2 
BARR’S DAFFODIL CATALOGUE, 1918. 
CULTURE OF BULBS IN POTS OR BOXES— -continued. 
After potting, stand the pots or boxes outside in the open, on a firm bottom such as a bed of 
gravel or a gravel path to prevent the entrance of worms. They should then be surrounded and com- 
pletely covered with Peat Fibre, Cocoa Fibre, or old decayed leaf soil (ashes are dangerous as being 
often very poisonous), the top of the pots being 2 inches below the surface of the covering material. 
This will secure a natural and moist condition to the bulbs and encourage root action. So long as the 
pots or boxes remain buried in this way they will require no watering. 
The pots or boxes should remain plunged for about twelve weeks (Roman and Italian Hyacinths 
rather less), in order that the bulbs may get well rooted, after which portions may be removed indoors in 
succession, selecting first those which bloom naturally early. Place first in a cold frame, cool greenhouse, or 
cold sitting-room free from draughts, and keep partially shaded for a few days, giving water gradually. 
Very weak liquid manure-water may then be given once a week until they come into flower. Those that 
are wanted in bloom early may, after the flower buds are advanced, be placed in a warmer temperature, 
such as a slow forcing-house, but this should never exceed 65° if fine blooms are desired. The plants 
should always be kept as near to the glass as possible and not allowed to get drawn, from an insufficient 
supply of light or air. On no account should bottom heat be given. A frequent mistake made in forcing 
bulbs is that they are removed from the plunging-bed too early, before they have made a sufficient quantity 
of fibrous roots ; they are then at once subjected to heat, and failure is the result. It is a good plan, 
when bulbs are removed from the plunging-bed, to place an inverted flower-pot over them for a day or 
two to prevent any check from draughts to the young top growths. 
Pot-Culture of Early Gladioli, Ixias, Sparaxis, Tritonias, Babianas, etc. 
These bulbs start early into growth and therefore should not be potted up before the end of October 
to November. The pots should be plunged up to the rim only (not covered) in a cold frame, and pro- 
tected with mats during severe frosty weather. There they should remain for about three months, after 
which the treatment is similar to that for Spring-flowering bulbs. 
Culture of Spring-Flowering Bulbs in Vases and Bowls, 
in Barr’s New Peat-Fibre, Shell and Charcoal Mixture. 
A charming effect can be obtained by growing spring-flowering bulbs in fancy vases and bowls, with 
or without drainage, by using our Peat-Fibre Mixture (3*. 9 d. per bushel, is. per peck) ; the mixture is 
light, clean, and nice to handle, and remains sweet (an important matter where the vases used have no 
drainage holes) ; indeed, it is in every way preferable to soil for growing bulbs in bowls and vases. 
Culture. — Fill the vase or bowl with the Peat- Fibre 
Mixture up to within a little below the rim, and plant the 
bulbs in the same manner as with ordinary potting soil ; the 
mixture should be shaken down into place after planting and 
lightly watered, but should not be pressed down tightly, or the 
bulbs will be forced upwards when root growth commences. 
After planting, adopt either of the following plans : — 
(a) The bowls may be placed outdoors and covered en- 
tirely with Peat-Kibre or Cocoa fibre, leaving them thus for 
8 to 12 weeks (Early Roman and Italian Hyacinths rather 
less), when the bulbs will have made good fibrous roots. 
{b) Or the bowls may be plunged in a cold frame, airy 
cellar, or out-house instead of outdoors ; with this treatment, 
however, it will be necessary to occasionally give water. 
{c) A third plan is to place the bowls after potting in a 
dark or moderately dark airy room, cool but not too cold ; 
they must not be placed in a close cupboard or the bulbs 
will certainly suffer. 
In the case of bowls plunged outdoors there will be no 
need to give any attention in the way of watering, as they 
will of course have abundance of moisture from the autumn 
rains. Where, however, the bulbs are not exposed to rain, the 
bowls should be examined once or twice a week, care being 
taken that the fibre mixture is kept uniformly damp ; but for 
the first week or two after planting water should be given very 
sparingly, sufficient only to encourage root action. As soon 
as the bulbs are well rooted, water may be given more freely, 
the fibre mixture being then kept quite moist ; if the mixture 
is allowed at any time to become dry, even for a day, the flower buds will probably become 
blind ; should by any chance too much water have been given the bowls may be drained by carefully 
tipping them on their side. If obtainable, rain water is the best to use. 
When the bulbs have made some top growth the bowls should be removed to the sunny window of 
a sitting room, where they will get the morning sun, or be kept in a cool greenhouse close to the glass, 
as it is necessary that they should be given sufficient light and air to prevent the foliage from becoming 
drawn up. For a few days the bowls should be covered with tissue paper until the young growth has 
become accustomed to the light. Draughts and gas heat must be carefully avoided. 
No bottom heat should be given, and a temperature of 55 0 to 6o° by day and 50° to 55 0 by night 
is sufficient to obtain good blooms ; the bulbs resent too warm a temperature. 
For Collections of Bulbs for Bowl Culture, see page 6 of this Catalogue, and page 3 
Of our General Bulb Catalogue. 
NARCISSUS POETAZ ELVIRA 
growing in Bart's Peat-Fibre Mixtwe, 
