October, or the early part of November, is the time to plant bulbs
for next year’s flowering. Bulbs can be raised in any sunny place, no
matter how small the bed may be; they require less care, for the beauty
of the flower, than any other class of plants. We will give some plain
and simple directions, hoping our young readers may be induced to plant
at least a few bulbs this fall.
The soil for bulbs should be rich and well drained; it should also be
dug deep. If water should lie on the surface long the bulbs would rot.
If the soil is poor, enrich it with well-rotted stable manure, or with
surface earth from the woods, or decayed leaves. Cow manure, of course,
is the best. If the ground is stiff, and the manure fresh, it is well
to put a little sand around each bulb. If the soil has too much clay,
mix sand with the manure.
It is well to have your beds made so narrow that the weeds can be
destroyed, and the ground kept mellow, without walking among the
plants. Before the heavy frosts of winter appear your bulb beds should
be protected with leaves. Over these throw a little brush, to prevent
the wind from uncovering your bulbs. If your bulbs have been planted
a year or two, cover them with manure in the fall; the flowers in the
spring will repay you for all expense and trouble.
Hyacinths and tulips should be planted about six inches apart, the
hyacinth four inches deep, and the tulip three inches. The early
varieties will often blossom the latter part of March. Crocuses blossom
even earlier. They should be planted about three inches apart, and
two inches deep. Snowdrops--the first flower of spring--should be
planted in the same way as the crocus, or a little nearer together.
Narcissuses, including the daffodil and jonquil, should be planted in
the same manner as the hyacinth. All these bulbs can be planted in beds
where you may desire to place either seedlings or any other annual,
which will blossom after these bulbs have done flowering.
It is best to take up all your bulbs every third year, when they are
done flowering, and separate the newly-formed bulbs from the old. Keep
them in a dry place till October, then replant as we have directed.