BULBS AND TUBERS 
A bulb is really one large bud, sending uj) its shoots 
or sprouts from one opening in the bulb and should be 
planted with the one opening pointing upwards. The 
small roots grow down from the bottom of the bulb. 
A tuber is a short, fleshy, under-ground stem or shoot, 
on which are several small buds or “eyes,” each of which 
will send up a shoot or branch as the potato does. The 
tuber may be planted either perpendicular or horizontal 
with its most promising looking “eyes” up. 
We have made a selection of bulbs and tubers that 
will furnish bloom practically the year around. They 
may be used in beds and borders, rock gardens, or forced 
in the house for winter beauty. Without exception 
they are all good for cut flowers. 
We may say with emphasis, no planting is complete 
without bulbs, and no matter how many shrubs and 
plants you may have in your yard, there is still room for 
literally hundreds of bulbs. They take up no room, you 
might say. They supplement the shrubs and perenni¬ 
als, They enhance the beauty of any planting. 
Ganna 
For spring planting only. 
It is one of the most showy of all the bedding plants. 
There may be groups of it in the shrubbery, or the 
border, but it is in masses that it is at its best. In large 
beds it is unsurpassed; in small grounds the bold, flam¬ 
boyant beauty of its large, tropical leaves and great heads 
of brilliant flowers add color and brightness. It may be 
used very effectively as a border for walks. Whether 
thus used or in beds it should be bordered with some 
dense perennial, like Phlox, growing to a height of one 
to two feet. Its leaves are broad, almost fanlike—very 
tropical in appearance, green to copper and bronze in 
color. The blossoms are large clusters in very showy 
shades of white, yellow, crimson, pink, purple, orange, 
red, etc. The blossoms come in early summer—depend¬ 
ing on when the roots are planted—and keep coming 
until fall, as the roots may be planted as soon as danger 
of frost is past, or as late as June, but the earlier the 
better. The beauty is in the foliage as well as the flow¬ 
ers, therefore it becomes effective soon after planting as 
the plant is an exuberant grower. To get the best 
results the ground should be spaded. It will grow al¬ 
most anywhere, but prefers good, rich soil and open sun¬ 
light. Plant 18 inches apart. Do not plant too deep— 
just under the surface. Give Gannas very little water 
the first few weeks, then as leaves develop increase the 
amount, and when fully grown water freely. In the 
Fall, cut off the tops and take the tubers up, dry thor¬ 
oughly and place in cool, moist, frost-proof cellar. The 
large tubers may be divided for the next year’s planting, 
if eyes are left on each division. 
King Humbert. Has huge orange-scarlet flowers with 
red markings. The foliage is dark bronze throughout 
the season, standing all kinds of weather. Leaves are 
large, thick and leathery; considered by some to have 
the best foliage of all the Gannas. It is a strong, ro¬ 
bust grower, 4 to 5 feet high. Is very free flowering, 
one of the most popular. 
The President. Rich scarlet blossoms, frequently 7 
inches across when open, produced on sturdy stalks, 
well above the luxuriant green foliage. A very supe¬ 
rior variety, in quantity and quality of blossoms, and 
its power to resist bad weather. A bed of this variety 
grows on the White House lawn. Height about 5 feet. 
Yellow King Humbert. Flowers are large, bright 
yellow, lightly flecked with red; foliage light green, 
forming a pleasant contrast to the flowers. A free 
blooming orchid-flowered variety. Height, 4 to 5 
feet. 
Dahlias 
For spring planting only. 
One of the most popular, beautiful and useful plants. 
A native of Gentral America, it early attracted favor¬ 
able attention and has been in cultivation since the 
eighteenth century. For more than a hundred years 
there has been steady improvement made by the propa¬ 
gators and during the past several years the improve¬ 
ment has been very marked. The plant itself has been 
made compact and ornamental; its size has been re¬ 
duced to garden proportions and its flowers improved in 
form and color. There are now nine or more classes of 
Dahlias, but for all practical purposes, this may be re¬ 
duced to five, which we sell. 
The four main varieties of Dahlias are the Decorative, 
the Peony-flowered, Show, and the Gactus. 
The Show Dahlias are those that have a round or 
spherical head of quilled petals. The petals look as 
though they were rolled into quills, as people used to roll 
small papers for lighting purposes. 
Decorative Dahlias are very different. The petals are 
broad, flat (not quilled), and nearly straight, arranged 
somewhat irregularly. The flower heads are not spheri¬ 
cal like the Show Dahlia, but are inclined to be flat, or 
massive. 
Gactus Dahlias have large, loosely-formed, chrysan- 
themum-like flowers. The long, narrow petals are rolled, 
or twisted, into quills—some tightly rolled; others more 
loosely. 
Peony-flowered Dahlias are so called from their resem¬ 
blance to Peonies. Some are artistically irregular with 
long stems. 
Dahlias are from 2 to 4 feet in height, or more. The 
Dahlia is very adaptable. May be planted in beds, bor¬ 
ders, base plantings, in clumps in the open places in the 
shrubbery; may be used with striking effect as a flower¬ 
ing hedge for summer beauty—the effect heightened if a 
row of lower-growth perennials is planted in front of it. 
The remarkable colors and forms in the newer kinds 
make it a queen among plants. Recognized as such it 
grows steadily in favor from year to year. It is classed 
as a bedding plant because, being a tuber, it must be 
taken up in the fall and stored. 
It is satisfied with almost any type of soil, but it 
blossoms most profusely when planted in a warm, loose 
soil, not too rich. It does well in partial shade, but does 
not like too much moisture. However, it is not neces- 
CANNAS USED AS A BORDER 
