BECKERT'S ANNUAL AUTUMN CATALOGUE OF CHOICEST BULBS 



19 



EASY TO GROW BULBS INDOORS, continued 



dark will be time enough for good rootage. Double Early Tulips 

 and other varieties of Narcissi will require two weeks longer. I fie 

 Darwins and late varieties of Tulips and Crocuses should have about 

 fourteen wi cks, l-'reesias will require only lour or live weeks, anil they 

 need not be kept in the dark, although some shade is desirable during 

 rootage. Am time alter the requisite period for tooting has elapsed, 

 the bulbs ina\ be brought out and forced into (lower. I he change 

 should be gradual. l ake t he pots out of t he box or trench, give t hem 

 water, ami place them for three or four days in the cellar where the\ 

 will be in shade and where the lemperat ure w ill not go much above 

 50 degrees. After that, remove them to a lighter and warmer place, 

 but avoid direct sunlight, and keep them there for several days until 

 the leaves are well developed and the buds arc formed. Water 

 frequently from this time on. Finally bring them into the full light 

 and ordinal \ room temperature, placing them where they will be safe 

 from drafts. The flowers will open up better and last longer if the 

 temperature does not go above 65 degrees. 



Sometimes it is desirable to shift the bulbs into different pots or 

 bowls alter they have made their root-growth; this may be done 

 without harm, providing care is taken not to damage the roots and 

 to take up as much soil as possible with them. It is not necessary 

 to bring all the pots out of the box or trench at the same time. For 

 a succession ol bloom they may be taken out one or two at a time: 

 an extra three or four weeks in the dark and cold will not injure them 

 in the least. Bulbs wanted for late flowers had better be planted a 

 little later than the first crop, however. 



Fertilizers. An excess of fertilizers should be avoided, but 

 moderate use of such pot-plant fertilizer as Stim-U-pIanT, Bon 

 Arbor, or Bowker's Plant Food will make for more vigorous growth 

 and liner and brighter Ilowers. Full directions for the use of these 

 handy plant stimulants are given on the containers. 



Growing Bulbs in Water. This is the easiest way of growing 



bulbs indoors, but only a few of the bulbs can In- forced in water, 

 these .ne the Hyacinths, notahlv the French Koman type, the 

 Chinese Sacred Narcissi, and the Nosegay Narcissi, including t he 

 popular Paper-Whites. II extreme water 

 care is used, Crocuses and some of 

 the Poetaz Hybrid Narcissi may 

 also be grown in water, but it is 

 saler to stick to the other kinds 

 which are sure to give satislactory 

 results. 



l arge Hyacinth bulbs are gen- 

 erally grown in the regular Hya- 

 cinth Classes, and directions for 

 their culture arc given on page 3. 



Cross-section of bulb bowl with 

 Paper-white Narcissus in pebbles and 

 water. Note the pieces of charcoal. 



The others arc grown in shallow- 

 bowls which are Idled with clean, white pebbles. The bulbs are I lien 

 set firmly on the pebbles, and water enough to reach the lower part 

 of the bulbs is added. A few pieces of charcoal in the pebbles will 

 keep the water pure. The procedure from then on is the same as for 

 bulbs grown in soil, except that the bowls should not be placed where 

 the water will freeze and the water should be replenished as often 

 as necessary. Paper-White Narcissi require about four weeks to root 

 in pebbles, the Chinese Sacred Narcissi a little longer, and the Roman 

 Hyacinths about seven weeks. Bring to the light and warmth 

 gradually. Add fresh water every day during the blooming period 

 and protect from changes in temperature as much as possible. 



Amaryllis and Other Bulbs. Directions for the culture of 

 Amaryllis and Lily-of-the- Valley, both of which are very easy to 

 grow, are given on page 22. Oxalis bulbs may be brought into 

 flower very quickly by planting immediately upon arrival and giving 

 the same treatment as for Amaryllis. Callas and Lilies require 

 very careful culture with plenty of light, warmth and moisture 

 from the time top growth commences. Complete instructions for 

 raising Lilies will be supplied on request. 



Beckert's Window -Garden 

 Collection of Forcing Bulbs 



$3.50 POSTPAID 



Here is an assortment that will appeal to the experienced 

 window-gardener as well as the beginner — an assortment 

 of bulbs that will fill a home with beauty and fragrance from 

 Christmas until Easter. 



3 Hyacinths for growing in glasses, our selection. 



3 First-size Hyacinths for pot-culture, our selection. 



6 White Roman Hyacinths for growing in pebbles. 



6 Yellow Single Early Tulips for pots. 



6 Scarlet Single Early Tulips for pots. 



6 Pink Double Early Tulips for pots. 



3 Giant Yellow Trumpet Daffodils for pots. 



3 Giant Bicolor Trumpet Daffodils for pots. 



3 Double Von Sion Daffodils for pots. 



3 Poetaz Hybrid Narcissi for pots. 



6 Paper-White Narcissi for pebbles and water. 



6 First-size Purity Freesias for pots. 



54 Forcing Bulbs — postpaid for $3.50. 



Grow these bulbs as directed above — you will enjoy them 

 all winter — you will find that they make the finest kind of 

 gifts to friends who love Ilowers — you will get more genuine 

 pleasure out of them than you ever thought was possible 

 for S3. 50. 



I .\ 



3*) 



Hyacinth Glasses 



Expressly designed for growing Hya- 

 cinth bulbs in water. (See page 3.) Tinted 



in various colors. ,_ , r 



bach 3 tor 



High Style $0 35 SI 00 



Low Style 35 1 00 



Small White Pebbles 



For growing Paper-White and Chinese Sacred Narcissus bulbs 

 and French Roman Hyacinths in bowls of water. Qt. 15 cts., 

 4 qts. 50 cts. 



Prepared Holland Bulb Fiber 



This fiber is an ideal medium in which to grow bulbs. It is clean 

 and free from odor and contains sufficient plant-food for the bulbs 

 until after they have bloomed. Bulb Fiber is used in the same way 

 as potting soil, except that it should not be packed down firmly 

 in the pots. By using it, bulbs may be grown in any sort of orna- 

 mental bowl or receptacle as no drainage is required. Keep the 

 fiber moist, but not sodden or wet. %pk. 30 cts., pk. 50 cts., 

 J^bu. 85 cts., bu. $1.50. Packed for parcel-post, peck weighs 8 lbs., 

 bushel weighs 26 lbs. 



Stim-@-p>lamT 



A highly concentrated, soluble plant-food in tablet form, con- 

 venient to use and wonderfully effective in increasing size and pro- 

 ductivity and heightening the color of flowers. For plants in 6-inch 

 pots or smaller, insert half a tablet in the soil every ten days. For 

 bulbs growing in water, a quarter of a tablet is sufficient for the 

 ordinary bowl, dropped in the water at the time the buds are forming. 

 In boxes of 10 tablets 15 cts., 30 tablets 25 cts., 100 tablets 75 cts., 

 1,000 tablets $3.50. 



Standard flower and bulb pots are listed on page 32. A complete 

 assortment of ornamental bulb bowls and fern dishes will be on 

 display in our Pittsburgh store during the fall and winter months. 



