BECKERTS ANNUAL AUTUMN CATALOGUE OF CHOICEST BULBS 



23 



EASY TO GROW BULBS INDOORS 



The steadily increasing demand for indoor flowering bulbs, with 

 requests for information as to cultural methods, indicates clearly the 



?;reater appreciation of the potential pleasures and educational 

 eaturcs that are to be derived easily and inexpensively, by both 

 young and old, from this phase of gardening. 



The obtainment of beautiful fragrant flowers from Christmas till 

 the opening of the outdoor season, bringing with them a profusion of 

 cheer from the preceding summer's sunshine, dispersing the dreariness 

 of long winter days, is well worthy the performance of intricate and 

 arduous tasks. Yet, all that is required is the following out of a few 

 simple directions requiring no special skill, and the bulbs wanting 

 nothing better than "usual home conditions." 



The time of blooming for bulbs can be hastened or retarded at will, 

 so that one can figure to a nicety just when the blooms will be at their 

 best, providing one takes into consideration the fundamental fact 

 that the embryonic flower is already developed and inherent within 

 the perfect forcing bulb itself. All that is required next is to bring 

 about the conditions that will properly stimulate these inherent 

 qualifications into concerted action. 



From its inherent stores the bulb will develop a root system, and 

 to this end will have to undergo necessary changes requiring, (1) 

 darkness, (2) low temperature, (3) enough moisture, (4) four to 

 fourteen weeks' time, depending on the kind of bulbs. 



Once the bulbs are well rooted, all that is needed to bring them into 

 bloom is the stimulation by light and warmth. This should be ac- 

 complished gradually, requiring a few days to two weeks from the 

 time the bulbs have been taken from the dark and cold to being 

 brought into full sunlight and warmth, when they will nearly have 

 completed leaf growth. For the attainment of finest and largest 

 flowers an excess of heat should be avoided and an equable tempera- 

 ture of about 55° to 62° Fahr. is most desirable. 

 Growing Bulbs in Soil; Receptacles. — All 

 bulbs thrive and grow best in light, porous 

 soil that can be prepared by mixing a good, 

 rich, garden loam with about one-fifth its 

 bulk of clean, sharp sand. Bulb pots known 

 as azalea pots (see page 32) are designed es- 

 pecially for the larger sizes of bulbs such as 

 Tulips and Hyacinths. Small bulbs, such as 

 Crocuses and Freesias may be grown in low 

 fern pots. It is a good practice to soak the 

 pots in water for several hours previous to 

 filling with either earth or fiber; particularly 

 is this true in the case of pots used for 

 Hyacinths. 



Planting the Bulbs and Storing. — When ready to plant, place bits 

 of broken crock over the hole in bottom of pot in such a way as to 

 impede soil sifting and yet allow water drainage. Next, fill the pots 

 to within 2 Yi inches from the top with slightly moist soil; on this 

 layer of soil place the bulbs and fill with earth so that just the tips 

 of the bulbs are left uncovered. The pots should then be put away 

 in a cool place for rooting, which may be in a cellar, attic, in a 

 trench dug for the purpose, or in a cold-frame or spent hotbed. 



Cross-section of bulb 

 pot showing hyacinth 

 bulb planted in soil. 

 Note piece of pottery 

 over hole in bottom for 

 drainage. 



In any or all of these 

 places, conditions of dark- 

 ness and coolness must be 

 obtained. If placed out- 

 doors in trenches that are 

 eventually filled with 

 earth so as to cover about 

 6 inches over the pot, no 

 further watering will be 

 necessary until time of 

 removal. Indoors, how- 

 ever, the saucer in which 

 the pots are placed should 

 be filled with water every 

 few days. 

 Blooming Period. Hya- 

 cinths, Single Early 

 Tulips and Forcing Daf- 

 fodils will be ready to 

 bloom after ten weeks in 

 the cold and dark. 

 • Double Early Tulips, and 

 other varieties of Nar- 

 cissi, Darwins and late 

 varieties of Tulips and 



Trench for storing potted bulbs outdoors 



Q 7 /'// saucer u/ith 

 water as often as 

 needed 



Crocuses will require twelve to fourteen weeks of rooting period, 

 while Freesias require only four to five weeks for rooting and will 

 compromise with regard to darkness, semi-darkness or shade being 

 sufficient. After the rooting period, the pots should be removed to a 

 l place where the temperature and 

 light conditions are a little height- 

 ened, and should then be thoroughly 

 watered. The advancement to full 

 sunlight should be gradual, and the 

 best and longest lasting flowers will 

 develop in uniform temperatures of 

 55° to 62° Fahr. 

 Fertilizer. — An excess of fertilizer is 

 undesirable in bulb culture and 

 should be avoided. Such pot plant 

 fertilizer as Stim-U-planT, Bon 

 Arbor, White Rose Plant Food, 

 and Bowker's, used according to 

 container directions, will prove 

 beneficial. 



Growing Bulbs in Water. — Growing bulbs in water is the easiest 

 method of indoor bulb growing and offers possibilities in French 

 Roman Hyacinths, the Chinese Sacred Lilies, Nosegay and Paper- 

 White Narcissi, the popularity of which has been well established 

 by their unfailing merits at a most welcome time. 

 Directions for the culture of any bulbs not given elsewhere in this 

 catalogue will be cheerfully furnished upon request by our Informa- 

 tion Bureau Department. 



i 



mm 



75 



Cross-section of box for storing 

 potted bulbs in attic or cellar. 

 Cover with boards. 



