e looks like small cucumbers. It
must be given plenty of light, sunshine if possible, to produce its
flowers, which are small and yellow, in shape like those of the sun
pink, but smaller.

There are a number of other succulents sometimes used for house plants,
among them the aloes, mesembryanthemums (fig marigolds), echeverias (_E.
metallica_ being the best sort), sedums and house leeks
(_Sempervivums_), among which _S. globiferum_, "hen-and-chickens," is
the most widely known. These do not occupy very important positions,
however, and space does not permit further description here.

CHAPTER XV

BULBS

Bulbs furnish one of the most satisfactory classes of winter-blooming
house plants, especially for city houses and apartments where conditions
are not apt to favor the longevity of plants.

They may be considered in two classes:--the forcing bulbs, such as
narcissus and freesia, and those given natural conditions of growth in
pots, such as amaryllis or callas.

Most of the forcing bulbs are included in what florists term the "Dutch"
and "Cape" bulbs. They may be had in a succession of bloom from
Thanksgiving to Easter, and yet all the work is done at one time. The
task of bringing them to bloom is an easy one.

[Illustration: A pan of forced crocuses. The big secret of success lies
in securing a good root growth before a top growth starts]

[Illustration: Few people realize that the gladiolus is an easily forced
bulb for indoor bloom. This variety is named Victory]

If you want to have the enjoyment of attending to the whole process
yourself, procure your supply of bulbs from a reliable seed store, or
order by mail. The bulbs should be firm and plump. The easiest to grow
and the most satisfactory are hyacinths, tulips, narcissus and freesia.
They can be grown in pots, but success will be more certain with small
boxes four to six inches deep and any size up to the regular "flat"
(about 13x22 inches), according to the number you wish in bloom at one
time. All the paraphernalia you will need is a supply of light, rich
soil (one-third old rotted manure, two-thirds rotted turf-loam is good)
a few fern or bulb pans, boxes, and your bulbs. Begin operations early
in October. Cover the bottoms of your pots and boxes, which should have
ample drainage (see illustration) with an inch or so of coarse
screenings, charcoal lumps, pot fragments or sifted coal cinders to
assure good drainage. Cover this with an inch or