44 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



The Narcissi are essentially clean plants, being subject 

 to no insect pests on the leaves or flower stems, and as 

 they require but little heat to bring the flowers on early, 

 they will, if sufficient bulbs are grown and brought on 

 in relays, keep the greenhouse bright and fragrant for 

 some months. The old bulbs need not be thrown away 

 after flowering, as they will grow well in the open 

 garden, and after a rest of a year or two may again be 

 lifted for pot work. 



Tulips. — For pot work in winter and early spring the 

 gorgeous tulip, from the earliest Due van Thol to the 

 quaintly shaped and brilliantly coloured Parrot tulip, is 

 admirable, and, moreover, cheap and easily grown. All 

 kinds are not alike easy to force into early bloom, but the 

 late section brought on almost naturally will precede the 

 outdoor flowers ; and as these late varieties are the most 

 robust, and have flowers of high quality, a portion at 

 least of the pot plants should consist of them. The 

 bulbs selected should be bright nut brown in colour, 

 glossy looking, and heavy. They may be potted pretty 

 closely together, as they do not require much room, and 

 the bulbs should be well buried in the soil not less than 

 an inch of which should cover them. Place them under 

 a covering of ashes as recommended for hyacinths, and 

 do not put them into the greenhouse until growth has 

 begun. Tulip bulbs like those of the Narcissi may be 

 ripened off in the pots they have occupied, and used for 

 planting out in the open garden. Home grown bulbs 

 serve very well for late pot work, but for early work 

 the Dutch grown bulbs are best. 



Gladioli. — Among the Gladioli there is a charming 

 little section of which G. Colvillii is the species, and from 

 this we get two or three varieties — a white one known 

 as The Bride, a rose-coloured form, and another with a 

 white ground and clear rose stripes down the petals. 

 All are useful for the greenhouse, and flower early 



