Every two weeks give the 
immerse the pot in a pail 
there long enough for the 
saturated 
warm water is better for this purpose. 
Another element entering into the suc¬ 
cess or failure with house plants is their 
selection and placing. The room with 
sunny windows should he reserved for the 
flowering plants, those that are valued for 
leafage alone should he put in rooms 
where there is comparatively little sun¬ 
shine. In the instance of ferns this rule 
does not apply, for ferns do need sun¬ 
shine. Rooms artificially lighted by gas 
are particularly unwholesome for them. 
The essentials for growing bulbs in¬ 
doors are that they shall become thorough¬ 
ly rooted before the tops are permitted to 
grow. This is done by planting the bulbs 
in soil either in pots or what florists know 
as “pans,” which are shallow porcelain 
pots, or in boxes. These bulbs are then 
put in a cool place in the dark for a period 
of two to six or eight weeks, or even 
longer if desired. They should be left there until the roots are 
well started. In the case of bulbs planted in pots the pots may be 
inverted and gently tapped, when the bulb and soil will come out 
in a mass. When the bulbs have been sufficiently long in the 
pots the earth in the bottom of the pot will he completely covered 
with rootlets. The bulbs should then he brought into a slightlv 
warmer place with some light for three or four days, and then 
gradually brought into greater warmth and full light. During all 
the period of growth the ground should be kept moist without 
being watersoaked. 
Narcissi take about five weeks to develop from the time they 
are brought into full light. Hyacinths take a longer time, and 
tulips about the same time as hyacinths. The Roman hyacinths 
come in a little less time, while the paper-white narcissus only 
takes about four weeks. It is hard to hold the paper-white nar¬ 
cissus for late winter. The hyacinths and tulips are hard to 
bring into bloom before February. The various forms of the 
yellow narcissus can he brought into bloom from December until 
the time for outdoor blooms by starting 
the bulbs early in the fall and bringing 
them into the light at intervals of a week 
or ten days. For the earliest bloom it is 
desirable to get the bulbs started in Octo¬ 
ber, and all of the bulbs should be planted 
before the middle of November. 
Tulips require special care and atten¬ 
tion. It is best to place the pots or pans in 
a box and cover the whole pot with at 
least two inches additional soil or ashes, 
and leave them there until the bud has 
pushed clear above the pot, otherwise the 
blooms will be strangled in attempting to 
get out of the bulbs. 
Instead of placing in the cellar, these 
pots and boxes may he buried in the open 
ground, the pots being covered with four 
, i , inches of soil. In localities where the 
palms a good soaking; , , •, r , , , 
of water and let it stand ground customarily freezes hard, a heavy 
soil to become thoroughly coating of manure should he added as 
soon as the first crust freezes over the 
bulbs. This layer of manure will pre¬ 
vent their freezing and will permit the bulbs to he removed to the 
house from time to time as needed. 
The hyacinth, paper-white narcissus, and especially the Chinese 
sacred lily, are frequently grown in water. Special glasses for 
these bulbs may he purchased, in which they may be successfully 
grown, or they may he placed in any attractive dish and supported 
by pebbles. The water should be kept so that it touches the bot¬ 
tom of tlpe bulb. 
Nowadays it is a simple matter for anyone, at a small amount 
of trouble and expense, to have quantities of that most lovely 
flower of all — the Lily of the Valley — even in the dullest months. 
Owing to the clever system known as retardation, the roots of 
these plants, or “crowns," as they are technically called, are pre¬ 
vented from flowering at their proper time. This end is attained 
by keeping the roots in refrigerators until the plants are re¬ 
quired for growth. Thus, if, when we go to the florist's store. 
(Continued on page 391) 
Another few days and the plant is well advanced 
with every promise of healthy flowers and sturdy 
leaves 
A month s growth in the sunshine following the forc¬ 
ing period in the dark — plants ready for larger 
pots 
The completed growth, the repotting has given the 
stalks more room, producing a graceful and healthy 
plant 
369 
