FOR BLOOMING 

 IN POTS. 



/\j EARLY all bulbs are easy to grow, and require but little labor and care to enable 

 * ^ them to produce their exquisite flowers. Among bulbs may be found some of the 

 choicest treasures of the floral kingdom. As winter flowers they hold an important place : 

 the fragrant Hyacinth, the showy Tulip and the lovely Daffodil, interspersed with the 

 tender varieties, will, during the cheerless winter days, make window garden or greenhouse 

 redolent with perfume, or charm the eye with gracefulness of form and perfection of color. 

 If not desired for forcing, they are still indispensable where early garden flowers are 

 wanted ; for long before the frost has departed, the Crocus, Scillas, Snowdrops and 

 Daffodils have made their appearance and hasten to display their charming flowers in 

 defiance of chill winds and unpromising skies. In turn they are followed by Tulips and 

 Hyacinths, which make the garden gay with bright and glowing tints, which show to 

 perfection against the soft green of the early grasses. 



Bulbs intended for blooming in pots during the winter season should be 

 planted during the months of October and November in pots and be left 

 in the open air, covered with a few inches of tan or soil until the earth 

 begins to freeze, and then be placed in a cool greenhouse, cellar or room, at a temperature 

 of 50 , in a very dark place. They will need, occasionally, moderate watering after they 

 are brought inside. When the top is well 

 grown, and the flower stem well out of the 

 bulb, the}- should be brought to the light 

 and given plenty of water and exposed as 

 much as possible to the sun, air and light, to 

 prevent the leaves from growing too long or 

 becoming yellow. 



The proper compost for Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 Crown Imperials, Iris, Ranunculus, Ane- 

 mones, Crocus, and man}' other bulbs is the 

 following : One-third sand, one-third well- 

 rotted cow manure, and one-third good gar- 

 den soil. 



PI HMT IN ^ e P re ^ era W e season for 



^„ r .„ „„„„„-» planting all hardy bulbs 

 OPEN GROUND. ?s from October to Decern- 

 ber ; but they can be set out later if the bulbs 

 remain sound and the ground is not frozen. 

 Bulbs require a moderately rich soil from 

 which the water drains readily. Standing 

 water is injurious and no good results can be obtained without free drainage. 



Hyacinths, large Lilies and Paeonies should be planted to the depth of four inches ; 

 Crown Imperials and Polyanthus Narcissus, five inches ; Tulips, Hardy Narcissus, and Jon. 

 quils three inches ; Bulbous Iris, Crocus, Chionodoxa, hardy Gladiolus, Snowdrops, and 

 Scilla Siberica two inches ; Ranunculus and Anemones, one inch ; always measuring from 

 the top of the bulb. The rows should be about ten inches apart, and the bulbs to be 

 placed from four to eight inches apart in the rows, according to their size. As cold, freezing 

 weather approaches, give the bed a good covering of leaves, hay, old manure or tan, to 

 prevent the frost from penetrating to the bulbs. Early in the spring, as soon as the shoots 

 are pushing through it, the covering should be carefully removed, and the earth slightly 

 stirred with a garden fork. 



When the plants put on a yellowish, decayed appearance, take up the roots, cut off the 

 stem and foilage within an inch of the bulbs, but leave the fibres, etc., attached to them ; 

 spread them in an airy room for two or three weeks to dry, after which wrap each root care- 

 fully in paper (as the air is very injurious to bulbs), or cover them with perfectly dry sand. 



