BULBS FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
The plants offered in this catalogue are of the easiest culture, 
requiring no special equipment, and will grow in any good soil. 
There are, however, a few things to remember. 
The foliage of all bulbs is vitally essential to their well-being and 
it should therefore never be cut off except in very rare cases when 
it is desired for decoration. When it has died completely so that a 
gentle tug will separate it from the bulb it can be removed safely, 
but not before. 
The depth at which to plant is dependent upon the size of the bulb, 
the quality of the soil—heavy clay on the one hand, or light and 
sandy on the other—and upon whether the bulbs are to be grown 
out of doors or in pots. In general, plant the bulb at a depth equal to 
about three times its height, shallower in heavy soil, deeper in light. 
If planted in pots, barely cover the bulb. Where the temperature 
falls to about 25° in winter, plant more deeply and mulch the surface 
of the ground with a thick layer of straw. If the winters are colder, 
plant in pots indoors or protect the bed with a frame. If planted in 
pots, use a light sandy soil with plenty of broken crocks at the 
bottom of the pot for drainage. 
Prepare the bed thoroughly with as much care as you would 
bestow on a seed bed, and have it ready when the bulbs arrive. 
With the end of a stick punch holes large enough to allow an open 
space around the bulb, then drop a handful of river sand into each 
hole. Place the bulb in position in its nest of sand, and pour enough 
more sand on it to cover, then finish covering with soil. The sand, 
while not absolutely necessary, is highly desirable as it will keep 
the soil about the bulb sweet and well-drained, and it will be of 
great assistance when the bulbs are to be lifted after a few years. 
South African bulbs do not need lime, but Tulipa species and the 
Irises offered will do the better for its addition. It should be well 
worked into the soil. If your soil is very poor you can add manure 
by digging out the bed to a foot or so deep and making a layer of 
manure with a layer of soil above so that no manure comes in con¬ 
tact with the bulbs. This, however, is seldom necessary; most soils 
can grow bulbs satisfactorily without the addition of fertilizer. In 
any case, do not let manure come in contact with bulbs as it will 
rot them. 
See that all bulbs are well watered during their growing season— 
winter, and spring—for this is when the flower buds are gathering 
strength. After blooming, they can be neglected as the foliage dies 
down. Cultivation is not necessary except for the removal of weeds. 
Plant in the sunniest spot available, except where noted in the 
catalogue description. The rhizomes of II. Hoogiana and Lortetii 
should be barely covered so that they may bake under the summer 
sun. 
With the exceptions noted in the catalogue descriptions, all the 
bulbs offered need drought during the summer. Where rainy sum¬ 
mers prevail the bulbs should be lifted after the foliage has died 
down and stored in dry sand in a warm spot sheltered from rain. It 
will be noted that these cultural requirements are fully met by the 
normal climatic cycle prevailing in the Pacific States. 
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