make out a list on which I can write yes or no, and addressed stamped envelope, 
GENERAL CULTURE DIRECTIONS 
The best bulb soil is a rich sandy loam. Only a few, like Bearded Iris, pre- 
fer heavy soil. But nearly all bulbs do well in heavy soil, especially if plenty of 
humus is added. 
All soils require the addition of large amounts of humus. You should com- 
post all weeds, leaves and small branches. If possible, add manure to this and 
when well rotted and fine turn under and thoroly mix with the soil. 
Fertilizers. Animal manures are the best. Use them with compost as ex- 
piained. Do not use fresh manure except as a light mulch for certain growing 
plants and experiment on a few first as too much quickly destroys a plant. Do 
yot add fresh manure or commercial fertilizer to soil just before planting bulbs 
or seeds. It would be as logical to give a day-old baby a tough steak, a piece of 
apple pie and two cups of coffee. Fertilize only healthy, thrifty plants. What 
would you think of a doctor who ordered a big meal for a sick man as a means 
of recovery? 
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? 
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. Encour- 
age that. Give them food and water. Enough, not too much. An Amaryllis will 
often grow 6 mo. and a Gladiolus 8 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 suffi- 
cient 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. 8 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 fail- 
ures 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 
Mest plants thrive in neutral, mildly acid or mildly akaline 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 Rho- 
dodendrons, 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 postapid. 
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