I 



November, 1910 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 

 Fall Planting of Bulbs 



C. Mortimer Bezzo, Berlin 



261 



IF" we desire to have our gardens bright 

 in the spring with spring flowering 



bulbs the bulbs must be planted in the 

 fall. During the long winter months they 

 will be preparing for the gorgeous dis- 

 play in the spring. 



Hardy bulbs as a rule give best re- 

 sults in a good sandy loam but will give 

 good results in any soil that is well drain- 

 ed. They require an abundant supply of 

 water which is usually forthcoming dur- 

 ing the early spring ; but good drainage 

 is absolutely necessary, for if the water 

 is allowed to collect around them they 

 will rot. If the ground is low or heavy 

 raise the bed to allow the water to drain 

 away. When the soil is heavy, if sand 

 can be obtained, it would be a good plan 

 to add about one-third to make it more 

 friable. Bulbs have a better opportunity 

 to multiply and grow to a better size 

 when not held in the iron grip that is 

 characteristic of heavy clay soil, especi- 

 ally when it is dry. For those who live 

 near the woods where wood dirt can be 

 obtained, a liberal quantity of this mixed 

 thoroughly through the soil will be of 

 great benefit. 



Bulbs as a rule do not require a very 



A fink and White AmarjIlit-BclUdoana Lily 



Qrown by Walter T. Ross, Secretary, Pioton, Ont.. 

 HorticQltural Society. 



rich soil, although a soil fairly well sup- 

 plied with plant food is an advantage, 

 and will result in the production of lar- 

 ger flowers. Fertilizer should never be 

 applied in the form of fresh manure. If 

 manure is used it should be so well rotted 

 that it is indistinguishable from earth. 

 But where fresh barnyard fertilizer is 

 used it should be dug in the ground in 

 the spring so that it may have plenty of 

 time to rot before bulb planting time. 

 Soil that has been fertilized for some 

 years previous will be in ideal condition 

 for this class of flowers. But if the soil 

 is poor and must be fertilized, use bone- 

 meal. If this is not obtainable and man- 

 ure is the only fertilizer on hand, plant 

 the bulbs in Jhe usual way and spread 

 the manure over the top of the ground. 

 This will serve the double purpose of 

 winter protection and fertilizer, the rains 

 of fall and melting snow of early spring 

 will wash the nutriment down into the 

 soil. 



WINTER PROTECTION 



Early spring flowering bulbs as a rule 

 are quite hardy but there is a decided ad- 

 vantage in giving them winter protect- 

 ion. This protection is more necessary 

 during a mild winter than during a se- 

 vere one. If the ground freezes early 

 in the winter and remains in the grip of 

 snow and frost until released by the sun- 

 shine of March or April the bulbs will 

 come through without any damage. But 

 where the winters are variable the con- 

 tinual expanding and contracting of the 

 bulb caused by the alternate freezing and 

 thawing will burst the cells of the bulb 

 and break the roots and in many cases 

 heave the bulb out of the ground unless 

 planted very deep. A covering of three 

 or four inches of straw, manure, or other 

 coarse litter will prevent this, not by 

 keeping the frost out of the ground, but 

 by keeping it in, when once it enters 

 until spring. Late planted bulbs should 

 be covered as soon as set out in order 

 to allow root formation to take place as 

 much as possible before the frost reaches 

 them. This is important from the stand- 

 point of earliness of bloom as well as 

 the proper development of the flower. 



WHAT TO BUY 



One of the most difficult things for 

 the new beginner to decide is just what 

 kind of bulbs to get. Sometimes the 

 pocket book is limited or the space for 

 planting is small ; in either case it is 

 difficult to know what to buy in order to 

 obtain the best results from the money 

 expended and the space of ground at the 

 disposal of the planter. It is also diffi- 

 cult to advise the planter without know- 

 ing all the circumstances. Some who 

 have a dollar to spend would like to buy 

 everything. They look through the cata- 



La Reine Tnlips Cloting op for tlie Night 



logue at the great variety of good things 

 offered and become confused and finally 

 end by buying a dozen or fifteen different 

 varieties with their dollar. 



This is a great mistake. A person who 

 has only one dollar to spend ought to 

 buy a very few varieties, but as many 

 of each variety as possible. When 

 bought by the dozen an average of about 

 fifteen can be bought for the above sum 

 of money, whereas if single bulbs are 

 purchased the average number would be 

 only 25 or 30 for the same amount. One 

 tulip in the garden will attract attention, 

 but only because it contrasts with the 

 other objects around it; and looks too 

 much like a lone sentinel to be effective. 

 One dozen will attract attention because 

 of their own exquisite beauty, while one 

 hundred will make a man wake up and 

 take notice unless he is immune from 

 the grander sights of earth. 



Hyacinths in Water 



Tbomu Jackson, M.A.C., Wionipeg 

 Some of the single hyacinths may be 

 grown very satisfactorily in water. 

 Special glasses for this purpose .may be 

 bought from the seedsmen. They should 

 be filled with pure water, preferably rain 

 water, which is the best, and the bulbs 

 so place.d that the base of the bulb barely 

 touches the water. They are then stored 

 in a dark, cool closet or cellar, until the 

 roots are developed, when they may be 

 brought into the light. 



A subdued light is the best for a few 

 days, when they may be given all the 

 light possible. Change the water about 

 once a month or oftener if necessary, 

 providing it looks cloudy or smells badly. 

 Charcoal may be used with advantage, 

 as it helps to keep the water sweet and 

 absorbs all impurities. It is not neces- 

 sary, however, if the water is fresh and 

 pure. An airy, sunny situation and a 

 temperature of about 60 degrees regu- 

 larly maintained will insure the best re- 

 sults. 



