All soils require the addition of much humus. Compost all garbage, weeds, leaves, 
cut branches and manures. When rotted, add to soil and thoroly mix. 
Fertilizers. We recommend only animal manures and compost. Fresh manure can 
be used on a few plants, that are growing vigorously, as a very light mulch, but after 
flowering. Do not fertilize a plant in dry soil, or use any fertilizer, unless thoroly rotte 
in a compost heap, in the soil before planting bulbs, seed, or plants. ; 
After blooming, many neglect their bulbs. As a result the bulbs do not flower the 
following year. For success one must continue to give good culture and encourage 
luxuriant growth until yellowing foliage indicates the bulb has completed its annual 
growth and is becoming dormant. 
Depth of planting and distance apart often cause too much concern. Bulbs usually 
have sufficient adaptability to do well under widely varying conditions, If left in one 
place a few years, most bulbs adjust themselves to their preferred depth. Approximately, 
bulbs should be about 2 or 3 times their diameter apart unless their habit of growth is 
spreading,—like Ranunculus. In such cases plant farther apart. Small bulbs, like 
Ranunculus, should be about 2” or 3” deep, depending on size. Bulbs as large as 
Daffodils may be 4” to 6” deep. Bulbs with a heavy erect stem need deep planting in 
order to remain erect. Plant deeper in light sandy soils than in heavy soils and in cold 
climates to protect from frost. 
Pests. Snails and slugs are most serious garden pests. We have found the very 
best control is furnished by Bug-geta Pellets. They also kill cut worms and grasshoppers. 
Because so easy to apply, they are more economical than powders which require you to 
stoop in placing them. Buy the economical way, in 25 lb. bags. Price $3.75, f.0.b. 
La Verne. Ants are a pest in the house and in the garden they distribute aphis and 
mealy bug and tend them like domestic animals. Best control is Ant-B-Gon. Set of 4 
dispensers, filled, 60c, f.0.b. La Verne. Best to send by mail. Ask your P.M. the 
amount of postage required on 2 lbs. from La Verne. Ant-B-Gon liquid for refilling, 
4 oz. 25c post paid. Mealy bugs are a serious pest to garden and house plants. They 
are everywhere and must be controlled. First destroy ants. Wash them off of house 
plants and use a spray of water from hose to dislodge from garden plants. You will 
still need to spray with Garden Volc. Use any type of sprayer and a small fly sprayer 
will do for house plants. Price, Garden Volc, 4 oz. for 30c postpaid. Use Garden Volc 
also against Scale Insects. These are the remedies we use and have found best. 
Garden Success requires aggressive effort on your part. One can always blame the 
bulbs for failure, but it does not advance one’s knowledge of the art and science of 
gardening. 
ACID AND ALKALINE SOILS 
Most plants thrive in mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline soils. But others do 
not have so wide a range of tolerance. Rhododendrons, Zantedeschias, Orchids and 
others require a more or less acid soil. Bearded Iris grow best in a neutral to alkaline 
soil. The acid-alkali balance depends upon the concentration of hydrogen ions in a 
saturated solution. This is expressed in pH units. pH 7 is neutral. Below that the 
acidity increases; above it the alkalinity increases. For the mathematical, I will explain 
that’ the numeral is the negative logarithm denoting the concentration of hydrogen 
ions in gram atoms per liter. 
Soiltex Outfit. This small kit will enable you to determine the pH of your soil. 
No chemical knowledge is needed. Full directions for its use are included. Price $1.00. 
If your soil is too alkaline for the plants you wish to grow, the remedy is to add 
humus. Imported peat is the most acid. Some American peat is acid but some of it is 
actually alkaline due to minerals contained. Oak leaf mould is more acid than other 
leaf moulds. 
Canadian Peat. We can furnish this to near-by customers for $5.00 per bale, or 
10 Ibs. for $1.00 f.0.b. La Verne. Buy locally if you can. If ordered, be sure to ask 
your Express Agent the rate on 100 Ibs. It may be nearly twice the cost of the peat, 
for a long distance. 
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