Bulbous and Tuberous Rooted Plants 



CROCUS. 



This well-known genus is among the earliest of our Spring 

 flowers, often opening its flower-scapes the first week in January. 

 It prefers a light, rich, loamy soil and a sheltered situation. 



After they are done blooming and the leaves turn yellow, 

 the bulbs should be taken up. 



Propagate by dividing the bulbs when they are in a dormant 

 state; keep them, in a cool dry place, covered with dry soil until 

 the next planting season in October or the early part of Novem- 

 ber; plant them about three inches deep. 



The Crocus may also be propagated by seeds sown about a 

 quarter of an inch deep, as soon as ripe or in early Spring, in 

 light rich soil, and left in the seed-bed for two years when the 

 young corms may be separated and transplanted. 



HYACINTH. 



In the cultivation of this handsome bulbous plant, a light 

 rich soil should be provided, and firm, solid bulbs of good size 

 selected; soft spongy bulbs give weak stems and poor flowers. 

 Plant the bulbs about eight inches apart, and three inches deep, 

 placing a little sand in the hole before planting. The latter end 

 of October or the first week in November will be found the best 

 time to plant. As soon as the flower-spikes are from six to eight 

 inches high they should be neatly staked to prevent the flowers 

 being broken by their own weight; should the weather continue 

 dry in Spring or while they are in bloom, they should be watered 

 freely as any dryness at the root will weaken the growth and 

 shorten their season of bloom. As soon as the foliage is ripe or 

 turned yellow in color, the bulbs should be taken up and the 

 foliage cleaned off; when they are thoroughly dry, they should 

 be packed in boxes filled with dry soil and laid away in a cool 

 dry place until the following season. 



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