COMMERCIAL DUTCH-BULB CULTURE. 33 



The commercial forcing of bulbous stocks need not be considered 

 here, for the grower will refer to the columns of the trade papers, 

 where special departments in charge of experts keep gTowers in- 

 formed of the most approved methods of handling bulbs, based upon 

 long experience. 



MISCELLANEOUS BULBS. 



Besides tulips, narcissi, and hyacintlis, scores of other bulbous 

 stocks are offered for sale as Dutch bulbs. They are of easy and 

 profitable culture and can be readily grown by methods similar to 

 those employed with the others. Importers and seedsmen handle 

 some or all of them each autumn, and some of the varieties are within 

 the reach of all. Some of these groups deserve a bulletin to them- 

 selves. All of them can be produced in this country. Of those which 

 are especially easy of culture the following may be mentioned: 

 Chionodoxa (glory-of-the-snow) ; eranthis (winter aconite) ; crocus; 

 anthericum (St. Bernard's-lily and St. Bruno's-lily) ; galanthus 

 (snowdrop) ; Spanish, English, Dutch, and oncocyclus iris; Helle- 

 borus (Christmas and Lenten roses) ; montbretia; muscari (grape 

 hyacinths); scilla; camassia; leucojum (snowflake) ; puschkinia; 

 triteleia; ornithogalum (star of Bethlehem). 



BULB PESTS. 



During the past 10 years the Department of Agriculture has im- 

 ported Dutch bulbs annually. While an effort has constantly been 

 made to get clean stocks, there has been no way of compelling compli- 

 ance with its injunctions in this respect. So far as can be deter- 

 mined the stocks secured have been no better than the ordinary com- 

 mercial importations. It is believed, therefore, that we have had a 

 good chance to get all the maladies to which bulbs are heir. This 

 brief statement given here relates only to those maladies with which 

 we have had to deal. 



INSECTS. 



For years the most talked-of bulb pest has been the narcissus fly 

 {Merodon equestris). This insect can be detected late in autumn 

 by the " feel " of the bulb, the affected bulb being lighter in weight 

 than the healthy ones and soft. If squeezed between the thumb and 

 forefinger the larva, or maggot, half an inch in length and a trifle 

 less than one-fourth inch in diameter, will commonly be forced out 

 of the neck. Usually but one maggot is in a bulb. If late planting 

 occurs there is an opportunity at that time to pick the bulbs over and 

 destroy those affected. Again, in early spring, as the plants are com- 

 ing through the soil and up to the time they are 4 or 5 inches high, 



