By the exercise of a little taste a world of pleasure can be derived from the cultivation of 

 Bulbs in the house, as they can be used in almost innumerable ways. Hyacinths, Narcissus 

 and Crocuses may be grown in glasses of water, and our engravings show a few of the simpler 



forms of glasses. Pot culture, for general use, however, is quite 



as pretty, and a little more natural. 



The Due Van Thol Tulips are 



excellent for pots; indeed, many 



of the Early Single varieties are 



suitable for house culture. Our 



engravings show two pots of these 



flowers. A very pretty arrange- 

 ment is to plant a variety of Bulbs 



in baskets or boxes. Any one can 



secure such a box without any cost, 



and it can be made ornamental by 



attaching a few sticks or pieces of 



bark to the front and sides, as shown 



in the engraving below. Fill the 



box with sandy soil, and if a little 



BULBS IN POTS. 



TULIPS IN POTS. 



moss broken up finely is mixed with the soil it will keep it from becoming packed or heavy from 

 frequent watering. The box can then be planted with Bulbs, all of one kind or different kinds 

 planting those that grow the highest in the center, and the low growing kinds on the edges. 



Another very good plan is to have a box, similar to the one described, as a kind of little 

 nursery, or reserve. Fill it almost entirely with broken up moss, with a very little sandy soil. 

 Plant this with Crocuses, Hyacinths, &c., and keep it in any convenient, pretty cool room, 

 where it will not freeze. As fast as the plants come into flower you can take them up and 

 place them in glasses of water, and thus keep up a supply for the parlor or sitting room for a 

 long time. If preferred, these Bulbs, when in flower, can be placed in pots or baskets filled with 

 damp moss. In fact, they can be used in almost any way desired, and will be found to produce 

 the greatest satisfaction, furnishing flowers for a long time. If placed in moss, it must be kept 

 constantly moist or the flowers will suffer. Bulbs, when flowered in the house, should be kept 

 in as moderately cool a room as pos- 

 sible. If placed in a living room, 

 which is kept at the usual temperature 

 of such rooms, from 70 to 75 degrees, 

 they will bloom too early, and the 

 flowers will soon fade. A good ar- 

 rangement is to keep them in a parlor, 

 'or some spare room, not frequently 

 used, and which is usually kept pretty 

 cool. They will then mature slowly 

 and keep in perfection a long time. A 

 few may be brought into the sitting- 

 room, placed on the dining table occasionally, or may be even taken to church, for special occa- 

 sions, when floral decorations may be needed, and returned to their places as soon as possible. 

 In this way a bulb can be made to do long service. Nearly all failures, I think, result from 

 keeping plants in too dry an atmosphere and too high a temperature. 



TIME OF BLOOMING. We are often asked when Hyacinths will bloom ; can we have 

 flowers by Christmas? The request often accompanying orders is, send me the early kinds, 

 so that I can soon have flowers. Now, the truth is, there is but a week or two of difference 

 between the time of flowering of the early and late sorts, and none except the little White 

 Roman will bloom by the holidays, with, perhaps, an exceptional case. The Hyacinth 

 needs a long season of rest, and does not become anxious to grow until about the first of 

 December, and this desire increases as time advances. A Hyacinth planted the first of Novem- 

 l>er will go along moderately, and will take nearly three months in blooming. The same 



128 



SLLNlATUKJi BULB GARDEN. 



