BULBS. 89 



Sion, Trumpet Major and Golden Spur. All will bloom better when 

 grown in soil than water, and all, except Paper White, may be planted 

 out for permanent beds another year, or may be forced in the house 

 again if the bulbs remain solid. 



For house culture nothing surpasses the hyacinth. They may be 

 had in all shades from pure waxy white to yellow, from light blush to 

 dark red, and from delicate porcelain blue to indigo and dark purple. 

 Their large spikes of fragrant flowers are like nothing else in cultiva- 

 tion and must be seen to be appreciated. The miniature, or Dutch 

 Romans, are like the regular Dutch hyacinths in all respects except that 

 they are earlier, and the flower spikes are somewhat smaller and more 

 delicate. Single varieties are more satisfactory for the house than are 

 doubles. Hyacinths bloom freely and somewhat earlier in water, but are 

 much better and keep longer when grown in soil. So long as the bulbs 

 remain solid, without splitting up or dividing, they are good for further 

 blooming and may be planted out permanently or grown in the house 

 another season. 



Tritileas are small bulbs of the easiest possible culture that are con- 

 stantly in bloom during the winter. 



Allium Neapolitanum is a grand bulb for winter, and is certain to 

 grow and bloom splendidly in any window. Its flowers are beautiful 

 and lasting and the bulbs are cheap in price. 



The Ornithogalum is a sure and showy winter bloomer that never 

 fails and requires little care. The flowers are very durable, and the 

 bulbs are good year after year. 



If there is one most desirable bulb for the house, sure to succeed 

 and bloom elegantly for anyone in any situation, pleasing to all for its 

 refined beauty and fragrance, easily grown and universally admired, it 

 is the Freesia. Plant five or six bulbs in a six-inch pot of rather light 

 soil, and you will become an enthusiast. 



Many ladies aspire to grow Easter lilies, and a few succeed. Most 

 of them fail because lilies cannot thrive in the dry, dusty atmosphere 

 of a living room. The kinds surest to succeed are varieties of Candi- 

 dum and Longiflorum. To do well they must have plenty of moisture in 

 the air while growing. Given this, they are magnificent and well worth 

 the little extra care they need. Just here, it may be well to say that 

 many of the choicest lilies that often fail with ordinary outdoor cul- 

 ture will do well if planted in large pots in the fall, kept in the cellar 

 over winter, and planted out, pots and all during the summer. Give 

 plenty of moisture while growing, and you will feel amply repaid. Re- 

 pot in the fall and proceed as before. 



The common Calla, as a winter bloomer, is too well known to re- 

 quire description or comment. It is of the easiest culture, so easy in 

 fact, that many get only a magnificent growth of leaves, with but few 

 flowers. The bulbs should be dried off in summer and repotted in Sep- 

 tember in small pots of very rich soil. Give an abundance of water, 

 4 



