98 THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



On general principles, also, the seed of named varieties of 

 flowers is likely to have been more carefully selected than 

 the cheaper mixed seed. To keep a variety true to name 

 requires eternal vigilance on the part of the seed grower and 

 the constant elimination of plants that do not approach the 

 grower's ideal of the variety type. 



ROMAN HYACINTHS 



Few spring flowering bulbs are so easy to force into blossom 

 in time for the Christmas holidays as are the Roman Hya- 

 cinths. They may be planted in almost any sort of recep- 

 tacle and crowded together more thickly than most other 

 bulbs, and still yield an abundant supply of beautiful blos- 

 soms. Several of the bulbs may be placed in a three-inch 

 or four-inch paper flower-pot, or a great many may be grown 

 in a large shallow box or dish. They need be left in the cool 

 basement only three or four weeks before bringing them to 

 a warmer lighted room. 



The beautiful flowers are borne on pedicels along a central 

 stalk. They have a sweet and pleasant perfume and they 

 serve admirably as models for drawing with a lead-pencil. 

 The bulbs are so inexpensive that every school which at- 

 tempts to do anything with winter flowers should grow an 

 abundance of them. 



THE DECEMBER CALENDAR 



Bring from the basement more of the spring flowering bulbs that show 



a good root development. 

 Bring to the light of the room the lilies-of-the-valley after they have 



been in a warm closet about two weeks. 



