BULB GBOWING AT THE UNITED STATES BULB GAKDEN. 21 



SUMMARY. 



The tests of the United States Department of Agriculture of the 

 possibility of growing so-called "Dutch bulbs" in this country have 

 shown very encouraging results and are attracting widespread 

 interest. 



Thousands of people from Bellingham, Everett, Tacoma, Seattle, 

 Portland, and other cities visit the garden near Bellingham, Wash., 

 each spring to enjoy the hundreds of thousands of blooms with their 

 many gorgeous colors, which are in masses such as can not be seen 

 elsewhere in this country, making a most magnificent sight. 



Interest in the possible outcome of this work is not confined to the 

 people of the United States, for already representatives of several 

 bulb farmers in the Netherlands have visited the garden, inspected 

 the work, and observed the results. 



Before the Department of Agriculture will be justified in advo- 

 cating the growing of so-called " Dutch bulbs " as a commercial in- 

 dustry in this country much remains to be learned regarding the 

 climatic and soil conditions best suited to the crop; the selection, 

 clearing, grading, and preparation of the land (much of that in 

 the far Northwest which is now thought to be well located and 

 suitable to bulb growing will cost from $75 to $150 per acre to put 

 it in shape for planting, in addition to the cost of the land) ; the pre- 

 vention and control of diseases affecting the crop, of which a con- 

 siderable number are more or less serious; and the propagation, 

 cultivation, fertilization, growing, harvesting, curing, storing, trans- 

 portation, and marketing of the crop. 



The Department of Agriculture extends a hearty invitation to all 

 who are interested in this enterprise to visit the bulb garden and 

 inspect the work. 



The representative of the Department in charge of the garden 

 will welcome visitors and be glad to give information relative to the 

 work that is in progress. 



ADDITIONAL COPIES of this publication 

 ■£*- may be procured from the Superintend- 

 ent op Documents, Government Printing 

 Office, Washington, D. C , at 5 cents per copy 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1913 



