56 
HINTS AND HELPS 
North windows in warm rooms for 
germinating seed and starting cuttings. 
For starting seed use one part soil and 
two parts sand, or just the soil if it is 
light. For taking cuttings, select the 
younger growth of the plants where the 
shoots are pretty well matured so that 
they are not too soft. The tops of 
shoots generally make the best cuttings. 
Cut them two or three inches long, trim 
off the large side leaves; they should 
then be inserted in clean, sharp sand 
at least half their length and wet thoroughly. A deep 
plate or shallow dish containing about two inches of sand 
can be used. This can be placed on a radiator or on the 
back of the stove at night. They should be kept moist, 
not allowed to dry up, nor should they be overwatered. 
Bottom heat stimulates root development. 
BULBS. 
Nearly all our common bulbs can be made to bloom 
successfully in the window garden, although a cool room 
will give the best results. The bulb should be potted in 
the Fall and the pots and boxes containing them should 
be left out of doors or in a cellar where the temperature is 
low. They can be brought into the window garden suc¬ 
cessively and thus obtain a succession of bloom. In pot¬ 
ting bulbs, give plenty of drainage and be sure that the 
soil is not too firm directly under them; otherwise the roots 
will throw the bulb above the surface of the soil. Most 
bulbs should be just covered with earth which is pressed 
firmly around the sides of the bulb. They should not be 
watered until growth commences. When about to bloom 
they will require considerable water. The commonest 
bulbs that do well are: Crocus; Daffodils; Freesias; Hya¬ 
cinth; Oxalis; Lily of the Valley; and Tulips. Sometimes 
a window box can be made up entirely of bulb stock, and 
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