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POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



Hardy Dutch Bulbs: Plant Now. 



What are known as the Dutch bulbs, em- 

 bracing Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus and others, 

 must be planted in the fall months if at all. 

 Because people often fail to grasp this fact, 

 the work is neglected at the proper time, only 

 to be repented of, when the blooming season 

 comes around. The culture of the entire list 

 of kinds set forth in the dealer's catalogues, 

 either in the window, conservatory or garden is 



GROUP OF SINGLE HYACINTHS. 



SO simple, the prices of choice bulbs so low, 

 and the results invariably so satisfactory to 

 growers, that we always feel to recommend their 

 culture. They are a class, that even the inex- 

 perienced succeed with. Several of our adver- 

 tisers this month, offer these bulbs. 



Hyacinths are justly very popular. They 

 bloom early, are very sweet, handsome and 

 durable when in flower. We can suggest 

 no flowers that would be finer next February 

 and March in the window, then some dozens 

 of these brought along in pots. For forcing, 

 the single varieties should generally be chosen, 

 a group of which is shown in the accompany- 

 ing engraving. A half dozen fine singles mak- 

 ing a variety of color, would be Argus, dark 

 blue, Grand Vedette, pure white. Norma, deli- 

 cate rose. Priestly, delicate lavender. Queen 

 Victoria Alexandria, bright crimson, Marie, 

 blue. Among doubles that force well, La 

 Virginite, rosy white, Czar Nicholas, pink and 

 Bloksbergen, blue, are favorites with us. 



We are not sure, but Tulips are more thought 

 of than Hyacinths. They lack somewhat the 

 ■ long-keeping qualities when in bloom of the 

 former, and perhaps, also, in delicacy of color 

 and fragrance, as compared with them. But on 

 the other hand Tulip bulbs are very cheap, the 

 flowers exceedingly varied and brilliant, and 

 once the bulbs are planted they continue to 

 thrive for years. In forcing Tulips no one 

 ever fails, we believe. 



Narcissus or Daffodils, while they have always 

 been favorities, have received more attention 

 from growers in late years than any other one 

 class of Dutch bulbs. As a result, the improve- 

 ment in the flowers and the increase in the 

 number of the varieties has been remarkable. 

 No one ever regrets investing some money, in 

 these fine ornaments of the spring garden. 



The Crown Imperial {Fritillaria imperialis) 

 is a grand old plant, which seems to be gaining 

 favor again with planters, as it deserves to do. 

 We wish we could speak well of its odor, but 

 because one might not care to fondle the plant 

 or its flowers on account of their peculiar smell, 

 is no reason why the plant may not occupy a 

 prominent place in the border. Here it is an 

 admirable subject, for the effect its coronets of 

 bright-colored blooms produce. 



The smaller hardy bulbs 

 such as Crocus, Snowdrops, 

 Scillas, and the like, are in- 

 dispensable to every good 

 flower garden. The cost of 

 the bulbs is quite insignifi- 

 cant. They thrive year 

 after year with being set 

 once. Any of these also 

 force well in the window. 



As for starting bulbs in 

 pots, Hyacinths and those 

 of a similar size, should 

 have a pot 4 or 5 inches 

 across inside for a single 

 bulb, or 7 inches for three 

 bulbs. Smaller kinds may 

 be set proportionately close. 

 The soil should be rich, and 

 made light by the use of 

 sand. Drainage, in the 

 shape of some pot sherds 

 in the bottom of each pot, 

 is essentia?. In planting 

 keep the bulb near the 

 surface with its tip in 

 sight; press the soil firmly. After setting 

 them, our practice is to plunge the pots in coal 

 ashes or soil in a cold frame, shed or cellar, 

 and covering six inches deep with the same 

 material. If it freezes where they stand, no 

 harm, provided straw is used for protection in 

 case of much cold. In about six weeks after 

 starting, they will be fit to bring into heat. 



To grow bulbs in glasses, keep the glasses 

 so filled with soft water, that the bulb will just 

 touch it. Set them away in a cool, dark place, 

 but where it does not freeze, for six weeks, 

 when they may be brought into light for top- 

 growth. Any water lost by evaporation or 

 otherwise, must be made up for. 



Outdoor bulb culture is a very simple matter. 

 Here they all like a rather rich soil. Plant 

 those of the size of Hyacinths and Narcissus 6 

 inches deep, and the smaller ones about 4 

 inches deep. For distance apart, this may be 

 a little closer than the depth in inches, recom- 

 mended. About the ist of December, the beds 

 of bulbs should be covered over with coarse 

 litter or evergreen branches for protection. 



Fitness in Floriculture. 



Whether one gardens for pleasure or for pro- 

 fit, the fitness of plants or things for any given 

 end must not be lost sight of. Every species 

 and variety in the Vegetable Kingdom is 

 adapted to some particular end, and this it will, 

 under proper conditions, reach and fit better 

 than any other one possibly could do. 



Attempts are often made by amateurs to grow 

 such Roses as Marechal Neil, Cornelia Cook or 

 others of a similar class in the window or sum- 

 mer flower beds. Such attempts illustrate what 

 may be called an utter disregard f»r fitness in 

 floriculture. Here the culture of a most valua- 



ble class of Roses is undertaken, in a way that 

 in nine cases out of ten, leads to the most com- 

 plete kind of failure, because the conditions of 

 culture are unfitted to the plants. 



Take the Marechal Neil, and it is certmnly 

 one of the grandest Roses ever originated. Its 

 fame is world-wide; it is deserving of all that 

 has ever been said for it, regard being had to 

 fitness. The writer knows of a single plant 

 that has yielded 8,806 large, perfect, golden 

 buds in the space of one year. It may be said 

 that there was no month in the twelve in which 

 less than 120 buds were cut. From this num- 

 ber the yield ran as high as 1,800 buds in a sin- 

 gle month. 



Now this valuable Rose is both highly es- 

 teemed and extolled, just as it should be. It is 

 offered in the catalogue of every large grower 

 of Roses, and this also as it should be, unless 

 pains are taken by said growers to misrepresent 

 its value for window culture and bedding. 

 We are not aware that this has been done in the 

 catalogues. Indeed, as the result of some pains 

 taken to look into this matter, it must be said 

 that no overdrawn description or improper 

 recommend of the Marechal Neil, has been 

 found in many catalogues examined. 



Still thousands of Marechal Neil and similar 

 Roses are bought and tried every year, with 

 about the same number of failures attending. 

 Undoubtedly most of these cases of disregard 

 for fitness arise out of pure ignorance. Knowl- 

 edge is power in gardening, as in anything else. 



It shall be within the sphere of Popular Gar- 

 dening, to so diffuse information on gardening 

 matters, that at least its readers, may be on 

 their guard against committing errors of this 

 kind. Such errors are now not only very com- 

 mon, but really prove to be a great drawback 

 to progress in popular gardening. 



Trees as Protectors from Lightningr. 



For many years the writer has labored to 

 encourage the planting of trees. His main 

 arguments, have been aimed to show, that 



A FINE TULIP. 



trees directly afford beauty, shade and shelter, 

 besides in a general way soon adding to the 

 value of a place, a hundred fold more than 

 their cost. 



In addition to the old arguments, the com- 

 paratively new one, of planting as a safe-guard 

 against lightning can now be added. To be 

 able to rid the summer showers with their 

 flashes of deadly electricity, of all terror, by 

 planting, and also reap every other benefit that 



