deep as the nature of the bulb will permit. Small bulbs like Zephyrantbes, Ra¬ 
nunculus or Anemones should not be planted (usually), deeper than 2". 
Soil. Fortunately, nearly all bulbs do well in a wide variety of soils. Any 
rich garden soil will fit them. Sandy loams, well enriched a few months pre¬ 
viously with manure, are preferred. If your soil is not already rich and loamy 
spade in deeply, thoroly decayed manure and leaf mold. Keep a compost pile 
or pit for all leaves, sticks, weeds etc. When reduced to a fine humus use for 
mulching or spade in. 
Acid and Alkaline soils. Most plants thrive in a wide variety of soils 
but many prefer an alkaline or acid soil for best development. Some must have 
it. Adding much peat or leaf mold, especially oak, aids acid loving plants. For 
increasing alkalinity use wood ashes, lime, bone meal, or ground shell, etc. 
Special requirements are mentioned in catalog in the culture advice. 
Potting. Be sure drainage is perfect. Place curved piece of pot over hole. 
Over that gravel. Soil may be 1/3 peat, leaf mold or thoroughly rotted manure, 
screened; 1/3 sand; 1/3 rich loam. Or it may be half rich garden loam. Add 
no more sand where sandy loam is used. Use peat or oak leaf mold for acid 
loving plants. For plants that need neutral or alkaline soil add ground lime¬ 
stone or bone meal and less peat or substitute other humus. Pot may be 3 or 4 
times diameter of bulb. Smaller pots help to force bloom. Large pots favor 
growth and increase of bulbs. Firm the soil and water a little only. Give little 
more if any water until growth starts and roots are formed. Some bulbs will 
rot if kept wet while dormant. 
VITAMIN B 1 
The recent discovery of the plant Vitamin B x promises to have an almost 
revolutionary effect on plant culture. Its use produces much more robust 
growth, larger and better flowers, fruits, etc. It also lessens root shock when 
transplanting. We tried it on a Hibiscus, a shrub difficult to transplant. The 
shrub had been dug a week and healed in. Leaves so wilted and yellowed there 
was no hope to save them and little for the shrub. But it was soaked in vitamin 
Bi as directed and one week later, buds are already developing. (Later it is 
leafing out). 
We offer the genuine Thompsons vitamin B x . Price $1.00 postpaid. Try it 
when necessary to transplant Amaryllis, Clivias, etc., when in full foliage. Also 
on your Ranunculus and other flowers when growing. Do not use on dormant 
or dry bulbs. It rots them. 
ARRANGEMENT OF CATALOG 
Most catalogs are arranged alphabetically. This catalog groups the plants 
according to Plant Families. Thus the Amaryllidaceae contains all bulbs belong¬ 
ing to the Amaryllis Family. Look for them there. When you order, do not 
order an “Amaryllidaceae” but order a Hippeastrum, Clivia, Crinum, etc. 
HOW TO HAVE A GORGEOUS GARDEN OF TROPICAL BULBS 
Many southern gardens, even where the climate is semi-tropical are 
planned with unnecessary restrictions. Here, we are mostly northern people who 
have come to California bringing along our ideas of what to plant and of 
right culture methods. 
By all means, southern gardeners should break away from the northern 
traditions, and even in the north there is a wide variety of rich, tropical ap¬ 
pearing bulbs that are amenable to their conditions. 
In Florida one sees many Crinums and other bulbs that are rarely seen 
here. The few Crinums that are common here are usually the less desirable 
ones, the most common being C. longifolia, a bulb that is hardy even in milder 
northern climates. But the fine hybrids and best species are rare here. Our fine 
hybrid “Cecil Houdyshel” had to go to Florida to receive its first appreciation. 
Crinums among the trees and shrubs seem to be a necessary part of the 
southern garden. The tropics abound in such natural arrangements, for a well 
balanced landscape cannot be built on trees and shrubs alone, nor by adding 
only one or two types of soft foliage plants. Crinums vary in size from about 
10" up to 6'. The length, color and shape of leaves vary and the time of flower¬ 
ing. The color and form of flowers vary greatly. Most of the flowers are frag- 
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