With the exception of paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis, the tender winter- and spring-flowering bulbs (freesias and zantedeschias, for example), are discussed in Part II of this book.

   The apartment dweller or anyone else who lacks proper facilities for forcing hardy spring bulbs can find equal enjoyment in forcing fragrant and beautiful paperwhites (and the similar 'Soleil d'Or' with golden flowers), lilies-of-the-valley, colchicums, and amaryllis. These bulbs do not need a period of cold before they bloom.

   To force paperwhite narcissus, all you need is water, pebbles, the bulbs, and a bowl at least three inches deep and large enough to hold three to twelve of them. Fill the bowl half full of pebbles. Set the bulbs on this surface, allowing about a half inch of space between them. Pour in more pebbles until a third of each bulb is in the gravel. Pour water into the bowl until it touches the bulbs and place the planting in a cool (50-60°E), dark place for about two weeks. By that time root growth will be active, and the planter may be brought to a sunny, warm place. Except in the South, where the bulbs are planted outside after forcing, they are discarded after one season.

   Paperwhites may fail to bloom if they dry out severely during the rooting period; if they are not allowed a cool period during which to form a root system; or, if they are forced in a hot, dry, poorly lighted location. If paperwhites have a good root system, a supply of fresh water at all times, and a sunny window in which to complete their growth, success with them is a certainty.

   A pot of fragrant lily-of-the-valley bells makes an exciting addition to a midwinter window garden. Even the most inexperienced gardener can expect a perfect performance from them. Specialists prepare the pips or rootstocks in such a manner that it is necessary only to set them and their moist packing fiber into a planter and wait for flowers to appear. However, if plants are destined for later use in the outdoor garden, the pips are better planted in a mixture of equal parts soil, sand, and peat moss.

   Fall-flowering Colchicum autumnale grows from a corm rather than a bulb, but it can be flowered by merely planting it in a pot of moist soil in midsummer. Indeed, the colchicum is so easily flowered that it is often advertised as "the magic bulb that blooms without soil or water." And this it does, with inferior results. I have seen unplanted corms flowering on shelves in seed stores. Occasionally, when lack of time has prevented me from potting up all of my colchicum corms, I have discovered some of them flowering in their storage quarters!