TO OUR CUSTOMERS 
In going over our records of the past 
summer season, we believe that, as a whole, 
it has been good. Of course, had we con- 
trol over the elements, there was a spot 
during July and August that we would have 
cocled by 20 degrees to 30 degrees so that 
cur crosses would have taken better. Some 
were lost, no matter how much water was 
given them. 
Our trial and hybridizing garden was of 
over 1,200 varieties strong in 1944. This 
included natives, sports, seedlings and 
named varieties. These and 1,500 varieties 
of seeds were all planted by May 15th. 
Beds 6 x 30 feet, for seed were prepared 
in the fall of 1943. These beds had three- 
inch tile placed six inches under the sur- 
face for sub-irrigation. One-half rich gar- 
den soil, one-fourth sand and one-fourth 
granulated peat moss was mixed together 
and sterilized in the fall with Larvicide 
gas. 
In the spring, the seeds were gassed with 
Methy-bromide. The beds were topped by 
an inch of washed fine sand. The seed was 
sown in rows lined with sand and after- 
ward covered by sand. The beds had a cloth 
covering until the first seed blades came 
through. By June 10th, nearly all had one 
full leaf. (When dug, all had five leaves.) 
The cloth was followed by lath shades un- 
til digging time in October. Overhead sprin- 
klers and the sub-irrigation made for our 
SUCCESS. 
On June 15th, July 15th and August 15th 
the seedlings were fed by broadcasting a 
2-12-6 Tennessee fertilizer, watered in. Be 
sure, when you grow from seed, to never 
let your seed beds get too dry or your seed- 
lings will go into dormacy. When dug, some 
bulbs were over 4’s: not one was diseased. 
The state inspector, Mr. Barry, made this 
work-sheet notation, ‘Seedlings very thrifty 
and well developed. Apparently free of plant 
diseases and insects.—Approved.’’ By the 
same token all of our bulbs which we sell 
were given the same good approval. This 
may deserve credit by NU-RUTE plus 
Larvicide and Methyl-Bromide. 
(4) 
