FLORICULTURE 493 



tions about how the crops ought to be handled ; his whole mind is 

 centered on one thing, and he is not carried away by suggestions 

 coming to him as the result of former experience in producing other 

 crops. What is stated here in regard to the owner is applicable, of 

 course, to the men whom the owner must secure for his help. Given 

 a bright, quick-witted young man, with no prejudiced views as to the 

 growing of crops, he will in most cases make a better specialist than 

 one who has had considerable training in general gardening work. 

 (Y. B. 1904.) 



Plant Growing as a Specialty. This is a field which is compara- 

 tively limited. The great improvement in transportation facilities 

 has made it practicable to ship plants long distances; hence these 

 plants are now turned out very cheaply and by the million in large 

 establishments remote from the points where they are to be sold. 

 Such being the case, the opportunities for the small specialist, or the 

 farmer, are few and are growing fewer. If the field is entered at all, 

 it should be considered mainly from the standpoint of getting into 

 touch with some already existing large establishment with a view to 

 obtaining experience and with the ultimate view of pushing the busi- 

 ness to such a point that large shipping facilities may be developed. 

 -(Y. B. 1904.) 



Bulb Growing. The very specialized conditions of soil and cli- 

 mate necessary for the proper production of bulbs and the peculiar 

 nature of the skilled labor required have made the establishment of 

 the bulb industry difficult. However, investigations have shown that 

 nearly all of the so-called Dutch bulbs may be grown in the United 

 States, and that one by one the difficulties due to competition of cheap 

 skilled labor, excessive cost of transportation, and the natural hesi- 

 tancy on the part of purchasers to use an untried article will be over- 

 come. A method has also been discovered bv the Department ex- 

 perts to produce the Bermuda lily bulb free from disease. Of the 

 millions of lily bulbs annually imported, it is safe to say that 40 per 

 cent are more or less affected by disease. 



Whatever bulbs are used for this purpose, it will be to the inter- 

 est of the grower to purchase none but the best. Most all the bulbs 

 forced in this country are grown and imported from Holland; the 

 Easter Lily,* Freesia and Calla Lily being exceptions, the two former 

 being imported from Japan and Bermuda, the latter being native to 

 California. 



When the bulbs are received, which is usually during the month 

 of October, they should be potted as soon as possible in a soil com- 

 posed of good garden loam with one-third added to its bulk of well 

 decomposed stable manure ; the addition of a little sand is beneficial 

 in order to keep the compost open. 



In potting the bulbs the crown of the bulb should be on a level 

 with the surface of the soil, making an allowance of one-fourth of an. 

 inch from the surface of the soil to the rim of the pot. to allow the 

 plant to be watered thoroughly at all times when needed. 

 - When the bulbs are potted, water thoroughly and place in a 

 cool cellar away from heat, leaving them in this position until thor- 



* See illustration on page 519. 



