CHAPTER XXXI 



BULBS FOR EARLY FLOWERING INDOORS 



THE study of the florist's bulb catalogue in September 

 invariably conjures up visions of April, with its harvest of 

 crocus, daffodil and hyacinth, welcome harbingers of 

 summer. But there is invariably associated with this bright 

 prospect a subconscious dread of the dreary months that must 

 elapse before the realisation of our hopes is achieved. 



Happy, therefore, is the gardener who is the possessor of a warm 

 greenhouse He prides himself on his ability to ensure that he 

 shall have flowers in bloom all the year round, and he welcomes 

 rather than dreads the approach of autumn, since he knows that 

 by taking a little forethought he can fill every available inch of 

 space in his frames and greenhouse with Roman hyacinths, tulips, 

 and freesias, and have them in flower at Christmas. 



But to achieve this happy result there must be no delay in 

 getting to work once the chill and shorter evenings of August warn 

 us that autumn is at hand. The bulbs which are intended for 

 forcing -in the warm greenhouse should be purchased before the 

 month is out, and while the problem of ways and means is being 

 considered, let me offer a word of warning against the waste of 

 money involved hi the buying of cheap bulbs. True it is that the 

 temptation is great to secure a large quantity of bulbs at a low 

 cost, but it must be resisted if satisfactory results are to be 

 secured. 



It is far better to grow a limited number of choice, sound bulbs 

 well, than to fill one's glasshouse with bulbs of inferior quality, 

 half of which will probably never produce a single flower There- 

 fore, carefully draw up a plan of operations, go to a florist of repute, 

 and if you are in any doubt do not hesitate to ask him for the advice 



