A Border Planting of Van Waveren’s 
Giant Daffodils—See Page 8. 
^ Plant Now For GAY SPRING FLOWERS 
FALL BULB PLANTING TIME IS HERE 
Who is not thrilled at the first signs of the early gay spring flowers that thrust 
their heads through the cold ground before the last snow has hardly disappeared? 
Certainly no garden or planting is complete without a plentiful supply of beautiful 
spring flowers. If you are going to have these gay spring flowers, the planting 
and work must be done this fall as they cannot be obtained any other season of 
the year. Pall bulbs are easy to grow. The flower is already in the bulb and all 
that is necessary is to give the bulb a fair chance to develop. The most important 
item to remember is that all bulbs must have good drainage to survive. Please note 
our cultural directions printed on this page. Follow these closely and success 
will be your reward. To a large extent the beauty of your spring garden will 
depend much upon the quality and type of material that you plant. We have a 
reputation of supplying only the best bulbs obtainable and our list comprises the 
best varieties for outdoor planting. 
While we think of fall as bulb planting time, it is also the time to plant 
Peonies, Iris, Lilies, Phlox, and other perennials. Our large assortment of plants 
are all field grown two to three years old. Ideal for permanent beds and borders. 
Like the bulbs, when once established they will produce an abundance of flowers 
for years to come. Check over our long list of perennials and include a few 
plants that you have always wanted along with your bulb order. By all means 
order your stocks early this season to avoid disappointment. 
ORDER BULBS PROMPTLY 
Due to war conditions, the available supply of imported bulbs will be less than 
one-third of our usual normal supply. Last year over 30,000,000 bulbs were used 
for forcing by florists alone, and we question whether there will be 8,000,000 
bulbs available this season. As this catalog goes to press we are assured of a 
reasonable supply of all bulbs shown in this book. The stock that we will have is 
nowhere near the amount of our normal demand. This condition is general 
throughout the United States and Canada, and unless the war comes to an unex¬ 
pected close, there is going to be a decided shortage of bulbs. Even if the blockade 
should break down at this date, importation of the bulbs will arrive almost too 
late for our planting. We, therefore, emphatically urge you not to delay the 
placing of your orders for fall bulbs. Get your order in now so that it can be 
filled from the first stocks that will be ready about the 15th of September. 
The supply of American-grown Narcissus or Daffodil bulbs seems to be adequate. 
However, with the shortage on imported Tulip and other fall-planted bulbs, we 
look for an increased demand for these with possible shortages developing on 
many- of the varieties later in the season. 
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 stocks are ready. Later 
in the season our stocks may become 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 
accompanies the order. Field seeds or fertilizers, however, unless quoted postpaid, 
are sent express or freight collect. 
OLDS’ FIFTY-THREE-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 conditions 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 
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 Grape Hyacinth bulbs. Send 
your order early and take advantage of our free gift. 
This dl&gram oliowi yon the depth and distance apart to idant bulbs. 
Number of Bulbs Bequlred for Planting Circular Beds 
Plant only the finest quality bulbs. 
Olds’ bulbs are the best that can 
possibly be secured. They have a 
reputation for large flowers and uni¬ 
formity of size and color. Most bulbs 
should be planted in the open 
ground as early in the fall as pos¬ 
sible, as this gives them time to 
make suitable root growth before 
freezing weather. They can be plant¬ 
ed right up to the time the ground 
freezes, but with late plantings he 
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 fertilizer to use as it 
will not bum. See page 20. Cover 
the bed after the ground freezes 
with some form of mulch. 
Diameter of Bed 
3 inchee apart 
4 inches apart 
6 inches apart 
8 inches apart 
1 feet. 
127 
95 
87 
12 
4 feet. 
217 
127 
61 
87 
f feet. 
881 
225 
91 
69 
6 feet. 
469 
271 
127 
78 
T feet. 
681 
410 
169 
96 
8 feet. 
817 
469 
217 
127 
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