bb ANNUAL REPORT 



Coax thet« early liarbingers of spring to make their home there, where they can come and go at tlieir 

 Own sweet will. 



There are a goodly number of early flowerlHg bulbs and plants that with but very little care and 

 thought bestowed upon them, will abundantly repay every ert'ort made by brightening the garden with 

 their showy blossoms, that would otherwise present a dull and bare appearance. Among these early 

 bulbs and plants may be mentioned the blue grape, hyacinth, iris, crocus and tulips. If a really bril- 

 liant, showy bed of flowers is desired, tulips will furnish it. Before the frost is fairly out of the ground 

 a close inspection of the bed will disclose the brown tips of the leaves pushing out of the ground. The 

 last that was seen of the tulips the previous fall was some little brown bulbs, with no roots and show- 

 ing no signs of life whatever. When did they grow .' While the ground was frozen solid; for surely 

 they had no time to push themselves through three or four inches of soil after the frost was gone I But 

 there they are, aud how fast they grow ! As soon as the leaves are up two or three inches, a sharp 

 eye will detect the buds nestling iu the center of each cluster of leaves ; and now the interest deepens 

 in watching the rapid growth of these flower buds. The flower bed is alre«dy handsome, covered with 

 the green leaves and buds, but there is something richer in store for the watcher — a few days more of 

 waiting and then patience is amply rewarded ! The bed is simply gorgeous with the brilliant blossoms; 

 yellow, white, red, orange, purple, two or more of these colors oftentimes combined in one flower. And 

 then the fragrance of some of them is truly delightlul. Care must be taken not to introduce the nose 

 too far into the cup of the blossom in search of the fragrance, or the flower in joke will cover the tip 

 end of it quite profusely with the powder kept always on hand to decorate the unwary. If no severe 

 rain or wind storms prevent, the tulip bed will be a "thing of beauty," for from three to four weeks and 

 perhaps longer, if both the early and late varieties are planted. 



To attain the best results with tulips in bed planting (the easiest and consequently most satislactory 

 way of planting) the following suggestions are ottered : 



The bulbs must be obtained in the fall, aLd planted in this State in October. 



Tulips do not require very rich soil, but still the soil must not be poor. Light sandy soil well enriched 

 yields the best bulbs and blossoms. 



Have a fancy shaped bed cut in the lawn, and procure enongh bulbs to fill it. It may co.«t several 

 dollars, but that is all the expense it need ever be again, as they propagate freely. If the soil is poor, 

 have it removed to the depth of about twenty inches, and replace with good soil, putting in about one- 

 eighth old, thoroughly decomposed cow mauure, and a little sand, if the soil should be adhesive— thor- 

 oughly incorporating tliese materials. If too highly manured, the flowers will make a rank gi-owth, 

 but they will not be as fine as if "just right." 



Mark the bed regularly in circles or rows according to shape or bed. laying the bulbs on the ground 

 so that they will be about seven inches apart in all directions. Then with a dibble or sharp -pointed, 

 stick, make a hole at least four inches deep. Place the bulb in right side up. Some propagators re- 

 commend putting a little sand under the bulb and a little over it. Then cover with earth, pressing 

 down carefully. 



If the soil is hard, it should be spaded deep and made very fine and light. The bed should be bordered 

 by boards, brick, or stone, to prevent the grass getting in and choking the bulbs. After all this is done, 

 and before heavy freezing, cover the ground with coarse manure and straw. This is not aosolutely 

 necessary, as the bulbs will grow and blossom, but they will give much larger bulbs if treated in this- 

 way, and consequently the leaves and blossoms will be much finer and larger. 



In the spring, remove the straw gradually, uncovering a little at a time as the disappearing frost will 

 admit. Then as the little brown points begin to show themselves, with a garden trowel or old knife, 

 stir the ground up carefully, mixing in well the fine manure left on top. Be very careful in working 

 among bulbs not to cut the tops oft', nor throw out the bulbs. The ground should be kept well loosened 

 all the time they are in leaf flower. 



In early spring procure some choice petunia seed, sowing it in a box in the house or ia a hot bed. 

 When the tulips are through blossoming, stir the ground as deeply and thoroughly as you can, without 

 disturbing the bulbs, then set the petunia plants in between the tulips about eight or ten inches apart. 

 Take good care of these for two or three weeks, watering and shading if necessary, and keeping the- 

 ground well stirred. In an incredibly short space of time the bed will be a mass of bloom. Again 

 petunias are preferable to any other annual, on account of their early and constant blooming, and being 

 of a rambling growth, soon cover the ground entirely. It requires no care after the first two or three 

 weeks, and for a show bed on the lawn it has no equal for same expenditure of time and money. Don't 

 put anything but annuals on the tulip bed, for in taking them up in the fall — supposing they were ger- 



