A. Washburn & Sons, 
Bulbs, Plants and 
Flowers. 
Bulbs 
General Instruction* for Outdoor Planting of Hardy Bulbs 
Prices given include cost 
of packing. 
Write for our Spring Cat- 
logue to be issued 
Feb. 1, 1903. 
Mailed free on application. 
BtSOST of the hardy bulbs found in the flower and seed stores during the fall months 
are grown in Holland, where the soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to the 
growing of the bulbs. These bulbs are shipped to this country during the month 
of August, arriving here in September, and to insure the best results should be 
planted as soon as possible. While any time before the ground freezes would do to 
plant the bulbs, the best results can only be obtained by early planting which gives 
the bulbs time to make their root growth before cold weather sets in. Planting such 
bulbs as hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, etc., in the spring is a waste of time and money. 
Solidly formed bulbs, such as hyacinths and tulips, will keep out of the soil much 
longer than loosely formed bulbs, such as lilies, which soon wilt and lose their vital- 
ity. If lily bulbs are to be kept out of the soil they should be wrapped separately in 
paper to keep the air away. Any soil, of good quality will do for a bulb bed, provided 
it is well drained. Bulbs are liable to decay when planted in soil that is kept satur- 
ated with moisture. 
When the ground freezes in the fall a covering of litter or leaves should be 
spread over the bed to a depth of five or six inches. This does not prevent the bulbs 
from freezing, but from freezing and thawing whenever the weather changes, which 
is the cause of more or less damage to the bulbs. Care nrast be taken in the spring 
to remove the litter before the bulbs grow up through, otherwise a weak, spindling 
growth would result. 
Indoor Culture of Dutch Bulbs 
When the bulbs are received in the fall they should be potted at once. An op- 
portunity must then be given the bulbs to make a root growth in advance of the tops. 
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