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October 3, 1907. 



The Weekly Florists'' Review. 



Tulip White Swan, Pure White; Pansiet Under the Tulips. 



culture of narcissus bulbs and would not 

 presume to advise a practical grower. 

 The varieties mentioned above comprise 

 ninety per cent of the narcissi sold by 

 the florists and seed trade tliroughout 

 the United States. 



. Arthur T. Boddington. 



Answering the inquiry made above, 

 we herewith give the names of the lead- 

 ing narcissus bulbs which are in demand 

 today in the commercial market: Single 

 varieties — Campernelle rugulosus, Em- 

 press, Giant Princeps, Golden Spur, Trum- 

 pet Major, Emperor, Incomparable Stel- 

 la, Sir Watkin and poeticus. Double va- 

 rieties — Alba plena odorata, Incompara- 

 ble double, Orange Phoenix, Sulphur or 

 Silver Phoenix and Von Sion. 



In regard to growing narcissus bulbs 

 in California, the writer has not had any 

 direct experience, but provided they arc 

 given a good, heavy soil we do not see 

 why they should not do well. So far as 

 we know, narcissus bulbs are not culti- 

 vated in California, but it may be that 

 they have never been tried, and it may 

 also be that they will not thrive there. 

 We have shipped a great many of them 

 into California, but presume that they 

 are used for cut flowers. 



Henry F. MicIiell Co. 



Kegarding the varieties of narcissus, 

 the most successful and largest growers 

 in California confine themselves to fancy 

 single varieties, such as Emperor, Golden 

 Spur, Empress, Sir Watkin, etc. It 

 would not pay to ship a stock of Polyan- 

 thus narcissus from Chicago to the Pa- 

 cific coast, as they are very plentiful. out 

 there indeed and bulblets could ,be pur- 

 chased much cheaper locally than import- 

 ed stock could be furnished from Chi- 

 cago. If L. B. C. lives in southern Cali- 



fornia, it undoubtedly would pay him to 

 interview C. A. Brazee, Wilmington, Cal., 

 one of the largest growers of bulbs on 

 the Pacific coast; or, if he is anywhere 

 near San Francisco, any of the leading 



retail florists will substantiate the state- 

 ment we make above and can tell hini 

 the proportion of the best-selling vari- 

 eties he ought to grow. 



W. W. Barnard Co. 



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Dutch Bulbt. 



The time for boxing and potting what 

 are commonly termed Dutch bulbs has 

 again arrived and no time should be lost 

 in getting the bulbs in the soil. While 

 outdoor planting may be better delayed 

 a short time, those required for early 

 flowering under glass, which miust fill the 

 pots, pans or flats with roots before they 

 can be successfully forced, should not be 

 allowed to fritter away their strength in 

 bags or boxes. We hope a good pile of 

 compost was prepared, as suggested some 

 time ago. If this was not done, get it 

 in readiness at once. We do not believe 

 that any old soil is good enough for the 

 average run of bulbs. It is true that 

 the embryo flowers are already contained 

 in the bulbs, but the compost used will 

 materially affect the quality of the flow- 

 ers to be produced. A mixture of two- 

 thirds well decayed loam, one-third well 

 pulverized and rotted cow manure ami 

 a liberal addition of sand makes a good 

 potting medium. Some growers add leaf- 

 mold. If your soil is heavy, this will be 



found advantageous. Bulbs all seem 

 to prefer a rather sandy and porous 

 compost. 



After your bulbs are boxed or potted, 

 the question arises as to where to store 

 them. If you have abundant cellar space, 

 we would advise putting them under 

 cover. With many growers such accom- 

 modations are wanting, in which event 

 they can be placed in a pit on any 

 ground where water will not stand in 

 winter. Cover with ashes or soil after 

 watering well and remember that more 

 water must be given once in ten days 

 or so for some time, for the flats dry out 

 rapidly and most of the failures in 

 Dutch bulb storing arise from having 

 the soil too dry. By the middle of No- 

 vember leaves or strawy manure can be 

 spread over the soil to exclude frost. Be 

 sure to place large labels where your dif- 

 ferent varieties are, so that you can pick 

 them out readily when needed. There 

 are many disadvantages in placing the 

 bulbs outdoors and if any cellar or shed 

 is at disposal, by ;ill means utilize it. 



