CHAPTER VII 



Failures with Bulbous Flowers How to Avoid 

 Them 



Gladioli not Flowering 



Q. I planted a lot of Gladiolus bulbs in March, very few of 

 which flowered the same year. Are they likely to be of any use 

 another year ? H. (7., Southsea. 



A. If you lift, dry, and store the bulbs until the early part of 

 spring, they will probably flower next year. They have not 

 been strong enough to do so this year. The bulbs must be of 

 sufficient size, and be well ripened to produced flower spikes. 



Daffodils, Tulips, etc., for Exhibition 



Q. Please inform me the best varieties of Daffodils, Tulips, and 

 any other kind of bulbs suitable for exhibition. Also the best time 

 to pot same for exhibiting the early part of April, and whether to 

 keep pots in cold greenhouse or outside. Carnation, Gosport. 



A. Daffodils : Emperor, M. J. Berkeley, Mrs. Walter Ware, 

 J. B. M. Camm, Madame de Graaff, Gloria Mundi, Sir Watkin, 

 Barrii conspicuus, Albatross, Duchess of Westminster, John Bain, 

 Poeticus ornatus. The above varieties represent the chief sections 

 into which Daffodils are divided. A representative section such as 

 this should find favour with the judges, in preference to all yellow 

 trumpet or bicolor varieties, for instance. The sorts named can all 

 be obtained at a reasonable price. Early single Tulips : White, 

 Joost van Vondel, King of the Yellows, Rose Gris de Lin, Prince of 

 Austria, Couleur Cardinal, and Duchesse de Parme. May flowering 

 single Tulips : Clara Butt, Bouton d'Or, Pride of Haarlem, Mrs. 

 Farn combe Sanders, La Tulipe Noire, Picotee. Hyacinths would 

 be excellent bulbs for you to grow for exhibition ; good varieties 

 are Vuurbaak, crimson ; Cavaignac, pale rose pink ; Mont Blanc, 

 white ; Grandeur a Merveille, pale blush ; Captain Boyton, lilac 

 blue ; General Havelock, dark blue ; Bird of Paradise, yellow. 

 Pot up the bulbs in October, plunge them in ashes for about six 

 weeks, then, if rooting freely, remove to a cold frame till February, 



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