HOUSE AND GARDEN 
October, i 
9 X 3 
211 
ashes or soil. In any case each box should be plainly tagged, and 
if they are buried the tag should be long enough to be read above 
the covering in order that you may readily secure just what you 
want when you are bringing them in. The soil in the boxes 
should be kept in a moist but not wet condition, and this will, if a 
very dry stretch of weather is encountered after planting, necessi¬ 
tate a few thorough waterings. Under these conditions the bulbs 
will commence to make roots 
rapidly and will not be injured 
even by freezing weather; as 
this comes on, however, the 
coldframe should be covered 
with sash or the soil over the 
bulbs mulched with manure or 
leaves in order that the bulbs 
may be got at readily . when 
wanted. 
That practically completes 
all of the work in connection 
with the forcing of bulbs. After 
they have remained in enforced 
seclusion long enough to have 
made a good mass of roots— 
the proper length of time for 
which varies with the several 
types and varieties — simply get 
out a box or pot from under 
its covering of manure and soil, 
or take it up from the cellar, 
and bring it into the light and heat. The pots may be washed 
and covered, or placed in jardinieres, or the boxes painted or cov¬ 
ered with some cheap cloth like denim or stained burlap, and will 
thus be made presentable for the living'-room or the dining-table. 
The first planting can be done early in October, which will 
usually be as early as you can get some 
of the bulbs, and after four or five 
weeks in which to make root growth 
the earlier sorts, which include the 
hyacinths, polyanthus type of narcis¬ 
sus, Due Van Thol tulips, crocuses and 
so forth may be taken up and brought 
into the house. The later tulips, the 
large flowered narcissi, lilies, etc., 
should be left at least three weeks 
longer before the first are taken in. 
As soon as taken up they should re¬ 
Most everyone is familiar with the 
from the florist. You may grow it 
ceive a thorough watering, and from this time on the soil should 
be kept in a thoroughly moist condition, giving it much more 
water than for ordinary plants kept in pots during the winter, as 
the bulbs are making an active growth while most of the others 
are in a semi-dormant condition. It is best after the first few 
days when they are brought in, to keep them in a comparatively 
cool room with a night temperature of 40 to 50 degrees, but for 
most of them ten degrees more 
heat than this will be beneficial 
after leaf growth has begun. 
Always the maximum amount 
of fresh air that can be given 
while maintaining the proper 
temperature should be fur¬ 
nished, as it keeps the plants 
healthier and prolongs the sea¬ 
son of bloom. To secure the 
best flowers, when the buds are 
well formed, supply extra plant 
food in the form of a little ni¬ 
trate of soda (a teaspoonful to 
a quart of water) or liquid 
manure. 
The freesias after planting 
should be covered with only a 
couple of inches of soil instead 
of half a foot or so, like the 
other bulbs, and should be 
brought into the house before 
freezing weather; or they may simply be started without any pre¬ 
liminary growth at all by keeping them for the first few weeks in 
a cool, partially shaded place. The new improved Purity is a 
very wonderful advance over the old and well known Refracta 
alba and is a desirable plant to have. 
The lilies, such as the Easter lily 
and the Annunciation lily (L. candi- 
ditm) can be forced in the same way, 
but are more difficult for the amateur 
to succeed with because they require 
a higher temperature, a longer season 
of growth and greater care in feeding 
and watering. Large bulbs should be 
procured and potted at once in five or 
six inch pots and treated as the 
other bulbs mentioned above, until 
(Continued on page 240) 
cyclamen when purchased in pots 
for your own pleasure if you like 
m 
7 
A cyclamen corm with good rootlets 
shaken out ready for planting 
The daffodil that blooms in your border may be an¬ 
ticipated in the house and used for cut flowers 
The proper planting of a cyclamen corm 
covers all the rootlets but not the bulb 
