32 BULLETIN" 797, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
and the third, to keep the atmosphere moist. A little experience will 
enable one to meet the first condition, but our American homes are 
usually both too hot and too dry for the best growth of bulbs. The 
heat requirement can be met by selecting, preferably, an east window 
a at ay from radiators or heating pipes; by covering the soil in the 
pots with either commercial moss or living moss from the woods 
greater evaporation will be induced. Avoid haste to get the flowers 
into blossom. Indeed, very good advice to one without experience is 
not to attempt to bring forced bulbs into flower earlier than the 
middle or, better, the last of February. As experience is gained the 
time can be shortened. Another good piece of advice is to give the 
bulbs not less than eight weeks for rooting and then to bring them 
into a cool cellar and introduce them to heat gradually. 
Good garden soil will generally be used by the housewife for pots 
containing bulbs. "Well-rotted manure and sand or decayed turfy 
loam and a little bone meal may be profitably employed if the garden 
soil is poor. It should be borne in mind, though, that the three con- 
ditions just specified are of even greater importance for the flowering 
of the bulbs than an abundance of plant food, which is of more 
service in building up the bulbs for the succeeding year's perform- 
ance. 
After the bulbs are potted they are usually buried out of doors or 
covered with earth, litter, ashes, etc., for a period of 8 or, preferably, 
10 weeks, where they will be kept cool and moist and prevented from 
freezing. When the roots are sufficiently developed they are brought 
into a cool cellar for 10 days or two weeks and then into the living- 
room, thus coming into heat gradually. 
In writing directions for amateur bulb growers it is customary to 
insist on good drainage in the pot culture of bulbs in earth and then 
in the same breath to advise growing them in water without any 
drainage. This latter method is successful with many varieties. To 
assist in keeping the bulbs in place in bowls in water without drain- 
age, gravel, pebbles, coal, or sphagnum moss are used, and it is de- 
sirable to add charcoal and crushed oyster shells or a little coarsely 
ground bone. After the roots begin to form, the bowl is easily in- 
verted by holding the hand under it to drain out the water. This 
change of water should take place weekly at least. The same pre- 
cautions are necessary to have the bulbs well rooted before they are 
brought into heat. The rooting can take place in a cool dark cellar, 
attic, or any otfier suitable and convenient situation. The plants 
most commonly grown in this way are the Chinese sacred lily, Paper- 
white narcissus, and hyacinths, although many varieties of tulips 
and species of other genera succeed. It takes more experience and 
care to force tulips than varieties of the other two genera. 
