200 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



all you have of this regular supply, if you cannot make use of them 

 in some way, you are but little out. But to bring in eight, ten, or 

 twelve flats of one variety at a time and trust to good luck to get 

 rid of them, is folly and poor management, and makes the forcing 

 of bulbs unprofitable. 



THE CARE OF BULB STOCK IN FLOWER 



The flowers of bulb stock coming out of the hot or dark forcing 

 box or frame are not ready for the counter, but should be placed in 

 a cool, shaded place for a few days to properly finish and harden 

 off before they are put on display. 



In a hot, sunny place almost any of these flowers are gone in 

 a couple of days, but give them a cool, shaded house, a shed where 

 there is no danger of frost, or a cellar with just a little light, and they 

 will be good for a week or ten days. A place to finish the flowers in is 

 as necessary as anything else. Take Murillo Tulips: Freshly brought 

 from below the bench, colorless and soft, they don't mean much, but 

 give them three or four days in a coo,l place and you have fine- 

 colored, beautiful flowers; and so with practically all the others. 



BULB STOCK FOR EASTER 



Easter, whether it comes early or late, is a time which to the 

 retail grower of bulb stock means a great deal ; it is far too important 

 to figure on using for that week whatever is left to bring in to be 

 forced. If you have a nice lot of Narcissi and Tulips coming in 

 for Easter to cut from, they sell. Pans of Hyacinths, Darwins, 

 double and single Tulips, single and double Narcissi, all in pots and 

 pans, find a ready sale and will make up for other items you may be 

 short of. 



Make it a point to push bulb stock for Easter; have enough of 

 it and provide a proper place to keep it in good shape. Instead 

 of working in the dark, plan the previous Fall, mark down just how 

 many miniature Hyacinths are to be grown in pans for Easter, how 

 many large Hyacinths in pots, how many pans of double yellow, 

 pink, and white Tulips, how many pans of different sizes of some of 

 the many beautiful large flowering Narcissi, how many flats of Tu- 

 lips and Narcissi to cut from, and then plant accordingly. Don't 

 stop there, but separate this stock from your bulbs to be forced during 

 Winter and put them by themselues outdoors; reserve them just for 

 Easter forcing. No matter what happens or how short you may be 

 of stock before that time, for Easter one of the great flower days 

 of the year you should certainly be prepared. 



You may not be able to grow your own Lilies, Rambler Roses or 

 Ericas, but you can and should grow your own bulb stock for that 



