BULBOUS PLANTS. 123 



when grown in large quantities, a bulb house should be provided. In 

 this structure light should be excluded and the roof thick enough to 

 keep out frost. In a well-regulated house the bulbs remain in fine con- 

 dition. They may be kept almost dormant for several weeks and be 

 forced into bloom in less time than those from the open ground. Paper 

 White Narcissus and Roman Hyacinths may easily be had in bloom in 

 November, and Due Van Thol Tulips by Christmas; but to insure these 

 results early rooting must be looked after. 



ROHAN HYACINTHS IN PANS— Roman Hyacinths are usually grown 

 in boxes, and when about to flower, or even when in bloom, they are 

 taken out of the box and placed In shallow pans or pots, new soil added 

 and perhaps covered with fern moss before being exposed for sale. This 

 method does not turnout satisfactorily to the buyer, the flowers lasting 

 but tor a short period. By employing the shallow flats in common use 

 for Ferns, Roman Hyacinths may be grown to even greater perfection in 

 sphagnum moss than where soil is used. A little well-rotted manure 

 among the moss does good. Fill up to near the brim with moss, place 

 the bulbs on this as thick as they ^\ ill go, if the receptacle is small; give 

 more room, if large; fill in intervening spaces with moss, saturate the 

 moss, and to make roots, keep in a dark, cool place. As soon as a suffi- 

 cient quantity of roots are made bulbs are forced into flower in a few 

 days and come in very handily about Christmas, when other flowering 

 plants are scarce. While making roots they should occupy a cool frame, 

 and be covered with damp leaves. 



Outdoor Bulbs — Hyacinth and Tulip bulbs flowered out-of-doors 

 may be made to last more than one season if the bulbs are given a little 

 care. By the end of May, .when the bulbs have to be lifted to make room 

 for Summer plants, the foliage will indicate maturity by turning yellow. 

 After lifting the bulbs should not be allowed to lie around with the old 

 leaves rotting over them, sometimes wet, at other times dry, according 

 to the weather. Spread them out on boards in an airy shed, so that 

 they may have a chance to get ))lump and dry; after which they should 

 be cleaned, stored, and when the time arrives replanted for outdoor 

 ornamentation. Low-growing hardy Spring bulbs, such a? Galanthus 

 (Snowdrop), Crocus, jScilla proecox, Teeophllsea cyanocrocus, Triteleia 

 uniflora, Puschkinia and Chionodoxa, should be planted as soon as they 

 are procured from the dealers. If put in late they bloom late and their 

 foliage does not get time to ripen before the advent of real warm 

 weather, and the bulb for the following season is next to useless. None 

 of the latter is much used bv florists for pot culture. In planting out 

 they should, it possible, be given permanent positions. Sometimes Fall 

 and Winter weather is favorable to premature growth of the tops, and 

 because of this they should be protected from rapid thawing and freez- 

 ing by a covering of an inch or two of half-decayed leaves or manure 

 put on aftei' freezing weather arrives. 



FREESIAS which are wanted to bloom by the end of the year should 

 be potted or boxed as soon as they can be procured from the dealers. 

 Plunge the pots in ashes, in a. frame, where strong sunshine won't keep 

 the surface of the soil too warm and dry. They must not be covered 



