General Culture Directions 
It is a human trait to find an alibi when we fail. But most of us have 
learned the futility of alibis and look for our own faults. Luther Burbank 
wisely said, ‘‘A failure is an accomplishment.’’ Why? Because it is thus we 
learn. The great and successful men have made many failures, but they learned 
and profited by them. The foolish ones who alibi get no place in life. 
Even tho you have grown bulbs a long time and successfully, lose no 
opportunity to add the experience and knowledge of others to that of your own. 
Study our culture directions herein. They are based on over 40 years experience. 
There are few factors in gardening that we cannot control. We can irrigate 
if it does not rain, protect from frost, spray for insects, but when intensely 
hot weather kills our sprouting sweet peas, anemones or ranunculus, a hastily 
erected shade may not be enough to save them. 
Gardening is a good sport. You place your knowledge, experience and 
skill into an effort where nature usually helps. You can usually overcome un- 
favorable conditions, but not always. On rare occasions we miss an essential 
factor of success. There is enough chance of failure to make us keen. 
Depth and Spacing. Usually, bulbs may be planted two or three times 
their diameter apart, but farther if their tops are spreading. Small bulbs should 
not be planted too deep, usually not over 2”. Large bulbs usually need to be 
planted 4” to 6” deep. But there are many exceptions that will be stated with 
special directions for each species. Plant deeper in light soil than in heavy, 
or in cold countries for frost protection. 
Soil. Rich sandy loam is best for most bulbs but some, like Iris,, prefer 
heavier soil. If your soil is poor, make it good by spading in plenty of leaf 
mould, manure and composted weeds, etc. long in advance of planting. But 
avoid manure where you plant Lilies or Iris. Sand can often be added at slight 
expense. 
Fertilizers. Manure is the natural, hence safest and best fertilizer. Dig in 
a lot every year along with weeds and leaves but as long as possible before 
planting bulbs. Best to fertilize preceding crop of annual plants. Most plants 
including bulbs like a mulch of well rotted manure, It also saves moisture and 
makes less cultivation necessary. 
Chemical fertilizers often cause more damage than good. Be sure it is 
right and then test a short portion of a row first. Never fertilize plants when 
dry. Keep them wet afterwards also. Use alkaline fertilizers on plants requir- 
ing a high pH and acid fertilizers like superphosphate, aluminum sulphate ete. 
on acid loving plants. 
Do not cut off the tops of bulbs when thru blooming. Keep them growing 
with full foliage as long as they will, to perfect the bulb for next season. 
Potting Directions. Be sure drainage is perfect, by placing broken crock 
over hole and over that fine gravel or coarse sand. Soil should be loose and 
rich and so pervious that water passes thru easily and does not become sodden. 
Combine sand, garden loam and humus to get a right soil texture. For humus 
well decayed manure is good especially if it contains straw. This fits plants 
that must avoid too acid soils. For acid loving plants like Vallota, Lilies and 
most members of Lily family etc., use leaf mould especially oak or imported 
peat as humus. When potted the bulb may be well watered to settle earth 
around and start the roots. But for most bulbs, much water before roots form 
is a disadvantage and many will rot. Best to keep only slightly moist until 
growth starts then gradually increase. Pot bulbs early to give time for full 
root development before they flower. 
ACID AND ALKALINE SOILS 
Most plants thrive in a wide variety of soils and are not too particular 
about the soil pH. Such plants are widely distributed and include our most 
common ornamental and economic plants and especially weeds. But some of 
our most important plants are very exacting in their requirements. 
The pH of the soil (or any substance) is measured in units thus, pH 5.5. 
It refers to the relative acidity or alkalinity and this depends on the concen- 
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