INTRODUCTORY 
Climatic conditions in the Pacific Northwest are now widely known 
as ideal for the growing of Narcissi, Tulips, bulbous Iris, Gladiolus, 
and sundry bulb stock. As to soil conditions, we have been very for' 
tunate to find some of the very best in the Columbia River Valley, 
at Woodland, Washington, where we now have growing 90 acres of 
the finest stock. The growing season being considerably earlier there 
than in Holland, gives us the advantage that our bulbs force much 
earlier. The quality we have shipped the past years gives ample 
backing to our bold statement, that no better bulbs are produced 
anywhere else in the world. 
The large size, heavy weight, healthy appearance and hardiness is 
of great value for counter trade and where forced in the greenhouse, 
the earliness, quantity and quality of the ilowers are of outstanding 
merit. 
Bulbs are shipped in carload lots to Eastern distributing centers 
and re-shipped by L. C. L. freight from there. This past season 21 
carloads were so distributed from Minneapolis, Minn.; Detroit, 
Mich.; Buffalo, N. Y.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Philadel¬ 
phia, Pa.; and New York City. We absorb the carload freight and 
our customers pay only the freight from their nearest distributing 
point. 
All of the contents of this catalog are for the convenience of our 
patrons, to use in their publications at will. 
STORAGE OF BULBS 
As the quality and usefulness of bulbs may materially suffer from 
improper storage, some advice on this subject is here in order. All 
bulbs should be unpacked upon arrival and spread out thinly on 
shelves or trays, preferably with slatted bottoms, to provide the best 
possible ventilation. Where there is not much air circulation, some 
kind of agitators should be installed. The temperature bulbs should 
be kept at depends upon the various kinds and the purpose the bulbs 
are used for. Broadly speaking, all bulbs to be kept dormant for 
later use prefer a cool and dry temperature, whereas those for early 
forcing require a cool and moist temperature, with the exception of 
Gladiolus, which respond best to a two-weeks warm storage just 
before planting. The proper storage of bulbs means as much or 
more than anything else where the final flowering results are con¬ 
cerned. Fully realizing this, we have continuously studied this 
angle, and as the first results, are now supplying our customers 
Daffodils, Iris, Tulips and Gladiolus, which can be forced early and 
with excellent flower production. 
HINTS FOR FORCING 
A few hints for successful forcing are here in place, and we, 
therefore, give a summary of the experience of hundreds of our 
customers, what to do and what not to do. 
Unpack bulbs at once upon arrival and keep in cool place until 
planted, 50 to 52 degrees the ideal temperature, except Gladiolus, 
which prefer 70 to 80 degrees, just before planting. 
Plant as soon as possible, and if buried outside, select a shady 
place or cover with plenty of straw to keep the sun off and see to it 
that they keep moist and cool. Good 
drainage is necessary, as too much 
water is just as bad as too dry. That 
is why some of the largest bulb 
forcers use a bulb cellar where they 
can control the temperature and 
moisture. 
When bulbs may be brought in 
the greenhouse depends on various 
conditions. The proper time for 
Daffodils, however, under any con¬ 
ditions, is as soon as the flower buds 
are out of the bulbs. If the flower 
bud is not advanced enough at the 
time the bulbs are brought in, the^e 
is a chance that the bud stays down 
and only the foliage grows up. 
The approximate earliest dates 
when Daffodils may be brought in. 
are as follows: 
December 1st—Pre-cooled King 
Alfred. 
December 15th—Pre-cooled Glory 
of Lisse, Golden Spur, Minister 
Talma, Autocrat and Orange Cup. 
December 20th-—King Alfred; pre- 
cooled Sir Watkin, Spring Glory 
and Glory of Sassenheim. 
December 26th—Golden Spur. 
January 1st—Minister Talma, The 
Star, Glory of Lisse and Autocrat. 
January 10th—Sir Watkin, Spring Glory, Poetaz Helios, Orange 
Cup, Laurens Koster, Poeticus Ornatus and Van Sion. 
January 20th—Glory of Sassenheim, Tresserve, Queen of the North 
and White Lady. 
February 1st—Bicolor Victoria and Emperor. 
When the buds are fully set out of the neck of the bulbs, they 
can stand 60 degrees right from the start, otherwise a week in 50 to 
52 degrees is advisable, until buds show. 
Iris may be forced various ways. 
They may be buried outside to root 
and brought in any time thereafter, 
but before a heavy frost freezes the 
tops. Or they may be placed in the 
greenhouse right from the start. In 
both cases Wedgewood may be 
forced at 5 5 degrees, and even 60 
degrees, if kept wet and given 
plenty of light, other Iris at 50 to 52 
degrees. If planted in ground 
benches, where they get plenty of 
light and are kept wet with proper 
drainage, five degrees more does 
not do any harm. 
Gladiolus, of course, are planted 
in the greenhouse. Of great im¬ 
portance is the spacing of the bulbs 
in the benches. On narrow, raised 
benches, a distance of twice the size 
of the bulb between the bulbs is the 
closest they may be planted, where¬ 
as on wide, raised benches and in 
ground benches they require more 
space. Good results will also depend 
on the amount of sunlight during 
the time they set the buds. It is, 
therefore, recommended to give 
them a sunny position in the green¬ 
house. Also varieties such as Betty 
Nuthall, Picardy and Los Angeles, 
producing a heavy growth and more 
than one flower spike, should be 
given a more bberal spacing. Tem¬ 
perature 50 to 52 degrees. 
TERMS OF SALE 
Orders for bulbs booked before these bulbs are har¬ 
vested, are subject to crop failure or shortage, and we shall 
not be liable for damage in such case for short or non¬ 
delivery. 
All goods travel at purchaser’s risk and cost. No charge 
for packing. 
Accounts are due 60 days after date of invoice; two 
per cent discount is allowed for payment within 10 days 
after date of invoice, and three per cent is allowed for 
cash with order. 
If at the time of shipment of any order or part thereof, 
purchaser has failed to settle his old accounts, or if we 
have reason to believe that h ; s credit standing has suffered 
lately, we reserve the right to cancel all arrangements for 
transactions not yet executed. 
We give no warranty, expressed or implied, and will not 
be in any way responsible for the results of planting or 
forcing of any bulbs, roots, or plants we send out; we 
guarantee all varieties to be true to the name and descrip¬ 
tion. 
Comnlaints and claims about quality cannot be enter¬ 
tained unless made within two days after receipt of the 
goods. 
All agreements, different from the above terms, have to 
be in writing; no verbal agreements will be considered. 
By placing orders, buyer is considered to agree with 
these terms. 
THEODORE 
UNITED BULB COMPANY, Inc. 
DeGROOT, Pres.-Treas. LEO G. P. AALBERSBERG, Vice-Pres. 
