674 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



Eabks' gepartment. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DUTCH FLO"WERINQ BULBS. 



CULTURE IN -WINDOW GARDENS. 



"Bay, what impels, amidst surrounding snow, 

 Congealed, the crocus flamy bud to glow ? 

 Say, what retards, amidst the summer's breeze 

 Th' autumnal bulb, till pale decaying days ? 

 The God of Seasons, whose pervading power 

 Controls the fun, or sheds the fleecy shower: 

 He bids each flower his quickening word obey, 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins decay." 



The principal bulbs employed for indoor culture 

 are Hyacinths, Early Tulips, Crocuses, Cyclamens, 

 Narcissus, Jonquils, and Scillas. 



They can be grown in moss, cocoanut refuse, 

 sand or good sandy loam. 



Hyacinths. 



These bulbs take precedence of all others, on ac- 

 count of the fragrance and beauty of their flowers, 

 whose exquisite forms and colorings are unsur- 

 passed by those of any other class ; and they are 

 the most popular of all Dutch Flowering Bulbs. 



No window garden can be complete without sev- 

 eral of these lovely bulbs, and their culture is ex- 

 tremely simple. For flowering at Christmas they 

 should be planted in September — but if planted 

 now, they will flower in February or March in 

 great perfection. 



In selecting bulbs choose those that are the larg- 

 est, plumpest and without break in the skin. The 

 dark bulbs bear dark colored flowers, red or pur- 

 ple ; and the light colored those that are white, 

 yellow, blush or porcelain blue. To grow them 

 in moss, wrap it in a conical form about the bulb, 

 bringing it six cr eight inches below the base of 

 it, for the roots will run that far. Do not cover 

 the whole top of it; dip the moss in water, and 

 weave it around with copper or iron wire, hanging 

 it with the same or with bright colored ribbons 

 which should not be attached until the bulbs have 

 good roots, and are ready to bear light and warmth. 

 Then place the balls of moss on a plate and put 

 it in a dark, cool cellar or closet, to allow the roots 

 to form. This is very essential, unless the roots 

 form well before the green sheath of leaves starts, 

 the flowers cannot be as fine. They are all pre- 

 pared, for a bulb is but the store house of leaves 

 and flowers and its roots must start in darkness 

 and moisture. Leave them for six weeks, looking 

 , at them every ten days to see if the moss is dry, 

 for without dampness the roots cannot grow. 



Bring them to light and warmth by degrees, first 

 i hanging them at a northeastern window in a cool 

 chamber, and changing the location in a week or 

 more until the flower stalk is well formed, when 

 they can have all the warmth and sun you can 

 give. 



Hyacinths grow in glass dishes filled with moss 



or cocoanut fibre prepared for the purpose, require 



. similar treatment. They must stay in utter darkness 



and cool moist atmosphere for six weeks, and 

 neither moss nor fibre must be allowed to become 

 dry. 



Any common soup plate or China bowl, or even 

 a tin dish will grow Hyacinths well, and when the 

 bright flowers appear it can be lowered by a piece 

 of ribbon or tape crossed underneath the bowl or 

 dish, into a handsome casing. 



They can be planted in wet sand in bowls or 

 soup plates and covered with moss. They are very 

 lovely when arranged with the pretty little blue 

 Scilla Siberica, and miniature Hyacinths mixed 

 with them. Place one in the centre and the Scillas 

 about it, then the Hyacinths close around them, 

 and miniature Hyacinths or Crocuses, white and 

 versicolor, edging the whole dish. Of course they 

 must be kept dark for six weeks ; for this is requir- 

 ed for all Dutch Flowering Bulbs. 



For pot culture, take a six inch pot that will 

 hold three bulbs, and fill it with three parts sand 

 to one part leaf mould, wet it thoroughlj-, press 

 in the bulbs leaving the upper part or crown un- 

 covered ; do not let them become drj' -after once 

 being wet, for that is the ruin of all bulbs, yet the 

 water must not settle at the roots, but good drain- 

 age of bits of charcoal should be provided in the 

 bottom of the pots. Keep as prescribed for moss 

 and sand and gradually accustom to light and 

 heat. 



Thus treated, they will come forward most rap- 

 idly and will blossom much sooner than them that 

 are kept in the dark, only three or four weeks. The 

 single sorts are the most effective for house cul- 

 ture, and the earliest varieties, those that will 

 force the quickest, are the best to select. 



The most desirable for window gardens are Czar 

 Kicholas, pure rose color, bells and flower spike very 

 large. Amphion, deep red, white centre, splendid 

 truss of flowers. La Dame du Lac, rose pink, large 

 compact flowers. Bleu Mourant, lovely deep blue, 

 close clusters. Charles Dickens, porcelain blue, 

 splendid flowers. Prince Albert, dark purple, very 

 fine. Uncle Tom, violet black, very elegant. 

 Grand Vainquer, pure white, large and beautiful. 

 La Gandeur, snowy white, fine close truss. Grande 

 Blanche, Imperiale, blush white, large bulbs. 

 Victoria Beyina, pearly white, fine flower. Vol- 

 taire, blush white, very large truss. 



Miniature Hyacinths. 



These are the loveliest for dish culture. They re- 

 quire the same treatment as the larger flowered, 

 and form very pretty groups. Among them are : 

 — Ami du Caeur, Deibitsche Sabaskaiiski, which are 

 rose colored; Alice Maud, a bright carmine, 

 George, delicate porcelain ; Jessie, pure white ; Liz- 

 zie, dark red ; Nellie, pure white ; and Uncle Sam, 

 deep blue. 



There are no prettier flowers for children to cul- 

 tivate than these miniature varieties. 



Tulips. 

 The tulip ranks second in importance as a bulb 



