How To Grow Bulbs for the Schoolroom 



H. D. Hemexway. 



Few plants that can be successfully grown in the school room 

 are as satisfactory or as easy to grow as some bulbs. A con- 

 tinuous succession of bloom may be had by properly handling 

 them. If desired, the children may do the work of planting and 

 caring for them. It is easy to show the children that bulbs are 

 composed of thick fleshy leaves by cutting two in halves, one 

 vertically, the other horizontally, and exposing the cut faces to. 

 the sun for a few days until partly dried out. Another way is 

 to remove the outer covering and then the thickened leaves one 

 at a time. When we understand that these thickened compressed 

 leaves are store houses for food, we better understand how we 

 may get gocd results with bulbs by simply supplying sufficient 

 water. The water with the supply of air. both at the leaves and 

 roots, enables the bulb to quickly grow and bloom. 



For successful bulb growing it is important to get a good 

 root development before the tops have started. While poorly 

 handled bulbs may give fair results, proper planting and care 

 means greater success. 



Only good strong healthy bulbs should be purchased. For 

 winter blooming they should be planted early in a mixture of 

 moist soil, composed of. soil and decayed leaves, to which 

 a generous sprinkling of sand has been added. In the absence of 

 a compost pile, mix equal parts of available soil and soil gathered 

 from a hollow in a woods composed largely of the decayed 

 leaves of deciduous trees. In a city the leaf mold may be purchased 

 of the florist. Drainage composed of clinkers, small stones or 

 broken pots should be placed in the bottom of the pot. Xever 

 press the bulbs into a pot filled with soil. If the soil directlv un- 

 der the bulb is hard, it may be forced out of the pot by the roots. 

 Press the soil firmly over the top. barely covering the nose of 

 the bulb. When planted, water thoroughly and put the pots or 

 boxes of bulbs in a cool, moist, well-drained place. A cold frame 

 is best, but a cool cellar or shed will do. Fill the soil two inches 

 over the pots or boxes and add leaves or straw to prevent freez- 

 ing as the weather becomes colder. Cover the cold frame with 

 board shutters. After eight weeks a few of the earliest bulbs 

 may be taken to the school room. Others may be taken every 

 week or ten days so as to give continuous bloom. For best re- 

 sults do not remove the bulbs until the roots show through the 



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