f 
Tulips on Parade at “Gardens on Parade,” New York World’s Fair. 
Photographed May 17, 1939 by Adolph Kruhm of Woman’s Home 
Companion. 
OLDS’ EARLY ORDER GIFT 
With every order for BULBS amounting to $2.00 or more, received 
before October 15th, we will include free one dozen assorted early 
flowering bulbs, our choice. Send your order early and take ad¬ 
vantage of our free gift. 
Plant N ow for 
Gorgeous Spring 
Flowers 
Now is the time to plant your gay spring 
flower garden. The bulbs and plants listed in 
this catalog, with few exceptions, must be 
planted this fall. They cannot be had in any 
other season of the year. Fall bulbs seem to 
have been designed for ushering in the gay 
spring with all its splendor. Plant the bulbs 
freely in the border, among the shrubbery, and 
in the rock garden. They are easy to grow 
and their vivid beauty will repay the cost 
many times over. Bulbs planted this fall with 
proper care will continue to bloom for two to 
three seasons. To a large extent the beauty 
of your spring garden will depend much upon 
the quality and type of material that you 
plant. Our stocks are of the finest top size 
bulbs to be had and our list comprises the 
best varieties for outdoor planting. While we 
think of fall as bulb planting time, it is also 
the season to plant Peonies, Iris, Phlox, and 
other perennials. Our large assortment of 
varieties are all field grown two to three-year- 
old plants, ideal for permanent beds and 
borders. When once established, they will 
produce an abundance of flowers for years to 
come with little attention. We urge you to 
send your order early and take advantage of 
our Early Order Gift. We will send the items 
at the right time for planting. 
/ in. 
4 l o 6 r toparf A 'term <ne 
Hu , Z in. or n 'ore apg, 
This diagram shows you the depth and distance apart to plant bulbs. 
HOW TO ORDER 
Send in your order as early as 
possible on the enclosed order 
blank. It will be acknowledged at 
once and bulbs sent as soon as 
they arrive from Holland. Later 
in the season our stocks may be¬ 
come broken and it will probably 
be impossible to replace them. 
Orders for plants will be sent 
about September 10th, weather 
permitting. No postage is required 
as prices include postage. Our 
terms are cash with the order or 
we will ship C. O. D., providing 
one-fourth of the amount accom¬ 
panies the order. Field seeds or 
fertilizers, however, unless quoted 
postpaid, are sent express or 
freight collect. 
OUR FRONT COVER 
The picture on the cover of this book is of a planting 
of Olds’ Darwin Tulips at one of the entrances to Wis¬ 
consin’s beautiful State Capitol. 
OLDS’ FIFTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD GUARANTEE 
We guarantee all bulbs sent out to be of large size, true 
to name and to arrive in satisfactory condition. If upon 
arrival our bulbs are not equal or superior to any bulbs 
you have purchased or you are not entirely satisfied, they 
may be returned to us and your money will be promptly 
refunded. Bulbs and seeds are planted under varying con¬ 
ditions of soil and climate and we will not be responsible 
for them after they are planted. Nor do we give any 
further warranty, express or implied, as to description, 
quality, productiveness or any other matter of any seeds, 
bulbs or plants we send out and will not be responsible 
for the crop. 
HOW TO PLANT 
Plant only the finest quality bulbs. Olds’ bulbs are the 
best that can possibly be secured. They have a reputation 
for large flowers and uniformity of size and color. Most 
bulbs should be planted in the open ground as early in the 
fall as possible, as this gives them time to make suitable 
root growth before freezing weather. They can be planted 
right up to the time the ground freezes, but with late 
plantings be sure that a very heavy application of mulch is 
placed over the beds. All bulbs should be planted to the 
depth shown in the diagram. Set the bulbs firmly, taking 
care not to leave an air space at the base of the bulb 
where water will settle and cause the bulb to rot. CHOOSE 
A WELL DRAINED LOCATION. This is most important. 
If you do not have a suitable place raise the bed about 
six inches for good drainage. Bone meal is a good fer¬ 
tilizer to use as it will not burn. See page 21. Cover the 
bed after the ground freezes with some form of mulch. 
Number of Bulbs Required for Planting Circular Beds. 
Diameter of Bed 
3 inches apart 
4 inches apart 
6 inches apart 
8 inches apart 
t feet.. 
127 
95 
37 
12 
4 feet. 
217 
127 
61 
37 
{ feet. 
331 
225 
91 
69 
6 feet... 
469 
271 
127 
78 
7 feet. 
681 
410 
169 
96 
8 feet.. 
817 
469 
217 
127 
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