottom and cover them with
sand or wood ashes. This covering
is needed TO keep the bulbs from be-
ing forced out Of the earth when
Z nna II rF~u-
IL will only be necessary TO give
the plants a thorough soaking be
fore they are covered. IN a dry Gel
lar. an occasional watering OF the
sand or ashes may be necessary. IL
is impossible to tell Just how long
the plants must be left in the dark
/ Roughly speaking, six weeks are
needed for the paper-white narcis-
us, which is the quickest OF all 10
develop; eight weeks for Roman
hyaoinths: fourteen weeks for Dutch
hyacinths; sixteen weeks for tulips
and crOcuses, You can always tell
if the plants are ready 10 bring up
stairs by digging up a pot and look
ing at the hole in the bottom. II
you can see the tiny white rootlets
you VIII hHUW ALhL ELIOnE ID0h
growth has been produced.
Do not take the pots Immediately
to a living room window. but intro
duce them gradually to light and
heat by removing them 20 a
fairly cool room. where there is no
strong sunlight Probably the tops
viii already have begun 20 start
They Will be white at first, but will
turn green in the light After "A
few days you can take them 10 any
room in the house. The best place
is a light window. Too much heat
lis resented and no one should make
the mistake OF placing potted bulbs
near a radiator or register. or on
the mantel over the fireplace. When
these simple directions are followed
lit becomes an easy matter 20 have
an abundance Of flowers always al
hand throughout the long winter