The Canadian Horticulturist. 395 



among the foliage and between the pots. But keep up frequent sprinkling, 

 the same as before. In about two weeks they will have made enough new roots 

 to sustain them finely in almost any situation, and that without the leaves 

 showing any signs of wilting. 



What is worth doing at all is worth doing well ; surely in plant culture it is 

 worth while to take some pains to thus get the stock into proper shape for 

 winter. — American Gardening. 



BULBS FOR HOUSE AND WINDOW CULTURE. 



HEN the qualities of the Holland bulbs are considered, the beauty 

 of their flowers, the fragrance of many of them, their hardiness, 

 the ease with which they can be raised, adapted to the circum- 

 stances of everyone by their cheapness and the few requirements 

 of culture, so that one having a single window can have the 

 pleasure of them as well as one who has a greenhouse to devote 

 to them, it is not so surprising that so many thousands and 

 millions of these bulbs are raised, but that everyone, who admires 

 plants, does not provide them for house culture as surely as the season of them 

 arrives. It is gratifying to have the evidence which yearly presents itself that 

 the love of these plants is steadily growing and spreading in every direction in 

 town and country life. 



If the bulbs are wanted merely for the bloom of one season the character of 

 the soil, provided it be light enough, would be a matter of comparative indiffer- 

 ence, for their blooming would depend more on the strength of the bulbs than 

 on the quality of the soil in which they are potted. Most persons, however, 

 after blooming hyacinths and tulips in the house, plant them in the garden in 

 the spring to remain indefinitely, and consequently like to keep them as good 

 as possible. A good potting soil for nearly all bulbs and house plants may be 

 prepared by a little timely attention. A mixture of fibrous loam, leaf mold and 

 sand with a little old stable manure constitutes the proper material ; do not use 

 fresh manure. The fibrous loam is prepared by cutting some sods and placing 

 them in a heap, grass side downwards where they will decay. When the grass 

 roots have rotted, and so that they will crumble down, the soil is ready for 

 use, and it can then be mixed with a quarter of its bulk of sand and as much 

 more of old manure. If leaf mould from the woods can be produced about as 

 much of it can be added as a fourth of the loam. These substances well mixed 

 together will make a valuable potting soil. 



A 5 -in. pot is the best size, but if one has but a 4-in pot it can be used ; or 

 if larger ones, they can contain more bulbs. If one is where pots are not easily 

 to be had, a wooden box may be made to do good duly, and many a good wife 



