HOUSE PLANTS. 85 
supply of water, but they soon languish in the possession of the 
purchasers. 
Another very hazardous mode of purchasing plants is at those 
sales which are very frequently got up in the spring and autumn. 
At these, purchasers have no security that the plant is healthy, 
or that it is what it professes to be, and thus they often pay a 
higher price for a worthless article in a diseased state, than a re¬ 
gular nurseryman would charge them for a good plant in the 
finest condition. Such a nurseryman has always character at 
stake, but the other parties, generally speaking, have none. 
MANAGEMENT OF BULBS IN GLASSES. 
This is a favorite mode of house culture, and the bulbs best 
adapted for it are hyacinths, polyanthus-narcissus, Van Thol, and 
other tulips, crocus, Persian iris, narcissus, colchicum, Guernsey 
lily, jonquil, and others. 
Spring-flowering bulbs are usually purchased in September, 
and the autumnal ones in July and August, and the largest and 
best-formed bulbs should be chosen ; an abundant supply may 
be obtained at little cost at the seed-shops and nurseries. To be 
blown in winter or spring, the bulbs are placed in water in Octo¬ 
ber, and so on in succession till February or March; and for 
autumn and early winter, they are placed in the water in August 
and September. Dark-colored glasses are the best, as they pre¬ 
vent the light from decomposing the roots of the plants. Rain 
water is preferable to any other, and it should be changed fre¬ 
quently, not less than once every third or fourth day, to prevent 
its getting putrid ; and in performing this operation care must be 
taken both in withdrawing and in replacing the roots. This is 
necessary only till the flowers have- expanded ; for after this the 
plants may be left undisturbed until the flowers have decayed. 
