31 



Winter Flowering Bulbs, 



BY R. ALSTON. 



Oct. 15th, 1896. 



At this season of the year such a subject as winter flow- 

 ering- bulbs ought to be interesting- to all lovers of flowers, 

 and especially when our winters are so long and our summers 

 so short, there is no other country where "winter flowering' 

 bulbs " should be more hig-hly prized. We are not able to 

 have a plentiful supply of flowers from out doors for a longer 

 period than about three months ; the rest of the year, there- 

 fore, depends upon indoor culture of plants and bulbs, if we 

 would have a continuous display of flowers all the year "round. 



Bulbs, now, are a very important feature in horticulture, 

 and especially the winter flowering- ones. Much might here 

 be said about Bulbs, what really constitutes a Bulb, the 

 different formations of different kinds of Bulbs, what really 

 is a Bulb, and what is not a Bulb, and so on. But my inten- 

 tion to-night is to speak about Bulbs in g-eneral, that is, 

 Bulbs as they are commonly understood by every one. 



One of the principal elements of success in the growing- 

 of plants and Bulbs is proper soil. Many people have an 

 idea that garden soil is good enough for potting- work, but it 

 is a great mistake. No matter how much care and attention 

 is given afterwards, if the soil is not right, the best results 

 cannot be attained. A mixture suitable for Bulbs can be 

 made as follows : Take three parts of old sod, which has 

 been heaped up for at least six months. In that time it will 

 have become thoroughly rotted, and the fibres will all be 

 dead. Mix with this abont one-eig-hth of leaf mould or well 

 decomposed manure, and one eighth of g-ood sharp sand. 

 This, chopped up fine and thoroug-hly mixed tog-ether, will 

 make a good compost, which will be suitable for almost all 

 kinds of winter flowering Bulbs ; so much so that if the Bulbs 

 did not thrive well and give good satisfaction after being- 



