A LITTLE DIPPING 
First correction we would like to make to some of the instruc- 
tions issued on the care of bulbs. If your bulbs. are well cured, you 
ean bury them in napthalene flakes for a long time, without any in- 
jury. We do mean literally bury them. 
Dipping program will be what you have decided upon. Whatever 
you use the length of time to dip MUST be decided by the length 
of time required to soak your bulbs thoroughly, not just the outside 
husks. 
If in harvesting, you break the tops off instead of cutting them 
off, the length of time to dip will be considerably less. We would 
suggest using a spreader and dipping up to three hours. If you find 
your bulbs soaked through before that time, and are using Lysol or 
Creosol, take them out of the dip and plant them or wash them thor- 
oughly. If using Bi Chloride, no harm will be done. 
With so much question as to the strength of various dipping so- 
lutions after use, we tried to have definite tests made. This we were 
unable to accomplish but received some interesting information, a 
portion of which is quoted below: 
“Bichloride of mercury and the organic mercury salts are still 
considered standard chemicals for klling thrip.” 
In general it can be said that when bulbs are immersed in a solu- 
tion: and then withdrawn a certain amount of the solution remains a- 
round the bulb and that the solution remaining in the container is 
of the same concentration as the original solution. In the case of bi- 
chloride of mercury this is not true because mercury salts have a 
tendency to precipitate with proteins.._._...--_-- We feel that the 
analysis by a state agency of such solutions is not warranted.” 
Which all means that if using bichloride as a dip you will need 
to add’ to the solution from time to time. If using phenol, lysol or 
creosol, you may safely assume the same strength in your solution for 
at least several dips. We question whether there are many deeps 
without mercury of much use in fighting diseases. 
It appears that most of the tests made with dips have been from 
one angle or another and have not been comparative nor thoroughly 
checked. We cannot find any delay caused in blooming dates where 
other conditions besides materials used were the same. If you are 
taking your bulbs from comparatively warm storage, dip them for 
twelve hours and longer in uncomfortably cold water, you will re- 
turn themi to dormancy and the ground wll necessarily have to be 
warm to awaken them again. 
Should you decide to make a few trials yourself we would only 
suggest that you use not less than 500 for each test. Send us your 
results and we will do our best to pick the flaws in your trials, We 
are the type who could always do better. (Afterwards) 
