BULBS FOR THE 



window, and root and top-growth will begin 

 at the same time. Light and heat excite the 

 latter prematurely. As there are, as yet, no 

 roots to feed and support the top, the develop- 

 ment of it will be weak, and attempts at flower- 

 ing will generally prove abortive. Nature's 

 method is always to develop roots first. These 

 completed, top-growth sets in, and is success- 

 fully carried forward, because there is some- 

 thing to support it. We must aim to do, in 

 this case, as nearly as possible what Nature 

 does, and the first thing of all to do is to en- 

 courage the production of roots. This is why 

 we place our potted bulbs in cold storage im- 

 mediately after potting them. Away from 

 light and heat, they do precisely what the bulbs 

 we plant in the garden do in fall form roots, 

 without attempting any growth of top, at the 

 time. After the period of root-formation is 

 over, they will, under the influence of light and 

 warmth, turn their attention to the second stage 

 of their existence the production of flowers. 

 Most bulbs will form roots in about six 

 weeks. Be sure they have done so before you 

 bring any of them to the windows. If the 

 place in which they are stored has a tempera- 

 ture but little above the frost-mark and such 



264 



