Questions we are asked: May I cut off the tops of Daffodils (or Gladiolus, etc.) 
after they have flowered? How shall I treat my Amaryllis, Clivia, Calla or other bulbs 
after flowering? I have even been asked if it is all right to cut off the entire top of a 
Clivia, which has evergreen foliage, after flowering. 
The answers are logically determined by considering the annual cycle of a bulbous 
plant. 
A dormant bulb contains a flower bud and short new leaves. There is stored up 
food in the form of starches, etc., and also enzymes for digesting this food. While 
dormant, the stored up starches are turned into soluble sugar. Roots, buds and foliage 
begin to develop in their natural order and your care is rewarded. When thru 
flowering, the bulb has become smaller and is soft instead of firm and plump. This is 
a critical time. The bulb may appear at a pause for a short time but when a good root 
system has developed it will begin active growth. Encourage that. Give them food 
and water. Enough, not too much. An Amaryllis will often grow 6 mo. and a 
Gladiolus 3 or 4 after flowering. The longer you can keep it growing, the larger and 
better will be your resulting bulb for next year. The yellowing of foliage will signify 
the bulb has reached full development. If you do not feed and water your plants, pets, 
domestic animals and children when they are awake and hungry, they do not thrive. 
If you know how to make a husband happy (or a wife) you should know how to make 
a plant “happy.” Don’t “Love ’em and leave ’em,” and over-coddling is often as bad 
as neglect. 
Depth and Spacing often cause too much concern. Bulbs usually have sufficient 
adaptability to do well under widely varying conditions. In a general way, bulbs should 
be about two or three times their diameter apart. Small bulbs like Ranunculus No. 3 
may be covered 1”; bulbs the size of a Daffodil covered 4” to 6”. Bulbs with a heavy 
top need deeper planting to maintain an erect position. Planting in light sandy soils 
should be deeper than in heavy soils. In very cold climates, deep planting protects 
bulbs from damage from frost. Few bulbs are too finicky about their depth and many 
of them have the ability to correctly adjust themselves to the most favorable depth if 
left in one place a few years. 
Alibis. Many amateur growers refuse to accept responsibility for their failures when 
they result. They blame the bulbs, but not themselves, the weather, their soil or pests. 
Therefore they do not learn from the best teacher, experience. Luther Burbank said, 
“A failure is an accomplishment.” It is, if you learned by it. 
ACID AND ALKALINE SOILS 
Most plants thrive in neutral, mildly acid or mildly alkaline soils equally well as 
they have a wide range of adaptability. But a few require alkaline soils and some will 
thrive only in distinctly acid soils. In the latter class are included Rhododendrons, Callas 
and most shade loving plants. 
The acid-alkali balance is expressed in pH units. pH 7 is neutral. Below that 
the acidity increases, above it the alkalinity increases. 
Soiltex Outfit. This little testing kit will enable you to determine the pH of your 
soil. No chemical knowledge is required. Directions for use are included with lists 
of plants and their preferred pH. Price $1.00 postpaid. 
If soils are too alkaline or if plants to be grown in them require more acidity the 
best remedy is to incorporate much humus. Peat is most acid usually, though some 
American peat has become alkaline. Oak leaf mould is more acid than other leaf 
moulds. Use much leaf mould or peat (preferably imported) for Gladiolus, Callas, 
Arums, Lilies, Haemanthus, Nerines, Orchids and all plants that require acid soil. It 
is best to buy peat locally on account of the high cost of transportation. But be sure it 
is imported Canadian peat with acid reaction. It should be pH 2.5 to 4. Test the peat 
offered you with Soiltex and don’t buy poultry peat. 
Canadian Peat. The most acid now obtainable. We can furnish this to local or 
near by customers who call for it at $5.50 per bale. 10 Ibs. for $1.00. Or we will ship 
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