of this deftness has to be gained 
from experience and not from books. 
Bulbs 
Winter-blooming bulbs like the 
narcissus, hyacinth and other so- 
called hardy bulbs should be planted 
in the fall. September, October and 
November are the best months. For 
the summer blooming bulbs, the lat- 
ter part of winter and the spring are 
the best times to plant, especially 
for Amaryllis, Gladiolus and Wat- 
sonias. The Gladiolus always thrives 
best in a sunny position, and al- 
though they will thrive on any kind 
of soil where anything will thrive, 
yet they thrive best on a well-drained 
sandy loam. The larger bulbs should 
be planted at least six inches in depth. 
The small ones may be planted at a 
depth of four or five inches and usu- 
ally about three or four inches apart 
each way in the row and the rows 
are most convenient when about two 
and a half or three feet apart. 
Gladiolus and Amaryllis 
If it is desired to multiply any 
specially fine Gladiolus, take it up 
in the fall and replant the little bulb- 
lets found around the specially fine 
one about two inches in depth and 
the same distance apart as recom- 
mended for the larger bulbs. In this 
way the special variety can be in- 
creased quite rapidly. 
The Gladiolus is particularly valu- 
able as a cut flower. By cutting the 
stalks when the first flower com- 
mences to open the whole stalk will 
bloom through a week or two in the 
house. Some of the varieties are 
even finer when cut and grown in the 
house than out of doors. 
Amaryllis is one of the most mag- 
nificent of all blooming plants, es- 
pecially the new varieties, which pro- 
duce blooms from one to three feet 
in circumference in most gorgeously 
brilliant crimson and rose shades, 
flaked, striped and feathered with 
purple and white. In California the 
Amaryllis thrives when left out of 
doors throughout the year. In the 
colder climates it must be taken up 
during the winter or grown in pots. 
Amaryllis— Planting 
In planting, whether out of doors 
or in the house, the bulbs should be 
covered well up to the neck of the 
bulb only, not planted deep like Gla- 
diolus and other bulbs. A good, rich, 
well-drained garden soil and a sunny 
location suits them best. In any 
case the soil must be well drained, 
but they thrive under a great amount 
of water. Formerly a good Amaryl- 
lis that bore two or three flowers of 
a diameter of from three to five 
inches was considered a superior 
plant. The new Burbank Amaryllis 
produces stalks with six or eight 
flowers to each stalk, and often sev- 
eral stalks where the bulb is strong, 
bearing flowers from six to ten or 
twelve inches in diameter. People 
have traveled hundreds of miles to 
see these new varieties. 
Gladiolus — Planting 
In California the Gladiolus may be 
planted at any season of the year and 
blooms well whenever planted. This 
gives it an advantage over all other 
flowers and the newer varieties are 
wonderful in size, color and useful- 
ness for decorating gardens, parks 
