41 
6 Bulbs IN Glasses. Thebulbs, usually flowered in water alone, 
are the hyacinth, narcissus, early tulips, Persian iris, Guernsey 
lily, and crocuses. Those who delight in relieving their winter 
apartments, from the destitution which their flower stands must 
sometimes exhibit, need not confine themselves to this list. They 
may take up almost any bulbs, from the borders, and place them 
on water. The absence of glasses, made expressly for the pur- 
pose, need not be an obstacle; sheet lead may be fitted in the 
tops of china, or other stands, and have holes cut in it, of proper 
size to receive the bulbs. Various other methods, also, may rea- 
dily be devised. The Greenhouse Companion has explicit di- 
rections on this subject, which are practical and good. The au- 
thor says, “The season for placing the bulbs on water, may be 
at any period after they have been matured; but the most usual 
with spring bulbs is October, and from that month to February; 
and with autumnal bulbs, August and September. Planting in 
earth, for a few weeks, such bulbs as are to be blown on water, 
is the best mode of causing them to protrude roots freely, which, 
when they are placed on water at once, is not always the case. 
Whenever the roots are a cpiarter of an inch in length, take them 
out of the earth, wash them gently, so as not to injure the rad- 
icles, and then place them on the water. It is not essential that 
bulbs, on water, should be placed in much heat, for the principal 
stimulus to a newly-planted bulb is the moisture; and if the room 
in which the glasses are placed, be kept to 45° or 48«, that 
will promote their vegetation, for some time, as much as if 10° or 
or lo° higher. When the flower stem has risen an inch or two, 
then the heat may be considerably increased : that is, the glasses 
may be removed from a room without a fire to one where a fire 
is kept, and where the temperature will generally be found be- 
tween oo° and 65°. Here they will advance^with considerable ra- 
j)idity, especially if placed on a stand, or stage, near a window of 
south or south-east aspect. They will blow, however, without 
any $un; but the colours of the flowers will be inferior. Those 
who keep bulbs on water are often at a loss when to change it. 
There is no fixed time for this purpose : the principle is to keep 
the water sweet and pure. In a temperature of 45° or 48°, when 
the bulbs are newly planted, this will be effected by changing 
once a week. At 60°, and the glass nearly filled w ith roots, the 
water will get putrid and show a inuddiness in two or three days 
121 
