William, violet, white border;Mont Blanc, pure white; Princess Elizabeth, blue, 
white throat. Five exquisite varieties at 45c ea. or all 5 for $2.00. Don’t say, “don’t 
substitute.” We may have to but hope not. 
Bulbs for Gifts 
Did your Christmas Shopping for Gifts prove successful? Or did you find 
manufactured articles to be very high priced, constructed of substitute materi- 
als unlikely to last very long, and even at that not enough to go around? 
Or, did you take our advice and buy bulbs? Bulbs are the logical gifts for 
the duration. Some are more scarce than usual, some cost just a little more but 
most prices are about at pre-war level. There are enough to meet requirements. 
For Mother on her day, for Dad on his, for birthdays, for the sick, in fact 
on all occasions give bulbs, dry or potted, as gifts. You will be giving something 
that is perfect in workmanship, enduring and always appropriate. 
Naturally, Bonds, are better gifts but if you can’t give Bonds give Bulbs. 
Ranunculus and Anemones. Ranunculaceae 
They are among our most popular flowers. Their vivid colors, cheapness and 
easy culture fit them for top rank in the amateur gardener’s esteem. 
Ours are the Giant Double Flowering Ranunculus. They range in color from 
red, pink, white to yellow. There is no blue. If well grown the flowers are very 
double, in a variety of shades. 
Anemones are red, pink, white and blue in a variety of tones, but no yellow. 
They should be grown with Ranunculus to make a complete color range. Our 
Anemones this year are mostly the single large flowering De Caen type altho 
there may be a few doubles and semi-doubles in the mixtures. 
Culture of Anemones and Ranunculus is very easy if one conforms to their 
requirements. The soil should be rich. Sandy loam is better than heavy soil. Hea- 
vy soils may be made suitable with humus. The plants need constant moisture, 
and drying out or baking of the soil only once will result in less perfect flowers, 
and may be fatal. The beds should be well drained and never soggy. Too much 
water rots the bulbs before sprouting. 
This point is very important as altho we may say these bulbs are easily 
grown, and this is true, yet many fail in starting them. They must always be 
only slightly moist, never wet and never dry. They must also be always cool,— 
not too cold, not too hot, About 50° to 70° is close to ideal starting temperature. 
When started, everything is fairly easy. Because as many become a little 
careless at times in this starting process and are so lothe to admit it we frankly 
disclaim responsibility for your results because they are out of our control. But 
our bulbs are good and you will likely get 50% or better: success the first time 
you try them. Under average conditions 75% is rather good tho experts re- 
ported 100% results from our bulbs. 
Plant 1” or 2” deep and 4” to 6” apart, depending on size. Do not soak bulbs. 
When weather is dry and warm a_ slight cover of brush helps and also keeps 
birds away. A shade of cloth or lath is good. They like cool conditions and the 
greatest threat is a heat wave shortly after planting. Heat and moisture com- 
bined rot the bulbs. In the fall, it is best to delay planting until weather is cool, 
but if hot weather follows, put up shade. One can gain a couple of weeks on the 
chances of hot weather by sprcuting the bulbs before planting. Fold the bulbs 
in a wet burlap sack and lay in the cool shade of a tree. Plant before sprouts 
are over 1”, 
This method of sprouting in the spring is useful in getting an earlier start. 
A very gocd comparison for the culture requirements of these bulbs is that 
of Sweet Peas. You would not plant sweet pea seed in July or August, nor in 
September if it were hot or likely to be. Nor does the wise gardener soak his 
sweet pea seed . Sweet peas need cool weather, very rich deep soil, but no'raw 
manure. The seed: bed. must be kept slightly moist, but well drained. The soil 
must never bake or have a crust formed. One must not overwater at first as 
constant soggy condition of the soil is sure to rot the Sweet Pea seed. You must 
protect the young plants from birds, cut worms, snails, ete. 
Just substitute “Ranunculus and Anemones” for “Sweet Peas” and you have 
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