CHINESE SACRED LILY. 



Joss Flower or Flower of the Gods. 



CHINESE SACRED LILY. 



The Chinese Sacred Lily (Narcissus 

 Orientalis) is the variety grown by China- 

 men for decorating their temples or joss 

 houses on their New Year's Day, which 

 occurs in February. They can be readily 

 brought into bloom by Christmas. It is 

 very easily handled, bears pure white flow- 

 ers with a lemon or orange cup, and as it 

 can readily be brought into bloom when 

 grown in water, it will give a great deal of 

 pleasure for a little outlay of labor. If 

 wanted by mail, add 5 cents cts. per bulb, 

 or 35 cts. per doz., for postage. 



10 cents each; by mail 15 cents. 

 85 cents per dozen; by mail $1.20. 

 Also Baskets at wholesale prices. 



HOW TO CULTIVATE BULBS. 



'TW NY good garden soil, well pulverized, 

 AJ is suitable, but good sandy loam is 

 J% preferable,. 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 ofif in the Spring. The 

 bulbs will then shoot and flower without 

 further trouble. If early Spring should 

 prove dry, water well. The arrangement 

 of the bulbs in the beds is much a 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 re- 

 quired for other plants, may be taken up, 

 soaked in water for about 12 hours, then 

 dried and laid away for replanting. Bulbs 

 are so reasonable 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. 



Culture of Bulbs in Pots or 

 Boxes. 



Pots for single bulbs should be twice the 

 I liameter of the bulb. The same propor- 

 ! tion of room should be observed when 

 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 bottom. The soil used should be 

 good sandy loam, mixed with bone meal. 

 After planting, place the boxes or pots in a 

 dark, cool place for three weeks, until the 

 roots are well started, then gradually bring 

 i them to the full light. 



To Grow Hyacinths in Glasses. 



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 inches 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 tem- 

 perature should be as even as possible. A 

 few drops of hartshorn in the water will 

 help the bloom. 



