426 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS November, 1907 



Flowers for House and Table Decorations 



Three Months of Bloom for Forty Cents 



By I. M. Angell 



T IS so much more "worth while" to raise 

 our own flowers for table decoration, or for 

 anniversaries and festive occasions, than to 

 depend on the store-made kind from the 

 florist. Whether they are intended to use 

 as presents or simply as ornaments, they 

 mean so much more if we have watched and 

 tended them, in the hope of giving pleasure, than if they are 

 only ordered from a greenhouse. The chief obstacle to the 

 practising of this theory, of every man his own florist, is the 

 uncertainty of having the plants in bloom on the dates they 

 are wanted, but this can be reduced almost to a certainty by 

 some experimenting and a little experience, especially with 

 the winter-Howering bulbs. In our gardening career we have 

 found bulbs the easiest and most satisfactory of all house- 

 plants. For several years we have kept their records, so that 

 we know what to expect of the bulbs, if we do our part. 



Among their many good qualities are their long period of 

 bloom and the short time it is necessary to have them around 

 before and after flowering. The flowers of many kinds will 

 keep in good condition for three weeks, a month, or even 

 longer, if the plants are placed in a cool room during the 

 blooming season. The pots need not be brought out till a 

 few weeks before they are wanted for decoration. As soon 

 as potted they are placed in a dark, cool spot to make roots, 

 and as soon as their beauty has departed they can be put in 

 a light cellar to ripen, thus being in sight only during the 

 period in which they are interesting or beautiful. 



From four kinds of bulbs, costing only forty cents, we 

 had steady bloom from the second week in January to the 

 first week in April. The paper-white narcissus began the 

 display. This was potted the first week in October and 

 brought from the cellar early in December. Five weeks 

 later the flowers opened and the blooming season lasted till 

 February ist. The next pot brought out contained a blue 



double hyacinth, Garrick; this was planted the middle of 

 October and brought out to the light just two months later. 

 The bloom began at the end of January and continued till the 

 first of March. Poeticus narcissus provided our next table- 

 ornament. Three bulbs were potted together, the last day 

 of October, and the pot was brought from the cellar three 

 months later. This was an unusually long time to leave them 

 in darkness, but the better the root-growth before the tops 

 start the better will be the bloom. The first flower opened 

 the last week in February and the last flower faded the third 

 week in March. Last, but not least, was the Empress nar- 

 cissus, potted the end of October. As it will bear slow forc- 

 ing, we kept it in the cellar for four months, in order to 

 extend our season of blooming plants. It began to flower 

 the fourth week of March and faded the first week of April. 



Cost of the Four Pots of Bulbs 



Paper-white narcissus, one bulb $0.05 



Garrick, hyacinth, one bulb 12 



Poeticus ornatus, narcissus, three bulbs, @ 3 cts. each .09 

 Empress narcissus, two bulbs, @ 7 cts. each 14 



Total $0.40 



A good soil for bulbs is a combination of woods-earth, 

 turf-soil and sand, with a little very old manure. As soon as 

 they are potted we water them well and set away in a dark, 

 cool place to make roots. This will take two months, more 

 or less. They are ready to bring to the light any time after 

 the earth is filled with roots. This can be determined by 

 turning out the ball of earth when it is damp enough so 

 the soil will not fall away. Bulbs should be kept slightly 

 moist, not wet, or they will mold. First we bring them to 

 subdued light, until the foliage part turns green, then we 



Paper-wliite Narcissus, showing 

 growth made in two weeks after 

 bringing to light 



Poeticus Narcissus, photographed fess 

 than three weelcs after leaving the 

 cettar, showing the rapid growth of 

 foliage and buds 



Poeticus Narcissus, potted on October 3 1 , 

 brought to light, March I ; budded, March 

 19 ; bloomed, March 25 to April 4 



