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f GARDENING 

 YOUNC^FOLKS 



CONDUCTED BY ELLEN EDDY SHAW 



Bulbs For School and Home 



SOME bulbs give better results than others, so 

 in choosing bulbs for work with children, be 

 sure to select those which give the best results. 

 Most of the potting must be done in early October; 

 the outdoor beds may be left until late in the month. 

 Keep records of time and length of bloom. 



For best results choose Roman and Dutch hya- 

 cinths, tulips, members of the narcissus family, 

 crocus and freesias. Plant bulbs in flats (low boxes) 

 or pans. Pans lend themselves better to this plant- 

 ing than high pots. Place the bulbs in pots and pans 

 as closely together as possible. Be sure that no bulb 

 touches another one or the pot itself. Leave about 

 one inch or less for spaces between bulbs. The soil 

 for potting may be just ordinary good garden soil. 

 If it is a heavy, clayey soil add sand to lighten it. 



Method of potting: First place a curved bit of 

 crock over the hole in the bottom of the pot, which 

 has been thoroughly soaked in water. Put in the 

 bottom of the pot about one inch of drainage material 

 — old broken crock. Fill in the soil to just the right 

 level for the bulbs to rest on. Over the soil sprinkle 

 about one half inch sand, to act as a drainage section 

 through which water passes rather than remaining 

 about the bulb to rot it. Set the bulb on this sandy 

 bottom. Fill in soil up to one half inch of the top 

 of the receptacle. Now the potting is finished. Next 

 comes the period of rest for bulbs, usually in the cold 

 and dark. 



DUTCH AND CAPE BULBS 



We usually deal with two groups of bulbs, the 

 Dutch and the Cape bulbs. In the first group are 

 the hyacinths, tulips, crocus, etc., the second is 

 made up of freesia, oxalis, ixia, and sparaxis. The 

 first group needs a long resting period in the dark and 

 cold; the second cannot be stored in the cold since 

 their roots and leaves develop at the same time. 

 They require a light cool room and need no resting 

 period. Their great requirement is plenty of water. 

 Leave the Dutch bulbs in the cold and the dark 

 from six to twelve weeks. They may be stored in- 

 doors if one has a cold, dark spot; and if you do this 

 water them at least twice a week. The bulbs may 

 be stored outdoors in a pit or put outdoors in a large 

 packing box, having four inches of sand in the bottom. 

 Upon this layer the potted bulbs are placed; cover 

 over with from one foot to two feet of ashes. Nature 

 supplies sufficient moisture for bulbs stored out- 

 doors. 



Bulbs, like hyacinths and Chinese sacred lilies, 

 started in water, should be placed in a dark closet 

 until abundant root growth has formed. 



Hyacinth, Dutch. Buy named varieties, such as 

 Charles Dickens, rose color; L' Innocence, white; 

 Sarah Bernhardt, salmon pink. Buy large firm bulbs 

 in any case remembering, however, that solidity 

 means more than mere size. Plant indoors or out. 



Indoor planting: In pots, pans or flats. Place 

 each bulb one half inch below surface of soil; leave 



in dark and cold six to twelve weeks. Bring to the 

 light when the growing point is an inch or more above 

 the surface of the soil and roots show through the 

 hole in the bottom of the pot. Dutch hyacinths are 

 very satisfactory for indoor work and may be pur- 

 chased in single or double varieties. 



Outdoor planting: Plant just before frost in late 

 October. Make soil loose and rich. Place bulbs 

 five inches below the surface of the soil and five 

 inches apart. Cover with soil. When frost comes 

 cover the bed with manure two inches thick. 



Hyacinth, Roman. These varieties bloom earlier 

 than the Dutch ones. They are the easiest of all 

 bulbs to raise; in fact, no bulb could be more satis- 

 factory in the schoolroom. Bloom may be ob- 

 tained for Christmas. Plant indoors as directed for 

 Dutch hyacinths. They may be planted in sand, or 

 in fibre and water. 



Buy bedding tulips for outdoor work and early 

 forcing varieties for indoor planting. Good tulips 

 for forcing are Yellow Prince, Isabelle, La Reine, 

 Due van Thol, and Cottage Maid. Tulips are less 

 satisfactory indoors, under schoolroom conditions, 

 than other bulbs. 



Indoor planting: Plant tulips in pans one half 

 inch beneath the surface of soil. Six tulips may be 

 placed in a 6-inch pan. 



