98 THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



On general principles, also, the seed of named varieties of 

 flowers is likely to have been more carefully selected than 

 the cheaper mixed seed. To keep a variety true to name 

 requires eternal \'igilance on the part of the seed grower and 

 the constant elimination of plants that do not approach the 

 grower's ideal of the variet}- type. 



ROMAN HYACINTHS 



Few spring flowering bulbs are so easy to force into blossom 

 in time for the Christmas holidays as are the Roman Hya- 

 cinths. The)' may be planted in almost an}- sort of recep- 

 tacle and crowded together more thickly than most other 

 bulbs, and still yield an abundant supply of beautiful blos- 

 soms. Several of the bulbs may be placed in a three-inch 

 or four-inch paper flower-pot, or a great many ma}- be grown 

 in a large shallow box or dish. They need be left in the cool 

 basement only three or four weeks before bringing them to 

 a warmer lighted room. 



The beautiful flowers are borne on pedicels along a central 

 stalk. They have a sweet and pleasant perfume and they 

 serve admirably as models for drawing with a lead-pencil. 

 The bulbs are so inexpensi\'e that every school which at- 

 tempts to do anything with winter flowers should grow an 

 abundance of them. 



THE DECEMBER CALENDAR 



Bring from the basement more of the spring flowering bulbs that show 



a good root development. 

 Bring to the light .of. the room the ' lilics-of-the-valley after they have 



been in a warm closet about two weeks. 



