WHAT CONSTITUTES QUALITY IN BULBS? 
Top to bottom iilastrates sizes Nos. 1, 
2 and 3 of Tulip bulbs 
Throughout this catalog you will find that we stress the quality of “ Bulbs in 
a Class All Their Own.” Just what constitutes this peculiar characteristic 
called “quality”.^ What causes some bulbs to be more reliable bloomers 
than others.^ What causes the differences in size besides their age.^ And, 
finally, why is there so much difference in prices charged not only for mix¬ 
tures, but for named varieties as well.^ 
To begin with, we handle only extra selected, hand-picked bulbs. While 
being cured and handled in Holland, they are treated with the utmost care 
—in marked difference from the common run of bulbs generally offered. 
When it comes to the matter of packing the bulbs, we call special attention 
to the fact that they are packed in buckwheat chaff. This acts in the nature 
of a shock absorber between the bulbs. It insures these perfectly cured, 
hand-selected bulbs a soft bedding throughout their journey from our pack¬ 
ing sheds in Holland, to your door. Naturally bulbs packed in this fashion 
bulk larger. This method of packing alone adds considerable to the ocean 
freight, not counting the extra labor and cost of the buckwheat hulls. 
The results of such careful treatment and handling never fail to show in the 
customers’ gardens. Many disappointments and failures with tulip bulbs 
are directly traceable to the careless methods employed in curing, sorting, 
packing and shipping. Moreover, we guarantee our bulbs to be true to 
name, or we will replace them if proved otherwise. This insures our custom¬ 
ers’ success with any color schemes they may plan. 
Then there is the matter of size. Naturally larger bulbs, carefully handled, 
will bear more perfect flowers than those produced by smaller bulbs of the 
same variety. It is our duty to select for our customers just the size bulbs 
of the different varieties that we feel will give the best results. 
To explain sizes and varying prices in still another way: Prices vary a great 
deal. This is understandable if you know how bulbs are sorted in Holland. 
The large size is called No. I; medium size is known as No. 2, while the small 
ones are No. 3. Naturally No. I bulbs are worth more than No. 2 bulbs 
mixed with No. I size. Again straight No. 2 bulbs would be worth more than 
No. 2 and No. 3 bulbs. The illustration alongside will help the reader to 
understand why different sizes cannot be expected to produce the kind of 
flowers which straight No. I bulbs will produc'e. 
Just as individuals of the human race vary in size, so do bulbs of different 
varieties of tulips vary. The variety Indian Chief, for instance, perfects a 
much larger bulb than the largest Clara Butt we have ever seen. Thus as 
our packages of bulbs reach you, you will find that the bags of the various 
varieties differ in size, even though all the bags contain the same number 
of bulbs. 
And what has been said of tulip bulbs, holds good in connection with all 
other bulbs in all the classes listed in this catalog—as a matter of course. 
You can rely absolutely upon the uniform quality and subsequent perform¬ 
ance of every bulb that comes from “Tulipdom.” 
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