BULB 



BULB 



595 



uncongenial conditions, or because it may not have 

 been matured when dug; or it may be injured from heat- 

 ing, sweating, rotting or moldiness in storage or transit, 

 caused by improper curing or packing, or it may be 

 dried out from having been out of the ground too long. 

 In the majority of cases in which poor bulbs are planted, 

 however, it is the buyer's fault in procuring cheap 

 bulbs, which in many cases are second grades, lacking 

 age and proper size. The commoner varieties of a spe- 

 cies usually propagate the fastest, and it is generally 

 these less salable varieties and inferior seedlings and cull- 

 ings from the named bulbs that go to make up most 

 "mixed colors" and "mixed varieties." Therefore, for 

 best results, it is advisable to expend a given amount 

 of money for the first-size named varieties, rather than 

 for a larger quantity of cheaper seconds and mixtures, 

 unless, of course, the bulbs are wanted for large perma- 

 nent plantings, as in promiscuous borders for naturaliz- 

 ing, in which best flowers the first season are of secon- 

 dary consideration. 



The best named hyacinths "top roots," as they are 

 called in Holland require from four to six years to 

 attain full size and give best flowers. Such bulbs, 

 according to the variety, should measure from 20 to 24 

 centimeters (8 to 10 inches) in circumference. These 

 naturally cost more to grow than the younger second or 

 "bedding" grade of bulbs, measuring from 18 to 20 cen- 

 timeters (6 to 8 inches). There is a third size, ranging 

 from 16 to 18 centimeters (4 to 6 inches), that goes in 

 mixtures, and a fourth size (12 to 14 centimeters) that 

 goes out as "Dutch Romans," "Pan Hyacinths," 

 "Miniatures," and so on. Some growers even scale their 

 sizes a centimeter or two less than mentioned, to enable 

 them to quote lower prices. Crocus, narcissi, tulips 

 and many other bulbs are also sorted into sizes, ena- 

 bling the growers to catch all classes of buyers. 



A first-size crocus bulb should measure 10 centimeters 

 (4 inches) in circumference, and such bulbs produce 

 from six to twelve flowers each. A small, cheap bulb 

 produces only two or three flowers. A narcissus bulb of 

 maximum size will produce from three to five flowers 

 (sometimes more), and an inferior size usually but a 

 single flower. A white Roman hyacinth bulb 14- to 16- 

 centimeter size (5 to 6 inches in circumference) will pro- 

 duce three and often four spikes of firsts and several 

 seconds, while an 11- to 12-centimeter size will aver- 

 age only one first-grade spike and a couple of seconds, 

 or perhaps nothing but seconds. The best lily-of-the- 

 valley pips bear from twelve to sixteen bells on a spike, 

 usually all firsts. Cheaper inferior grades of pips have 

 seldom more than seven to ten bells. If the florist or 

 planter wants the best bulbs, he must pay more money 

 for them, but they are cheapest in the end, for second- 

 grade stock takes up just as much room and requires 

 as much care, fire, and other expenses. It is the grade 

 of flowers called firsts that sell and pay a profit. The 

 supply of seconds is often so abundant that the 

 market price for them does not pay the cost of 

 the bulbs. 



Mere size alone should never be taken as the standard 

 in judging bulbs, however, as in this respect there is 

 always a great difference among varieties of the same 

 kind of bulb. A plump, solid bulb, without any sus- 

 picion of flabbiness, will give far better blooms than one 

 without these qualities, but if size goes with them the 

 purchaser will he just so much better satisfied. Further- 

 more, the selection of varieties is of importance since in 

 recent years a great many vastly improved varieties 

 in all classes of bulbs have been introduced. The grow- 

 ers, nevertheless, because of the demand for the older 

 sorts, of which they have large stocks, continue to list 

 many kinds no longer worth growing, unless cheap 

 bulbs are wanted. Attention ought also to be paid to 

 the fact that a number of varieties appear in the lists 

 under different names, a feature of the bulb trade 

 which often leads to great confusion although the relia- 



ble dealers usually note synonymous names in such 

 cases. Cheap bulbs may often be secured through the 

 auction sales in fairly good quality, but it is utterly im- 

 possible to count upon these being true to name, or 

 even to color. The surest way to obtain first-class bulbs 



689. A good pot of narcissi. 



is always to purchase from a trustworthy source, and 

 to state clearly, when buying, the exact purposes for 

 which the bulbs are intended and the amount which 

 the buyer desires to spend. 



Catalogue of bulbs. 



To aid in the selection of bulbs for particular pur- 

 poses, is appended a list of the leading species that are 

 procurable while dormant (between the months speci- 

 fied) from seedsmen and bulb dealers, and a sign is 

 affixed to each to indicate the purpose for which the 

 species or certain varieties in it are adapted. Some 

 kinds are useful for more than one purpose, and such 

 have a corresponding number of signs. For example: 

 If a selection of bulbs is to be made for winter-flowering 

 in the house, make a note of those to which an asterisk 

 (*) is affixed, then turn to their respective headings 

 in this Cyclopedia, where will be found other advice and 

 descriptions; read all cultural instructions carefully, 

 and consult good growers and reliable dealers for the 

 most recent varieties in any species, remembering that 

 new varieties frequently appear. 



Far winter-flowering bulbs for greenhouse or window, select from 

 species marked *. 



For summer- and fall-flowering bulbs for pots for greenhouse 

 and other decoration, select from species marked t. 



For spring-flowering hardy bulbs for gardens, lawns, and the like, 

 select from species marked J. 



For summer- and fail-flowering hardy bulbs for gardens, lawns, 

 and the like, select from species marked . 



Far summer- and fall-flowering (not hardy) bulbs for spring 

 planting in garden, and the like, select from species marked 3. 



For climbinii bulbous plants, select from species marked f. 



Those marked H are hardy; HH, half-hardy; T, tender, 



GENERA, ETC. HARDINESS. DORMANT. 



AbobraUg HH Oct. to Apr. 



Achimencst T Oct. to Apr. 



ARapanthua t ij HH Oct. to Apr. 



Albuca t T 9 ct - to AP r - 



Allium*t HA HH Aug. to Dec. 



Alstroemeria t HH |"P*- to Nov - 



Amaryllis *t T Oct. to Apr. 



Amorphophallus \ T Oct. to Apr. 



Anemone * t H * HH Aug. to Nov. 



Anomatheca ? HH Oct. to Apr. 



Antholyzn j> HH Oct. to Apr. 



Apiosl I H Oct. to Apr. 



Arisajma t HH Oct. to Apr. 



Arum*t T Aug. to Apr. 



