DREER'S flUTUMN L3ULB LClST. 





BULt 





THEIR NATURE AND TREA 



'HE lowering of the price of bulbs to a 

 point that brings them within reach of 

 all, has had a tendency to increase, in 

 large measure, their cultivation. They are 

 indispensable where early flowers are desired, as 

 long before frost has departed , the Crocus, Scillas, 

 Snowdrops and Daffodils, have made their ap- 

 pearance and hasten to display their charming 

 flowers in defiance of chill winds and unpromis- 

 ing skies. In turn they are followed by Tulips 

 and Hyacinths, which make the garden gay with 

 bright and glowing tints, which show to perfec- 

 tion pgainst the soft green of the early grasses. 



Bulbs require a moderately rich soil from which 

 the water drains readily. Standing water is in- . 

 jurions to bulbs and no good results can be 

 attained without free drainage. 



The proper compost for Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 Crown Imperials, Iris, Ranunculus, Anemones, 

 Crocus, and many other bulbs, is the following: 

 One-third sand, one-third well-rotted cow manure, 

 and one-third good garden mould. 



TIME OF PLANTING. 



The preferable season for planting all hardy 

 bulbs is from October to December ; but they can 

 be set out at any later time, so long as the bulbs 

 remain sound and the groun 1 is not frozen. 

 Bulbs inten 'ed for blooming in pots during the winter season should be planted during the 

 mouths 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, 

 they 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. 



DEPTH AND DISTANCE. 



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

 Imperials and Polyanthus Narcissus, five inches ; Tulips, Double Narcissus, Jonquils and Colchicums. 

 three inches ; Bulbous Iris, Crocus, small Fritillarias, Gladiolus Byzantinus and Snowdrops, two inches ; 

 Ranunculus and Anemones, one inch ; always measuring from the top of the bulb. The rows should 

 be about ten iuches 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, ha}', 

 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 

 slightlv stirred w th a garden fork. 



TAKING UP AND PRESERVING. 



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

 and foliage 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 carefully in paper (as 

 the air is very injurious to bulbs), or cover them with perfectly dry sand. 



