75 



111 from six to eight weeks after planting the bulbs, they should have 

 made roots enough to grow the plant, and they may be taken up 

 and placed in a cool room for a week or so, after which, if they 

 have started into growth, they may be taken into a warmer room 

 where they can have plenty of light. They will grow very rapidly 

 now and will want lots of water, and after the flowers begin to show, 

 the pots may stand in a saucer of water all the time. When just 



coming into bloom the plants may 

 have full sunlight part of the 

 time to help bring out the color 

 of the flowers. Fig. 43 shows a 

 pot of tulips. 



I want to tell you of two bulbs 

 that do not need so mucli fussing 

 to get them to bloom for Christ- 

 mas. One of them is called 

 freesia (Fig. 44) and if I could 

 have but one kind of bnlb to 

 flower in the winter, I would 

 choose this. The little bulbs are 

 not half as large as crocus bulbs 

 and you will be astonished at the 

 large leaves and flowers such a 

 bulb can produce. The bulbs are about the cheapest of all winter 

 bulbs and they grow without putting them away to make roots, as 

 the tops do not seem as impatient to start as most other bulbs, but 

 wait until there are plenty of roots to help it along. The flowers 

 are borne on a slender stem and look very graceful, either on the 

 plant or in bouquets. They are also very fragrant and a pot with 

 Ave or six bulbs will perfume a large room. All they need is good 

 light soil, sunlight, water and warmth to make glad the heart of 

 anyone who plants them. 



The other bulb I would select is the Oriental narcissus or Chinese 

 Sacred lily. This grows in water without any soil whatever. Just 

 take a bowl or glass dish about three times the size of the bulb ; put 

 some pretty stones in the bottom ; set in the bulb and build up 



467 



4^.— Pot of tulips. 



