PRODUCTION OF GRAPE-HYACINTH BULBS 13 
PRESENT DEMAND 
As stated, these stocks, although very attractive ornamentals and 
flowering in the early spring, have not been used in very large 
quantities in this country. The number used in pre-war days is 
difficult to determine,' but consultations with some of the leading 
importers supply the basis for an estimate of about half a million 
bulbs a year, all employed in outside decorative plantings. In 
1923, after the country had been deprived of them since 1917, the 
total importation for the same purpose was a little less than 550,000 
bulbs. 
It is as a " filler " that the group has been employed in the trade 
in the past. It has formed one of the miscellaneous items which 
went to make up the autumn bulb lists. Without any special effort 
and with an abundance of other bulbous stocks available, half a 
million or more bulbs were imported and sold. 
GROWING UNDER GLASS 
In the handling in the greenhouse of the leading varieties, such 
as Heavenly Blue, Azurea, and Conicum, the best plan is to leave 
the pots and flats out of doors as long as the weather is good. 
Potting should be done early, and while it may be advantageous to 
plunge the pots they should not be covered, as is advised for hya- 
cinths, because top growth starts about as quickly as root growth. 
No injury except to the pots will result from some freezing, but 
severe freezes should be avoided, because the leaves will be some- 
what discolored or actually killed at the tips. 
After being brought inside, a low temperature is advisable. A 
temperature suitable for carnations is satisfactory, and as much 
light as possible should be provided. When grown in this way and 
brought into flower after the middle of January, they make at- 
tractive pots. The best varieties for this purpose are Heavenly 
Blue, Conicum, and Azurea, but all of them may be brought in 
slowly under glass. 
The plants may be carried without heat until January, then in 
a cool house flowered for Easter, or they may be given a little 
warmth and flowered in January. 
That the use of grape hyacinths for cut flowers is feasible and 
that the stocks will take on the flower market have become very 
evident recently. This fact was very satisfactorily demonstrated 
at Portland, Oreg., by a local florist the past season. He forced 
and placed upon the market 600 spikes of Muscari conicum from 500 
bulbs. Before the cut was complete other growers were looking for 
sources of supply of 10,000 bulbs each. It is believed that this ex- 
perience will be duplicated on many other markets when the flowers 
are offered for sale. 
On account of its robust habit it is believed that Muscari conicum 
is the best variety for the market. While experience with it in this 
country has shown flowering in the last half of January, it should 
be noted that the plant comes into blossom regularly in the field at 
Bandon, Oreg., by the first of January. It is possible that stocks 
grown in this region and south of it could be brought in for New 
