AuGrsT, 1916 
THE GARDEN IM A G A Z I N E 
15 
ter flowering type are sown around August 
1st, but usually in the beds where they 
are to flower. Some people prefer solid 
benches or beds for Sweet Peas; it is also 
necessary' that you have plenty of head- 
room — at least six feet, and ten is better. 
If you do not give Sweet Peas a rich soil, 
you are but wasting time in attempting to 
grow them. 
Antirrhuiums and Primulas are usually sown 
in spring and grown on in pots. The former is 
usually carried over the summer in 4-inch pots 
(although the pot will seem small for the plant) 
BULBS AND ROOTS FOR FORCING 
Bulbs are wonderful producers and they are 
great favorites. Most bulbs are planted in 
pans or boxes, using a rich soil, just as early as 
the different varieties can be procured. After 
planting they are buried out of doors or in a 
coldframe; usually the latter is reserved for the 
more tender bulbs, such as the Lily or Freesia. 
You can get delivery of the latter during 
August and from then on each type as it ripens 
until November, when you can secure Spirea. 
When the bulbs are brought in to force, they 
freezing. It can then be brought into the 
heat, and kept watered. This makes an ideal 
pot plant for home decoration, particularly the 
pink variety. 
Most bulbs are water lovers; speaking gen- 
erally, they require more water than any 
other plants. They are all gross growers, and 
besides requiring a rich soil should be fed 
freely with liquid manure when flowering time 
is at hand. When the flowers are showing 
color the boxes or pans may be removed to a 
cool dark cellar where they will keep for weeks. 
After the bulbs have once been fo’-ced it is use- 
The principle crop of the greenhouse determines what else can be grown inside. Carnations (night temperature 50 to 55“) offer the largest range of opportunities and are the easiest to 
manage 
The small pot has a tendency to ripen the 
wood and make ideal stock for planting in the 
benches, which is usually done about Sep- 
tember 1st. Antirrhinum does best without 
bottom heat. Primulas are usually carried 
over the summer in a coldframe in 4-inch pots 
and grown rather slowly, by watering spar- 
ingly. In the fall they are shifted into 6- 
or 7-inch pots and grown on briskly. 
Cyclamen can be grown from seeds sown 
in February, but better plants are had when 
sown the preceding fall. 1 hese are grown 
on briskly during summer, using a coldframe 
and shade during the middle of the day. 
Remove to the greenhouse during early 
September. 
Schizanthus and Gypsophila make fine pot 
subjects; sow about every three or four weeks 
for successful flowering. 
Calceolaria and Cineraria are old-time 
favorites for spring flowers. Both may be 
grown in the Carnation house, though they 
prefer a cooler temperature. Sow in .August 
and keep growing on in pots. Campanulas 
are grown in the same manner. 
are usually placed under the benches, and are 
not brought to the light until they have de- 
veloped long stems, so they occupy bench space 
for a short period. Such bulbs as Narcissus, 
Hyacinth, Allium, and Ornithogalum will only 
need about ten to fourteen days on the benches. 
Gladiolus is usually planted in the benches be- 
tween the Carnations, or may be forced in 
boxes and pans. Freesias are kept growing 
after planting although they occupy bench 
space considerably longer than the other 
bulbs, and are wonderful producers. 1 hey 
require staking. The best method is to cut 
some birch twigs about fifteen to eighteen 
inches long, and stick them in between the 
Freesias — just before the flowers appear. 
Cyclamen are always grown in pots. W hen 
the bulbs are received they should be potted up 
and kept growing. The ideal conditions are a 
rich, yet light, soil, using plenty of leafmold in 
the compost and a light location at the warm 
end of the house. F eed freely when the flowers 
appear. 
Spirea (.Astilbe) is potted up when received 
and placed out of doors until it is well rested by 
less to try and force them again. But they 
may be saved and planted out around the 
borders and will flower freely after the first 
year. Freesias and Cyclamen are an excep- 
tion to this rule; they can be flowered in- 
definitely by properly ripening the bulbs. 
Lily-of-the-valley is another possibility of 
the Carnation house. It does better with more 
heat, but it can be grown well in the Carnation 
house with careful handling. Plant the pips 
in boxes of pure sand and place them on the 
pipes in the warmest section of the house. 
Drop a curtain from the sides of the benches 
to exclude the light. Spray several times a 
day and never let the sand get dry. \\ hen 
the flowers have developed and you have 
a good length of stem, place on the bench to 
finish. Use cold storage pips. 
Do not make the mistake of getting too large 
a variety of plants for the size of your green- 
house. The lists given are all possibilities 
but you couldn’t grow them all unless you had 
a very large house. F ar better to be con- 
tent with a limited variety and a fair show- 
ing of each ! 
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