1884.] 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 
189 
BULBS FOE WIUTEE PLOWEKING 
Among all the many flowers for adorn¬ 
ment of our apartments in winter imlbs 
must alw.^s take front rani, not ^nly o. 
aecount of the ease with which the/are 
cultivated, but also for their brilliant hues 
and oxqmsite fingrance. What can excel 
the perfume of Hyacinths, Lilies of the Val- 
ley, and Easter Lilies? And every one can 
raise them in profusion if they will plant 
them m due season and cultivate them prop¬ 
erly. 
hyacinths. 
Hyacinths are the most desirable bulbs 
for winter blooming, and every one knows 
tho richness of their fra¬ 
grance and tho beauty of 
their coloring. But some 
persons think them too sweet 
for parlor flowers; yet if 
they are put into the hall or 
an open way at night, their 
odors mil not bo too over¬ 
powering to the most deli¬ 
cate constitution. In fact, 
growing, healthy plants of 
all kinds are the most desir¬ 
able adjunct for city and 
country houses as a sanitary 
measure. 
The bulbs may be grown 
either in pots filled with 
sandy soil, or cocoa-nut 
fiber, or damp sphagnum, or 
in glasses of water, with a 
small bit of charcoal at the 
bottom to keeiJ it sweet. 
The bottom of the bulb 
should just touch the water, 
which will soon evaporate, 
so as to be a little below the 
base of the bulb. A layer 
of cotton batting can be laid 
aroimd the edges of the bulb 
within the glass, and kept 
moistened, so as to prevent 
the evaporation of the water. 
If you desire to have your 
Hyacinths in bloom for 
Christmas, put them into 
pots or glasses as early as 
possible in October, and you 
will have a fine display. If 
required at Easter, plant 
them early in December or 
January. A large bulb will 
flower well in a small pot; 
but it is a better plan to plant 
three or six in large pots and 
produce more flowers. 
After the bulbs are planted, 
.put them away in a dark cel¬ 
lar for three or four weeks, or 
until their roots have struck far down into 
the glasses or pots, and their leaves are be¬ 
ginning to show themselves. Then place 
them in a sunny window, and keep the sod 
well moistened in the pots. A furnace- eate 
room of 73° or 78° is too hot for a good de¬ 
velopment of stalk and buds, so place em 
in an upper chamber where the frost wi no 
touch them, and where the mercury rare y 
rises above 66°. Thus treated, they w 
finely and fully repay you for the ® 
i ■ TP fiio stalk does not 
you have given them. If the si<»i 
incline to' shoot up weU, twist a cone o w i e 
paper and place the wide part over e h , 
then cut off the top a little, and *®,^>^ds 
will shoot upward to the ligW* 
watei bulbs in pots with water quite warm 
o 10 hand, and once a week drop into it 
five or ton drops — according to quantity of 
water—of ammonia water. 
Single Hyacinths will flower more satisfac¬ 
torily in the house than the double varieties. 
Itomaii Hyacinths make a pleasing addition 
to a collection of bulbs. Their bulbs arc 
smaller and cheaper than the ordinary 
Hyacinth, but tlio flowers and odor are almost 
as beautiful and delicious. 
THE LILY OP THE VALLEY. 
This most exquisite flower can be forced 
tor the window-garden as easily as Hyaointlis, 
Always 
ROMAN HYACINTH. 
(One-third natiu-al size.) 
Tiflips, or Crocuses, while its waxen bolls 
and rare perfume far exceed that of anj' 
other flower. After their leaves have become 
well dried off, dig up a large clump from the 
garden—if you are the fortunate possessor 
of a Lily bed—and plant them in sandy soil 
or moss or Cocoa-nut fiber, then dampen 
it well and place the pots or boxes in a cool 
place where the sun will not touch them, 
until'.you see the hooded leaves springing 
upward; now place in a sunny window in a 
well-aired room, not stiflingly hot, and in 
six weeks you will have lovely clusters of 
most perfect flowers. After flowering, take 
the roots from tho pots and put them m the 
cellar, and as soon as the frost has left the 
gi'ound plant them out, and possibly they 
may flower again. Tho florists keep pots of 
Lilies of the Valley started, for sale, and 
in purchasing a supply of winter-blooming 
flowers they should not be passed by. The 
roots can be dug up after the ground has 
frozen in December and be brought forward 
to blossom by Easter. 
THE BERMUDA EASTER DIET. 
This Lily has not been long known to 
flower lovers, but it merits their recognition 
as a very beautiful Lily especially adapted 
to forcing for winter flowers, and for Easter 
docora.lions it is unequaled. Its flowers are 
of waxen whiteness, and 
trumpet-shaped, like L. longi- 
Jlorum, of which it is a va¬ 
riety. It will continue in 
blo.ssom from ten days to a 
fortnight, and a large bulb 
will give from eight to ten 
flowers, and in some cases as 
many as thirty flowers. 
In Bermuda it bears a much 
greater number of buds and 
flowers, and they are much 
sought for in that flowery 
island. It will also bloom two 
or three times in succession, 
thus making it doubly valu¬ 
able both to the florist and 
the amateur gardener. 
A large bulb should be 
planted in a six or seven 
inch pot, filled with sandy, 
peaty soil, and set aside a 
little while to develop its 
roots, yet not in a damp, 
dark place. The culture of 
these Lilies should be the 
same as is given to the Eng¬ 
lish White Lily, and L. longi- 
flonim. Keep the soil duly 
moistened, but not too wet; 
and a sunny upper window 
would develop its growth, 
in the house, better than a 
heated atmosphere. After its 
flowers are well developed, it 
can be brought down-stairs 
for an ornament to library, 
hall, or parlor; but always 
place it in a cooler place at 
night, where it will not be 
chilled. 
AMARYLEI.S. 
The Amaryllis will force 
finely for Easter flowers, and 
the new hybrids which have 
been raised by M. Louis Fan 
Houtte and M. Fouehet are 
very beautiful for this purpose. Some of the 
flowers of these bulbs have a white ground, 
lined and striped wfith red and rose color, 
while others have red petals striped with 
white. Amaryllis Johnsonii is also a most 
beautiful bulb for the window-garden, and 
if planted in October, it can be made to bloom 
in glorious beauty by March. Its flowers are 
very large and of a most vivid red with a band 
of white thi'ough each petal. -Several flowers 
are borne upon one stalk, and they are the 
admiration of all beholders, and cannot be too 
highly recommended to all lovers of winter¬ 
blooming bulbs. Tulips, Narcissus, Crocuses, 
' are all desirable for house oultmre. 
Daisy Eyebbioht. 
