THE FORCING OF BULBS 
The varieties of narcissi marked “F” and “FF” are easily 
brought to bloom in the house in winter. For success, a certain rou¬ 
tine is absolutely necessary. After potting or other method of 
planting, the bulbs must be put where dark and very cool, the colder 
the better, so they do not freeze, and kept faithfully watered, for 
as much as two months, unless they make determined growth sooner. 
When the buds are above ground, or the two months are up, the 
bulbs can be brought to warmth and light to complete their growth. 
Do not get them too warm, or the buds will blast, and do not let 
them stand in strong sun. 
For potting, use good garden soil, adding a little sand or 
finely ground limestone and a very little powdered charcoal, if 
available. For growing in water, bulb fiber, pebbles, or dyed shell 
fragments are sometimes used. Better than any of these is charcoal 
grit, hen size, obtainable at any poultry-supply store. The dish pref¬ 
erably should be of glass, three inches or more deep. Fill the dish 
with the charcoal to an inch or half-inch from the top, add water until 
the charcoal is floated a half-inch from the bottom, and stir the 
charcoal and water until the charcoal floats freely, adding more 
water if necessary. Water may be added at any time until the 
charcoal is full to the top, but need not be added so long as there 
is still free water standing in the charcoal at the bottom, or the 
charcoal is moist to the top. 
Bulbs of hyacinths, narcissi, etc., grown indoors for winter 
blooming, should be kept growing until the leaves die down, then set 
in the ground outdoors, where they can remain at least a year un¬ 
disturbed. 
OUTDOOR GROWING 
Tulip and Narcissus bulbs should be planted about three inches 
deep to the shoulders of the bulbs as soon as possible after summer 
heat and drouth are broken, must remain in the ground over winter 
and should not be disturbed until the leaves have turned yellow in 
early summer. This is the correct time to dig them. Narcissi prefer 
to be left in the ground several years. Tulips are better dug every 
year, though they may be let go an extra year if small when planted. 
Plant about six inches apart. 
Bulbs should not be allowed to lie in the sun when dug, nor when 
planting, nor at any other time. They should be stored cool, dark, 
and well ventilated. 
Do not use manure in the soil in planting bulbs or any fleshy- 
rooted plant. Spread it on top of the ground after planting is done. 
NARCISSUS BULBS 
Furnished in the fall only. 
Please notice the formula after each name: Y is for yellow, 
W for white, and B for bicolor, yellow or red center and white 
wings. The numbers 1 to 6 tell the season of bloom. F means that 
a variety is good for forcing, FF that it is very good. RG means 
