192 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



doubt, is to address a letter of inquiry to the dealer 

 offering the plants, in regard to suitability for your 

 particular climate. 



Bulbs for winter blooming. I have come to the 

 conclusion that almost anything will grow and blos- 

 som if given the proper care. For the amateur, whose 

 only field is the sitting-room window, it is better to 

 undertake only those varieties with which one may be 

 sure of success under ordinary care, as the Hyacinth, 

 Narcissus, Scilla, Crocus, Anemone, Ornithogalum 

 arabicum, and Freesia. These are absolutely sure 

 bloomers, and much more reliable in the matter of 

 producing flowers than a Geranium. In selecting 

 Hyacinths the single will generally give better satis- 

 faction than the double, and there should always be a 

 generous proportion of white among the colours se- 

 lected. Alba superbissima, Baroness Van Thuyl, and 

 La Grandesse are among the best whites; Norma 

 gigantea, Roi des Beiges for pinks and reds; Ida is 

 the best yellow ; and Czar Peter and Grand Lilas the 

 best blues. 



Among the Narcissi nothing finer than the large 

 trumpet varieties could be desired: Horsfieldi, with 

 its yellow trumpet and snow-white perianth ; Sir Wat- 

 kin, or the Giant Welshman, as it is sometimes called; 

 Empress and Emperor and the clustered Paper White 

 are all exquisite ; and the old double Von Sion is most 

 effective in the window-garden. 



Hyacinths and Narcissi require the same treatment : 



