250 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



fieldii is another of the best and earliest. Others good for 

 forcing are Princeps; Glory of Leiden; Emperor; Golden 

 Spur; and Victoria. If these do not afford a sufficiently 

 wide range of form and color, other new and old varieties 

 may be drawn upon. 



The tulips are not so well adapted to forcing as the hy- 

 acinths and narcissi but may be used with success. They 

 are so decidedly different that, unless one is limited in the 

 number of things which can be grown, at least a few will 

 repay the trouble required. Early varieties should be 

 selected, such as the Due Van Tholls, in various colors, 

 from the single early flowering section, and Kaiser Kroon, 

 and Murillo from the double flowering; the May flowering 

 sorts, planted at the same time, will flower a little later, 

 and the Darwins will finish up the succession of bloom in 

 March and April. 



Bulbs should always be purchased only from a thoroughly 

 reliable source. Almost always for forcing purposes, it is bet- 

 ter to pay the price and get the largest there are to be had. 

 These are usually listed as Mammoth, Jumbo or some other 

 super-superlative term. " First size" bulbs will also give 

 results. Very often, two or three smaller bulbs, planted 

 together, will be very much more effective than a single 

 large one, although the individual flowers may not be quite 

 so big. Hyacinths cost from ten to twenty-five cents apiece ; 

 Roman hyacinths, from fifty to seventy-five cents a dozen; 

 narcissi and tulips, from twenty-five to seventy-five cents a 

 dozen; crocuses, from fifteen to twenty-five cents per dozen; 

 freesias, twenty-five to fifty cents a dozen; gladioli, twenty- 

 five to fifty cents a dozen, and Easter lilies, ten to forty 

 cents apiece. When ordering, it is well to specify that bulbs 

 are to be sent as soon as received. Tulips, and hyacinths 

 and narcissi which are wanted for early flowering, should be 

 started as soon as you can get them. Where you are buy- 

 ing the bulbs personally, select those of regular form, round 

 and plump. If there is any choice between plumpness and 

 size, the former will usually be the safer bet. Bulbs which 

 have become slightly shrivelled in transportation, may 



