NOVEMBER 97 



lowed by abundance of moisture and warmth, to con- 

 vince it that winter has passed, that spring has come, 

 and that it is now time to begin to grow. This is the 

 method and philosophy of forcing bulbs into bloom in 

 the winter. 



Oftentimes the nourishment for the next season's 

 growth is stored in the roots. Sweet potatoes, carrots, 

 beets, turnips, are excellent examples of this. They, too, 

 may be deceived into thinking that winter has gone, and 

 that spring is here. One may cut the lower end from a 

 carrot, scoop out some of the centre, keep it filled with 

 water in a warm room, and watch, with delight, the green 

 branches which insist upon growing upwards from the 

 lower end. 



Method : 



A hyacinth bulb cut vertically in half shows perfectly 

 the short thick stem, the numerous leaves, and the flower 

 stalk within. Before showing this, ask the children the 

 previous history of the bulb. They will know that there 

 was a hyacinth in the spring with beautiful sweet-scented 

 flowers and numerous green leaves, and that both have 

 died long since. You will have to tell them that after the 

 flower had passed away, the leaves worked with all their 

 strength to make and to give food to little underground 

 branches which are really just like little plants, except 

 that they were not green. 



Show the cut bulb, and, by drawing or otherwise, make 

 them realize that it, too, has leaves and flowers. Ask 

 them why the leaves are not yet green, why they are so 

 small, so thick, why they are so compact and well cov- 

 ered ? Ask them when this bulb will begin to grow and 

 why ? Will it grow now if we give it water and warmth ? 



H 



