24 
ORPET NURSERY 
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 
Since most of the bulbs listed are new to the pub¬ 
lic, we feel that these instructions will be valuable. 
Southern Californians and those with similar climates 
will find that their bulbs except where otherwise 
specifically noted will do well in fairly rich well- 
drained soil in sunny locations. They may be alloived 
to naturalize if water is withheld in the summer 
months, giving the bulbs a chance to rest. In South 
Africa weeds are allowed to grow over the bulbs, in 
order to absorb any excess moisture, and the weeds 
are burned off when the bulb foliage is entirely dry. 
The following bulbs do not need to be out of the 
ground for a long time : Babianas, Freesias, species 
Gladiolus, Ixias, Brodiaeas, Lachenalias, Sparaxis, 
Tritonias, Ornithogalums, Triteleias, Watsonias, etc. 
People who have not room for naturalizing these 
bulbs should lift them after the foliage has turned 
yellow, being careful not to remove offsets until they 
come away easily, remembering that plants, wean 
their young, like the birds and the animals. After 
cleaning they can be stored in paper bags or shallow 
trays in a cool dry place. Bulbs likely to be troubled 
with aphis should be sprinkled lightly with Naphtha¬ 
lene flakes for 48 hours, or Tobacco dust. 
For pot culture suggestions appear in the descrip¬ 
tive matter to “treat like “Freesias” or like “Gladio¬ 
lus”. A more extended definition of these brief indica¬ 
tions is as follows: Freesias should be planted in clean 
pots or pans in rich sandy soil (good drainage is im¬ 
perative with all bulbs) 6 or 8 bulbs according to 
size to a 6 inch pot. Water sparingly at first until 
growth begins, then water freely. The temperature 
should be KEPT BETWEEN 50 and 60 DEGREES, 
NIGHTS MAY BE A LITTLE COOLER. Both 
South Africa and California which are ideal places 
for these bulbs have alternating warm days and cool 
nights, and the bulbs are accustomed to this and like 
it. The pots or pans SHOULD BE KEPT IN THE 
SUN. Where cloudy conditions prevail electric light 
can be tried as a substitute. This applies to all the 
bulbs which we recommend to plant in the sun. After 
flowering, dry off gradually. Bulbs may be stored 
in the pots until the following autumn when thev 
should be replanted in fresh soil. The bulbs described 
in the first paragraph should be planted by the last 
of September at the very latest. 
“Treat like Gladiolus” does not refer to the species 
Gladiolus in this catalogue but to the well-known 
commercial types. It means to plant in the open 
ground as soon as danger of frost is over and the soil 