Outdoor planting: Tulips look well planted in for- 

 mal beds, in stiff narrow border beds, in great masses 

 of one color. Fix the bed the same as was suggested 

 for hyacinth planting, and place the bulbs four 

 inches below the surface of soil and four inches 



apart. 



THE NARCISSUS FAMILY 



This large family embraces many members. The 

 most popular for school work are daffodils, jonquils, 

 poet's narcissus, polyanthus narcissus, and the 

 Chinese sacred lily. 



Daffodils with the long trumpet-like cups are 

 pleasing to most people. The Empress, Emperor, and 

 Van Sion are excellent varieties to buy, and always 

 give satisfaction. Plant indoors in pebbles and water, 

 or outdoors in sand. 



Jonquils: Try the Jonquilla Campernelle. The 

 flowers in jonquils are clustered, deep yellow in 

 color, sweet scented and slender. They show great 

 variations in form. 



Poet's narcissus: In form the poet's narcissus 

 differs from the other narcissus members, for there 

 is no trumpet but in its place is a fluted cup. The 

 flowers are fragrant, the stems long. Ornatus is a 

 variety much used for forcing indoors. 



Polyanthus narcissus. This member is beautiful, 

 sweet scented and free flowering. The Paper White 

 narcissus belongs in this group. The polyanthus 

 varieties are not quite so hardy as the other narcissus 

 members. Soleil d'Or is another excellent variety 

 of polyanthus. 



The Chinese Sacred lily: Plant in stones and 



water. Set away in the dark until the bowl is full 

 of roots, then bring to light. These lilies are very 

 susceptible to draughts and so the buds become 

 blasted. Polyanthus narcissus, jonquils, and poet's 

 are far more reliable for water planting. 



Indoor planting: Place the bulbs with their noses 

 just sticking out of the soil. The pointed end of the 

 bulb is called its nose. 



Outdoor planting: Place bulbs four inches below 

 surface of soil and four inches apart. 



CROCUS 



Indoor planting: These bulbs are very pretty 

 when planted in window boxes. Choose one color, 

 say yellow, so that the effect is of one solid mass 

 when in bloom. The little children enjoy crocuses. 

 Place them one half inch below the surface of the 

 soil and one half inch apart. 



Outdoor planting: Crocuses look their best when 

 scattered about the lawn rather than planted in set 

 beds. Put the bulbs pointed end up one inch below 

 the surface of the soil. 



THE SECRET OF SUCCESS 



After good, large, firm bulbs are chosen, properly 

 planted and given time to form roots, the secret of 

 success is out. 



The schoolroom is not the best place to raise 

 bulbs. But what of that, since it has to be? Bulbs 

 stand the schoolroom strain rather better than do 

 most plants. When the growing tip of the bulb is 

 one to two inches above the soil and when the roots 

 appear through the hole in the bottom of the pot, 

 then bring the bulb to the light. This does not mean 

 bringing it into the full glare of the sunlight. The 

 children like to put them on a windowsill so that 

 the growing bulb may have the full benefit of the 

 sun's light. But this method defeats the object. 

 This year try another plan. Place a table in a 

 corner of the classroom away from the direct 

 light. Place the pots and pans upon this table, 

 leaving them to grow more slowly. Leave them 

 there until the flower buds begin to open, then bring 

 them into the direct sunlight. Remember to place 

 the table so that no draught strikes it. For a current 

 of air blowing over the forming flower buds blasts 

 them. The buds of Chinese lilies often are blasted, 

 wither and die. It is wise to set the bowl of Chinese 

 lilies in the dark until the roots form and vigorous 

 growth starts. Paper white narcissus, daffodils, and 

 poeticus do far better in stones and water than do the 

 Chinese lilies. A substitute for stones is sand — nice 

 brown sand, such as builders use. Fill a dish or glass 

 globe full of sand, tuck in the bulbs so their noses just 

 protrude out of this sand bed, wet the sand so it is 

 saturated with water. Place the receptacle in a 

 dark closet, leaving it there until roots form and the 

 growing tip starts. Then bring to light. 



While bulbs are in their blossoming stage, they 

 require a great deal of water. Supply it fully, but 

 do not drown them out. 



A STUDY OF THE TYPES OF BULBS, EASY TO GROW, FOR CHILDREN TO USE. NOTE FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS 

 Hyacinth, Dutch Roman Tulips: Cottage Daffodil, Narcissus: Narcissus: Narcissus: Narcissus Tazetta; so called Chinese Crocus: Yellow Mam- 



is of similiar shape Maid, early Van Sion Jonquil Poeticus Paper White Sacred Lily moth 



96 



