CULTIVATION. 



HOW TO CULTIVATE BULBS. 



li NY good garden soil, well pulverized, is 

 j\ suitable, but good sandy loam is preler- 

 ^* able. A dressing of fine bone meal will 

 be found very beneficial. Plant the large 

 bulbs about four inches below the surface, the 

 smaller bulbs not so deep. The usual time 

 for planting is in October or November, but 

 any time during the winter will answer, if 

 the surface only is frozen. After the bulbs 

 are planted, if hard, deep frosts set in, cover 

 with a light litter that may be raked off in 

 the Spring. Tlie bulbs will then shoot and 

 flower without further trouble. If early 

 Spring should prove dry, water well. The ar- 

 rangement of the bulbs in the beds is much a 



I Culture of Bulbs To Grow Hyacinths in Glasses. | 



matter of taste and situation. They may be 

 planted in rows, in masses, in circles, or half 

 circles. Each color by itself, or divided, or 

 mixed. No matter how arranged, they will 

 always prove interesting and beautiful. 



After they flower and die down, the bulbs 

 may be allowed to remain in the ground to 

 flower the next season, or if beds are required 

 for other plants may be taken up, soaked in 

 water for about twelve hours, then dried and 

 laid away for replanting. Ikilbs are so rea- 

 sonable in price that it does not pay to keep 

 the old ones, especially as the flowers of the 

 new ones are far superior to the old. 



in Pots or Boxes. 



Pots for single bulbs should be twice the 

 diameter of the bulb. The same proportion 

 of room should be observed M hen planting 

 in boxes or in pots holding more than one 

 bulb. The boxes or pots should have proper 

 drainage, so that no water will lie in the bot- 

 tom. The soil used should be good sandy 

 loam, mixed with bone meal. After plant- 

 ing, place the boxes or pots in a dark, cool- 

 place for three weeks, until the roots are well 

 started, then gradually bring them to the 

 full li-ht. 



Fill the glass with water. Place the bulb in 

 the glass with the bottom touching the water. 

 Place the glass or glasses in a dark, cool place 

 for about three weeks, or until the roots are 

 three or four Indies in length and the flower 

 stem one inch high. After they are brought 

 out and acclimated, the more sunlight they 

 get the better. 



As the water evaporates it must be re- 

 newed and changed as often as it becomes 

 discolored or impure. When the flower bud 

 begins to swell, the water may be brought 

 higher up on the bulb. The temperature 

 should be as even as possible. A few droi)s 

 of hartshorn in the water will help the bloom. 



Roman Hyacinths 



]Vh('n ordcritif/ hi/ iiutil, add ].'>(•. prr 

 dozen to the price for pofitcuje. 



A charming class of hyacinths, producing 

 graceful flowers of great beauty and fra- 

 grance. This very valuable variety, if planted 

 early in September and gently "forced will 

 bloom in November, or their flowering may 

 be retarded till ('hristmas by keeping them 

 in a cool place. They force well in the house. 



The best effect is produced by i)lanting 

 three to five bulbs in one medium sized pot; 

 then keep in a cool, dark i)lace till well filled 

 with roots, when they may be rapidly devel- 

 oped by exposure to light and heat. The blue 

 and rose Roman hyacinths flower a few days 

 later than the white. 



White Roman, 12x1.5, large size, pure waxy 

 white bells, of great beautv and fragrance; 

 5c. each, 35c. per doz., $2.00 per 10(), $16.50 M. 



White Roman, U x IJ, medium size bulbs; 

 30c. per doz., $1.75 per 100. 



Single Rose, a charming color, two to three 

 weeks later than the White lioman; 5c. each, 

 40c. per doz., $2.00 per 100. 



Single Blue, a good contrast to the above; 

 5c. each, 40c. per doz., $2.00 per 100. 



