18 BULLETIN 1462, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
injury can be avoided. The bulbs should not be forced, and no 
attempt should be made to bring them in too early. The date at 
which Conicum may be flowered depends, as with other stocks, upon 
its date of maturity. Bulbs grown one year at Bandon, Oreg., came 
into flower in 1922 and 1923 much earlier than the same stock grown 
at Bellingham, Wash. 
The stocks seem to be benefited by being left outside to receive 
some freezing, but too severe cold injures the leaf tips and should 
be avoided. All bulbs forced in these experiments were grown 
either at Bellingham, Wash., or at Bandon, Oreg. One commercial 
grower at Portland, Oreg., has forced and marketed locally grown 
Muscari botryoides conicum flowers for the last two years with a 
great deal of satisfaction. 
The group is commonly flowered under glass in Europe, but this is 
seldom done in this country, although the bulbs grown here may be 
made fully up to quality, as has been shown by the results obtained 
both in the department's forcing tests and in at least one commer- 
cial establishment. 
CROCUS 
The production of crocus bulbs has received little attention in this 
country. Up to 1918 the Department of Agriculture grew a few 
varieties at Bellingham, Wash., and in 1922 began again to work 
up experimental stocks. Enough of these have been forced in past 
seasons to demonstrate that the American-grown article runs true 
to form. It can not be forced, but when brought along slowly and 
kept cool until the buds show color the flowers will open in a few 
days at a temperature of 15 to 55° F. There are few varieties of 
bulbs more attractive as pot plants than the crocus. Under dwelling- 
house conditions and with no effort at earliness of flowering, King 
of the Blues. Baron von Bruno, and Mont Blanc were flowered very 
successfully early in March. 1918, in both soil and fiber. 
ANTHOLYZA AND WATSONIA 
On account of the size of the plants, requiring a large amount of 
space in the house, it is doubtful if Antholyza or Watsonia will ever 
be used extensively under glass. They do, however, make an appeal 
and are particularly adapted to ornamental effect in private con- 
servatories, where a large proportion of cut flowers compared with 
the attractive vegetative growth may not be demanded. The flower 
spikes are decidedly graceful, and if cut when the lower flowers are 
opening both last a long time in water. 
The material forced in 1921 and 1925 was from California-grown 
corms which had been handled the previous year in pots under 
forcing conditions and allowed to mature naturally. It would seem 
that these corms can be forced year after year, as is done with 
freesias, provided the leafage is preserved and the plants are 
allowed to mature naturally. 
HYACINTHS 
Contrary to general opinion, the hyacinth (pi. 9. C, and pis. 10 
and 11) is not particularly difficult to produce in good quality. 
