Home Magazine section of Los Angeles Sunday Times. 
The last three are sold at newstands. Do not send to us. Send to pub- 
lishers only. Sample copies, 10c. Price per year in parenthesis. 
For best information about bulbs of the Amaryllis Family consult Her- 
bertia published by American Amaryllis Society annually. See listing under 
Amaryllis Family. 
General Culture Directions. Luther Burbank once told a customer who 
reported a failure with his seeds, ‘‘A failure is an accomplishment.” A good 
gardener needs intelligence, information and ability to reason and learn from 
experience. He needs also the ability to accept his own responsibility for 
occasional failure. 
Special directions are given in this catalog for the culture of bulbs along 
with the descriptions. But certain general rules apply to most of them. 
Depth and spacing. Usually bulbs may be planted about two or three 
times their diameter apart. Small bulbs like Zephyranthes and No. 3 Ranuncu- 
lus and Anemones should be covered 1” or 2”; large bulbs should usually be 
planted 4” or 5” deep. Exceptions are mentioned in the proper place. Bulbs 
should be planted deeper in sandy than in heavy soils. 
Some bulbs, like certain varieties of Glads, grow tall and are easily blown 
over. They need to be planted 5” or 6” deep. Be sure there is at least 6” of 
good rich loose earth under a bulb, and 12” is better. 
In cold countries bulbs that remain in the ground over winter may be 
planted somewhat deeper and ground mulched in fall. Brush and leaves good. 
Soil. Rich sandy loam is the best soil for most bulbs. But heavier soils 
are also good and are preferred by some, especially Bearded Iris. In heavier 
soils the drainage is likely to be poor if the ground is flat, and this may be 
improved by deep spading, even to 2’, and the incorporation of much humus. 
Weeds should be turned under, not burned. Half decayed and broken tree 
and shrub trimmings buried between the 1’ and 2’ levels helps the drainage. 
Fertilizers. Manure is the safest, all around fertilizer. It can be applied 
fresh to fallow soils and thus save the nitrates. Do not plant until it has fully 
rotted. Rotted manure can be spaded in a week or so before planting. A 
month before is safer. Some plants, like Iris and Lilies, should not be 
planted in manured soils for a long time. Acid loving plants should have 
much peat or leaf mold, especially from oak trees, in the soil. Use imported 
peat, as many American peats contain alkali. 
Chemical fertilizers are a hazard if not properly used. Superphosphate in 
small doses is good for Glads and other acid loving plants. For ‘‘big feeders’’ 
like Hippeastrums, Crinums, Clivias, Fancy Leaf Caladiums, etc., use manure 
and balanced fertilizers. Even fresh manure may be used very sparingly as 
a mulch on some. 
Many cut off the tops of bulbous plants as soon as they are thru blooming, 
or they let them dry up and die. Results are usually fatal. Keep them watered 
and cultivated as long as they will grow. That makes good bulbs and good 
flower buds. Daffodils should grow until late June here and later in the north 
if you want large bulbs and many flowers next season. All bulbs should grow 
a long time after flowering. 
Potting. Be sure drainage is perfect. If not, the soil becomes soggy and 
sour and plant dies. Place piece of broken pot over hole. Over that small 
gravel. Soil may be one third humus; one third fine sand; one third rich 
garden loam. For humus use leaf mold, peat or thoroughly decayed manure, 
or a combination. Acid loving plants should have the peat or leaf mould, 
preferably from oak leaves. Bulbs requiring neutral or slightly alkaline soil 
should have decayed manure or if leaf mould is used add ground limestone 
or shell. Pot may be 3 or 4 times the diameter of bulb. Large pots favor 
growth and increase of bulbs. Smaller ones force bloom. When first potted 
see that soil is moist. Place in dark or shade. Darkness encourages root 
growth. It is very important that roots are well started for a bulb to make 
good flowers. Light encourages top growth. If this is made without roots 
the bulbs suffers and gives an inferior flower. Bring to full light gradually 
only when growth is well started. Give little water until growing well. Some 
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