29 
A. H. NICHOLS 
BLOOMING DATES 
Depending on the variety, soil, temperature, amount of sun 
and water and size of bulb. 
1. Anywhere from 70 to 100 days after planting. If you 
have late frosts and cold ground, carefully remove the husk, 
place the bulbs in a warm sunny window so they will sprout. 
An inch or two sprout started this way and carefully planted 
hastens bloming date. In this connection it is not advisable 
to hold your bulbs in storage until the sprouts start and are 
inches tall; it makes poor, crooked spikes. 
SIZES TO TRY 
Usually a large bulb will produce the best blooms. Large 
bulbs average 1 Vz inches in diameter, but a medium bulb 
(1 inch) will give a big bloom, although the spike will not be 
quite so tall nor will there be quite so many open at once, 
and, of course this size costs less. In fact a young medium 
bulb will produce a far finer spike than an old overgrown one 
sold at a “bargain” as evidenced in shabby growth and poor 
spike of bloom. Do not buy bulbs on price alone—be sure the 
firm from which you buy will make good, if anything goes 
wrong. However, for show spikes No. 1 bulbs are recommended. 
