PLANT SPRING BULBS NOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 934, 29 March 1930, Page 28

PLANT SPRING BULBS NOW

There are many ways of using: bulbs jin the flower garden. Bulb-planting ; is a most fascinating and inexpensive hobby, giving an everlasting delight to the grower, and a charming effect in the garden. They are always admired by lovers of nature, and blooms are welcomed by the housewife as a tasteful table decoration. February and March is the best time of the year for planting out spring bulbs. The varieties obtainable are many and varied, from earlyflowering crocus and jonquil-flowered narcissus to the gaily-coloured ixias and sparaxis. Anemones and ranunculus, with their large paeony-like blooms, are always striking, and range in colour from the most glorious scarlet to the deepest blue shades. Trumpet narcissus, tulips, hyacinths and freesias all command attention, and each in turn share in the general admiration of “the glory of the garden.” BULB CULTIVATION ] Bulb-culture in open ground and I flower border is a very simple mat- | ter. There are one or two points that j cannot be overlooked, which often ; make a lot of difference between good I and poor results. Almost any good j soil will grow bulbs to perfection so j long as it is well dug, light or sandy i being made firm. On the other hand, j if the soil is inclined to become solid and heavy through the winter months, an addition of sand, rotted manure, and wood ashes will greatly improve the ground. Fresh or even rotted manure is detrimental and poisonous to all kinds of bulbs if allowed to come in contact with them. It should be deeply dug in, quite six inches below the base of the bulbs. Artificial manures are also harmful to bulbs. Basic slag can be used on heavy and clay soils, three ounces to the square yard, and bonedust on volcanic and light soils, three ounces to the square yard. On fio account use any other fertilisers. On old bulb beds lime may be forked in every second or third year. BULB CULTURE INDOORS Hyacinths, tulips and daffodils make ; splendid pot plants for indoor cultiI vation. They may be grown in bowls j or moss fibre, mixed with half bone ! and half charcoal. Specimen bulbs j can also be grown singly in a glass filled with water. The bulb must rest on top of the glass, the base of the bulb just above water. The addition of charcoal on the botom of the glass keeps the water sweet and clear. Then place the glass in a subdued light. When the bulb has started in growth, place on the table or window sill in the light, and let the bulb mature and flower naturally.