THE FLORAL WORLD 



15 



old white had but three. Baby has tier 

 upon tier of its dainty bloom. Cy- 

 clamen also in bloom. 



They are a care. Being an invalid 

 it is about all I do. Get your plants 

 early, keep in pots all summer. Give 

 rich soil, not too big pots for blooming. 

 Plenty of fresh air, wash or shower 

 often. Keep watch for insects; soap- 

 suds will kill them, but use it as a 

 preventative, especially on roses. 



In the fall, if you can afford it, plant 

 a lot of bulbs for house and garden. 

 Get a catalogue from a reliable florist, 

 and it will give full directions. Look 

 over your garden (hope it is as fine as 

 mine), carefully take up stocks, snap- 

 dragons, asters, pinks and such an- 

 nuals; they will flower all winter; also 

 slips of verbenas. If there are no 

 seedlings of sweet alyssum, browallia 

 or quick bloomers, sow seed in the 

 fall. Remember such plants must be 

 kept cool; just above freezing will 

 suit them. Be sure to keep water on 

 the stove or radiator evaporating for 

 yourself as well as the plants. Last, 

 but not least, take a good floral mag- 

 azine. I take six. 



Maine. Mes. Aeoline P. Adams. 



ABOUT THE BULB GARDEN 



Now is the time to be preparing our 

 bulb garden. Bulbs are cheap and 

 should be planted liberally, and in 

 spring we can enjoy a rich harvest of 

 flowers. Do not fail to order early, 

 since you are then sure of getting what 

 you want in fine, large bulbs, before 

 the florist's stock is all picked over. 

 Scillas, snowdrops and crocus appear 

 as soon as the snow is away, and are 

 quickly followed by hyacinths, narcis- 

 sus and tulips. 



. Tulips are the most brilliant of all 

 bulbous flowers, and will grow in al- 

 most any soil unless there is too much 

 moisture. The bulbs should be planted 

 about six inches apart and covered to 

 a depth of three or four inches. Plant 

 In October, which is the best month 



for all garden bulbs. As a protection 

 against severe frost, a layer of leaves 

 about six inches deep, with other 

 coarse litter to weight them down, will 

 be effective. This covering should of 

 course be removed early in the spring. 

 Hyacinths are among the first to make 

 their appearance out of doors in the 

 spring, and gladden the earth with 

 their bright bloom. 



In preparing a bed or box for the 

 bulbs, special care should be exer- 

 cised, as their fleshy substance ren- 

 ders them an easy prey to disease, and 

 subjects them to the attacks of rats, 

 mice and other enemies. The best 

 soil for them is a very sandy loam well 

 mixed with leaf mold and old cow 

 manure. Set in rows four inches apart 

 each way and cover flve inches deep 

 with soil. A handful of sand placed 

 under each bulb will help to prevent 

 decay. Plant in October and cover 

 as directed for tulips. Narcissus will 

 thrive under about the same treatment 

 except that they will be all the better 

 for having a shaded situation. 



Don't forget to give outdoor bulbs 

 some protection during winter. No 

 matter how hardy they are, they will 

 bloom much better for care. Con- 

 tinual freezing and thawing during 

 a mild winter weakens the vitality of 

 a bulb. No matter how mild the win- 

 ter, some covering is a necessity. 



After the flowers and leaves have 

 died down the bulbs should be taken 

 up and stored away in a cool place 

 not subject to dampness. 



I will give a list of bulbs that I 

 grow in the window garden: Freesias, 

 Roman hyacinths, alliums, oxalis, triti- 

 lea, sacred lily, ornithogalum, win- 

 ter aconite. Their culture is very sim- 

 ple. They can be potted in September, 

 October or November, watered well 

 and set away in a dark cellar, or any 

 cool, dark place, to make roots. After 

 remaining four or five weeks they can 

 be brought out to the light, where they 

 will grow and bloom profusely. 



Indiana. Mes. R. A. Houk. 



