The Garden Under Glass

CHAPTER VIII BEAUTIFUL BULBS FOR FORCING A greenhouse without bulbous flowering plants in the winter and spring would never achieve a very wide reputation . Whoever sets himself the task of making the spring greenhouse beautiful without them sets himself a task which does no credit to his ideas of floral beauty. Readers will know that I refer to tulips, hyacinths, narcissi, jonquils, gladioli, snowdrops, irises, and perhaps a few crocuses. There need be no distinction made in the matter of culture, and this renders my task comparatively easy. It is well first of all to procure good sound bulbs early in the season, and pay a fair price for them. The man who aims hard at being economical will find that economy in coin has borne the unlooked-for offspring of economy in beauty. This is but a just punishment for those who wait till the end of the season, when everyone has had the best pick, in order to be able to get bulbs in the saleroom a few shillings cheaper. It is well to have the bulbs potted up in September or October for the main supply. Roman hyacinths and Paper-white Narcissi need to be potted early in August to secure biooms during November and December. But if I were an amateur gardener with a small greenhouse I would not try to get any of these bulbs in flower before the New Year. About that time the Chrysanthemums are getting over and we want something to fill up the gap. 117