Most bulbs should have a cool room, about 60° while rooting. When a bud or 
foliage gives evidence that growth has started, bring the pot to living room tem- 
perature, of about 70° and water slightly. It is not time to water them freely 
yet. Do that only when flowering or in full growth. Do not overwater at any 
time. Sufficient time between waterings must be given to allow water to drain 
away, evaporate or be absorbed by roots so that air penetrates and bathes the 
entire root system. This is very necessary to plants and the roots need not be 
actually dry to permit it. But they must not be water logged. When in full growth 
and bloom feed the bulbs about every 2 or 3 weeks with very weak liquid manure. 
It should be only amber tinted, the color of weak tea. Proper feeding will result 
in luxuriant growth. Too much, yellows the leaves, because the root hairs are 
burned off. 
It is very important to continue watering and feeeding after bulbs are thru 
flowering. At that time they are rebuilding lost tissues, increasing in size, mak- 
ing offsets and finally constructing new buds for next season. At this time they 
will also store up food to support the early growth the next year. This is where 
most amateurs fail in getting results the following year. Some even write and 
ask me if they cut off the foliage and dry up the bulbs at once, after flowering. 
Plants are living beings. They feed, drink, breathe, grow, react to light and 
heat and die the same as you if not permitted to follow nature’s way. If they 
do not succeed however, very many blame the bulbs. Even a Los Angeles phy- 
sician, supposedly intelligent, wrote we that he was “telling everyone.” A woman 
told me how well our Callas performed and the same items from a prominent 
Los Angeles firm were worthless. The funny thing was that this firm bought our 
bulbs. I had examined their bulbs and they were stored perfectly. You wil! suc- 
ceed with intelligent care. Blame yourself or the conditions of growth when you 
have an occasional failure and you will thus learn. There is an element of chance 
in growing anything, but it is reducible. That makes it interesting. Match your 
skill against all unfavorable possibilities and learn to overcome them. That is 
your life problem also. There is a cause for everything. Find it. 
ARRANGEMENT OF THIS CATALOG 
is by Plant Families, not alphabetically. We also try to group more closely re- 
lated plants together. Customers approve this plan because cf increased informa- 
tion made possible. Only one customer has called for an index. But that is im- 
possible as well as unwise. You need to read all the catalog. Many customers 
write us that they do; some read it several times. There is information on every 
page. 
In the following lists, the genus,, (plu. genera) is mentioned first. After it, 
the species, (plu. also species) or horitcultural variety is named. Thus we list 
Hippeastrum ambiguum or H “Sibyl Houdyshel”, tho it is more botanically correct 
to say H. hybridum, var. Sibyl Houdyshel. For the sake of brevity we shorten 
this. Please note the initial of the genus is used for the second and succeeding 
species. This H. may mean Hippeastrum, Haemanthus or Hymenocallis according 
to first species listed. j 
THE AMARYLLIS FAMILY - - - Amaryllidaceae 
This family includes the bulbs from Agapanthus and thru The Alliae. 
The American Amaryllis Society is an association of those throughout the 
world who grow Amaryllids as an interesting and intellectual hobby. An annual 
book “Herbertia” of about 250 pages is sent to each member. Therein is dis- 
cussed the best culture methods; descriptions of new species; notes on Amaryllis 
in their habitat; reports on experiments in crossing, culture, propagation, etc. 
Herbertia is the essential reference book on Amaryllids. Beautifully illustrated. 
ted. 
I invite you to send me $2.00 for membership, for the year 1948. This will 
entitle you to vol. 10 Herbertia. This volume has been delayed in printing be- 
cause of present conditions but will certainly be distributed before Apr. 1. Af- 
ter July 1, the price of the volume will be $3.25 and the sale is restricted to cur- 
rent members of the American Amaryllis Society. 
Because at present it is costing more than $2.00 per vol. to produce Herbertia, 
9 
