POINTERS ABOUT WINTER HOUSE PLANTS. 



seven-inch pot. Water well when potted, 

 and put in a cool, dark place. Keep 

 them there until they have made abund- 

 ant roots, which will be in four to six 

 weeks. To grow the Bermuda lilies, 

 select large, heavy bulbs ; put about 

 three inches of compost on the top of 

 drainage crocks, in a seven-inch flower 

 pot ; place the bulb on this, and cover 

 with soil, not filling the pot right up to 

 the top." 



" Why shouldn't you fill the pot right 

 to the top ? " 



" Because the lily will form adventi- 

 tious roots, like that Mexican June corn, 

 and you want to add a mulch for their 

 benefit." 



Bulbs Without Soil. 



" Is it possible to grow all these differ- 

 ent bulbs in water ? " 



" Hyacinths, and the Narcissus, com- 

 monly known as the Chinese sacred lily, 

 are the only ones commonly grown in 

 water. The Narcissus referred to has 

 been so widely advertised that it is hard- 

 ly necessary to describe its culture. The 

 hyacinths are put in narrow glasses 

 made for the purpose, which have a 

 wider cup at the top, to hold the bulb. 

 It is well to place the bulb in slightly 

 damped sand for a few days before 

 putting in the glass. The bottom of the 

 bulb should just touch the water. Un- 

 til the bulb has made roots about one 

 inch long, the glass should be kept in a 

 dark place." 



" Is ordinary clear glass used for these 

 bulbs?" 



"No, opaque glass is preferable, be- 

 cause the roots should be in the dark. 

 The water may be changed from time 

 to time, about two drops of ammonia 

 being added to the water in each glass. 

 A lump of charcoal will aid in keeping 

 the water sweet." 



Varieties of Hyacinths. 



" What varieties, of tulips and hya- 

 cinths would you advise for house 

 culture ? " 



" Single varieties are, as a rule, more 

 satisfactory than the doubles. The small 

 Roman hyacinths are the earliest to 

 bloom. They should be planted in earth, 

 three bulbs in a five-inch pot. They 

 may be obtained in white, red or blue, 

 and are in bloom long before the large 

 Dutch sorts. Among Dutch hyacinths, 

 a good selection of singles is the follow- 

 ing : Blue — Charles Dickens, Czar Peter, 

 King of the Blues, and La Peyrouse ; 

 white — La Grandesse, Mme. Van der 

 Hoop, Grandeur a Merveille, and Baron 

 Von Thuyll ; yellow — Ida, William III., 

 Heroine ; dark red — Pelissier ; pink, 

 Gertrude, Lord Macaulay, Norma, Fab- 

 iola. One may buy unnamed sorts, in 

 the different colors, cheaper than named 

 sorts, and they are excellent for bedding ; 

 but I think the selected ones are safer 

 for window use." 



Tulips and Their Varieties. 



" The earliest tulips noted outside are 

 small red or white ones ; are they suit- 

 able for the house ? " 



" They are the Due Van Thol varie- 

 ties, which are very early, hence are 

 forced by florists who want tulips around 

 the holidays. They are small and short- 

 stemmed when brought into bloom about 

 the holidays, and while it is well enough 

 to have a few of them, there are better 

 sorts." 



" What varieties would you recom- 

 mend for the house ? " 



" Singles by preference ; a good selec- 

 tion would include Artus, bright scarlet ; 

 Chrysolosa, golden yellow ; Keizerkroon, 

 red and yellow ; Cottage Maid, pink and 

 white; Duchesse de Parma, red edged 

 with yellow ; Joost Van Vondel, red and 

 white." 



479 



