THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



287 



GROWING BULBS UNDER GLASS. 

 r>v AIaurice Fuld. 



The cold frame as a storing place forms the best con- 

 necting link when bulbs are grown under glass. When 

 bulbs are brought in from the frame they are usually 

 placed under the bench first to change the color of the 

 foliage. 



The heat must be gradually increased in order to pro- 

 duce the best flowers. 



Conservatories penuit the growing of many varieties 

 of bulbs. My aim is to bring these forward and to men- 

 tion any special features which are necessary to grow 

 these bulbs to perfection. 



To facilitate reference to them I give them here in 

 alphabetical order. 



.\M.\RVLLIS HIPPK.ASTRUM F.\.MILV. 



Under this class one could collect perhaps several 

 hundred varieties, but in nearly all seed books one can find 

 the following sorts: A. Johnsoni, Prince of Orange, 

 \'ittata Hybrids, etc.. etc. 



It is very essential for the grower to make sure what 

 class of .Kmaryllis he is growing, for otherwise he will 

 soon be in trouble. If at all possible procure growing 

 plants in pots, for then you are saving yourself a lot of 

 trouble and you have the advantage of enjoying a prime 

 flower the first winter or spring. 



In the spring, after blooming, plunge the pots in the 

 open ground, and water but sparingly, simply to keep 

 them growing. The idea is to keep them in an inactive 

 stage. About .September L^ bring them to the conserva- 

 tory, gradually increase watering and when the buds peep 

 through between the leaves feed with liquid sheep manure. 



They love a fairly warm and humid atmosphere and 

 under those conditions produce their best flowers. 



If dormant bulbs are secured they must be so potted 

 that only part of the bulb is imbedded in the soil and fully 

 one-half to two-thirds is exposed above the surface; such 

 plants will not produce a perfect flower until the second 

 winter. Keep them in growing condition all the time just 

 as recommended for growing plants. 



BULBOUS .ANEMONES. 



All the following classes, namely : Anemone Coro- 

 naria de caen and Anemone St. llrigid require a distinct 

 culture, which can be applied to all alike. These .\nem- 

 ones are mostly grown for cut-flowers and will when 

 more widely known become very popular. They are e.K- 

 tremely cheerful and bright. 



The bulb should be potted in September l)y planting 

 several in a large bulbpan or a i|uantity in seedflats. They 

 must be stored in cold frames, but must not be allowed 

 to freeze. The\' should not be brought to the conserva- 

 tory until about March 1 and even then they must al- 

 ways be grown cool. The temperature which suits the 

 violet (about .^0 degrees at night and .^5 degrees in the 

 daytime) suits these bulbs equally well. In fact, if a 

 house is devoted to violets, tlie .Anemones are best planted 

 between them, where they will produce grand results. 



Hut Anemones can be grown with equal success in cold 

 frames entirely. The frame of course must be given up 

 entirely to .\nemones or be divided with Ranunculus and 

 early (iladiolus, which require exactly the same treat- 

 ment. Prepare the soil in the frame carefully and pro- 

 vide for perfect drainage. After they have been planted, 

 place the sash over the frame. When freezing weather 

 sets in cover the soil within with leaves right up to the 

 sash and when the weather is extremely severe protect 

 the frame further with mats and shutters. 



.\bout March 1 remove the leaves and on bright days 

 between the hours of 10 and 3 open the sash to allow a 

 ^ree circulation of air. Just as soon as the growth com- 



mences to appear above the soil, watering must be daily 

 attended to and an ajjplication now and then of liquid 

 sheep manure is excellent. 



They usuall)- begin to flower early in May and are at 

 their best during that month. 



ANOM.\THECA CRUENTA. 



This is known as the Red Freesia, as it resembles the 

 Freesia in growth, in foliage and flower. 



It is never sold in dormant condition, but the plants 

 are usually lifted from the ground while growing and 

 shipped here in November. They are then potted, a num- 

 ber in a pot, and placed at once in a cool greenhouse, 

 where they slowly grow and where they produce their 

 bright scarlet flowers in March and April. 



(■.\LUCHORTUS. 



Although growing wild in California, it requires glass 

 culture in the East and North. The wonderful markings 

 of the flower which resemble those of the better orchids 

 should be an inducement for every flower lover to grow 

 it. The bulbs arrive late and immediately on their arrival 

 should be potted. In growth it resembles a Tulip, but is 

 alwavs weak in ai)pearance. The bulbs after being potted 

 should be stored in a cold frame, but must not be allowed 

 to freeze. In February they are brought to the conserva- 

 torv, where thev can finally bloom in a temperature of 

 60 to ()5 degrees. 



CYPREPEDIUMS ACAULE. 



This is our native or wild Lady's Slipper. The pips, 

 which are usuall\- collected in October or November, 

 should be secured from your seedsman in frozen condi- 

 tion, gently thawed out, potted in a pan and started cool, 

 and the heat can slowly but gradually be increased. Un- 

 der favorable conditions the flowers should appear in 

 five weeks. Directly after potting they are best placed 

 under the bench, where they are excluded from the bright 

 light. By planting them at intervals of a week there 

 can be a succession of flowers for several months. 



D.\RWIN TULIPS. 



I have seen them in splendid condition, wdien gently 

 forced in the conservatory. The potting and storing can 

 he the same as for all regular tulips, but when they are 

 brought in from the frame they must not be placed in 

 excessive heat; in fact, they do much better when grown 

 entirely at a moderate temperature, such as 55 to 60 de- 

 grees. Darwin Tulips look beautiful in pans and they 

 furnish us the rare shades, including ])urple, mauve and 

 wistaria. 



GERBERA JAMESONI AND ITS HYBRIDS. 



The Barberton Daisy, with its wonderful arrangement 

 (if petals and its long, massive stems, has become one of 

 the most select winterflowers, and now that we can have 

 them in almost every shade of the rainbow, it is bound to 

 become a general favorite. 



The flowers after being cut will invariably last from 

 eight to ten days. In order to produce a crop of flowers 

 during the winter tlie plants nuist have been dormant for 

 four months previous to planting, which usually takes 

 place in November and December. The best method to 

 grow them is in a solid bench and not in pots. Start them 

 at a fairlv cool temperature and on the dry side, that is, 

 water Init sparingly until the first growth is through the 

 ground: then gradually increase the heat and the supply 

 of water. The first flowers usually appear towards the 

 beginning of March and from that time on there is a con- 

 stant succession until June. 



GLADIOLUS NANUS. 



The fairly small bull)s usually arrive from F.urope to- 

 wards the latter part of October, and they can be treated 



