The Culture of Flowering Bulbs 



When the pots are full of roots, liquid manure twice a week will be 

 helpful. 



After the blooming season has passed, encourage the foliage to 

 wither by withholding water. The roots may be stored away in their 

 own pots until the following August. 



FRITILLARIA 



FRITILLARIAS produce bell-shaped flowers, varying in colour, but 

 generally of a purplish tint, and beautifully spotted. They thrive 

 best in a good deep loam, but may be grown in almost any soil, and 

 do well under the shade of trees. They are quite hardy, and, like 

 most other bulbs, should be planted in autumn. 



GLADIOLUS 



THE GLADIOLUS is adapted for many important uses and it associates 

 admirably with Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Pyrethrums, and Phloxes in the 

 furnishing of clumps on the lawn and in the mixed border. It is 

 perfectly in harmony with surroundings when planted in American 

 beds or in the shrubbery. For supplying cut flowers it is invaluable, 

 as they retain their freshness in a vase for many days, and a 

 plentiful supply should be grown in reserved spots expressly for 

 indoor decoration. 



Culture in Pots. The autumn-flowering Gladioli are occasion- 

 ally grown in pots for decorating greenhouses and conservatories 

 during summer and autumn, but these succeed so well in the open 

 ground that pot culture is falling into desuetude. For the early, 

 flowering class culture under glass is desirable and necessary. The 

 corms of all these varieties are small, and a 32-sized pot will accom- 

 modate several. The soil should be decidedly rich, and it must be 

 porous, because water has to be given freely when the plants are 

 in full growth. Pot the corms in autumn, and cover with ashes 

 until the roots are developed, when successive batches can be 

 brought forward and gently forced for a continuous supply of elegant 

 flowers during April and May. A mild temperature of about 55 is 

 quite sufficient for them. 



Culture in the Open Ground. Preparations for Gladioli 

 must commence in autumn. Almost any soil can be made to answer, 



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