HENDERSON'S BULB CULTURE. 





FORCING BULBS. 



To obtain the best results in forcing bulbs of any sort for winter flowering, it is indispensable that 

 they be well rooted before being exposed to the light and heat, and started to grow ; in fact, bulbs will 

 never grow or flower well if this is neglected or overlooked. The same general culture is necessary 

 for the amateur as for the florist, and the same general rules of cultivation apply to both. When 

 grown in quantity the bulbs are planted thickly together in pots or shallow boxes, and placed in a cold 

 frame, cellar, or in some sheltered spot, out of doors, in either case after a thorough watering 

 being covered with leaves, sand or other material, to the depth of four or five inches to exclude 

 frost or heat, for it must not be fogotten that a strong development or roots can only be had at a 

 low temperature, say from forty to fifty degrees, and any attempt made to force bulbs to make 

 roots quicker in a high temperature will most certainly enfeeble the flower, if not prove a total 

 failure. This will take from six to eight weeks for the majority of bulbous plants, though some of the 

 kinds vary considerably as to the length of time required, manner of treatment, etc. When brought 

 into the greenhouse heat should be applied gradually, beginning about 50 degrees and advancing to 

 60 or 70 degrees. The manner in which florists " bring up " Tulips, Hyacinths, etc., so that they do 

 not bloom prematurely or with very short stems is, when they are brought into the greenhouse, to- 

 place them under the stage or benches in the partial shade for a few days till the stems lengthen and 

 the flowers show signs of expanding, when they may be placed in a position to receive the full light. 

 The same effect is produced on those in pots, by inverting a pot over the bulbs, only allowing the light 

 from the hole in the bottom of the flower-pot to strike the bulb. Lily of the Valley is forced in pots or 

 benches in a bottom heat of not less than 90 degress, shaded heavily by cloth stretched under the glass, 

 which draws up and lengthens the flower, stem and leaves, and is thus brought into bloom in from six- 

 teen to eighteen days. The best known methods of forcing Lilies, Narcissus and the other various, 

 kinds is described under their various headings, to which we refer the reader, and which, as the same 

 treatment is applicable whether grown in large or small quantities, will, we hope, be of benefit to the 

 amateur as well as the practical gardener or florist. The following is a list of bulbous plants more 

 generally forced in quantities by florists for winter decoration : 



Allium Grandiflorum, 

 Allium Neapolitanum, 

 Anemone Fulgens, 

 Calla(Richardia), 

 Freesia, 



Gladiolus, " The Bride,' 

 Helleborus niger, 

 Hyacinth, Early Dutch, 

 Italian, 



Hyacinth, Roman, 



Jonquils, 



Lilium Candidum, 

 " Harrisii, 

 " Longiflorum, 



Lily of the Valley, 



Narcissus Obvallarius, 

 " Maximus, 



Scoticus , 



single 



Narcissus, Stella, Single. 



" Trumpet Major, " 



" Pceticus ornatus, " 



" Incomparable, Doubler 



Von Sion, 

 Ornithogalum Arabicum, 

 Tulips, Single Early Sorts, 

 " Double Sorts. 



