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Kellogg’s Famous Flowers 

This is one place where fresh stable manure can be used, 
and if you can obtain only fresh kind, then do put off your 
fertilizing until after the bulbs have been planted. The ma- 
nureé is so well separated from the bulbs, and so well-exposed 
to the open air, that it cannot possibly burn them. 
You can also use cow, sheep and pig manure in this manner, 
and if they are mixed with strawy material, you will be 
mulching at the same time that you fertilize. Do this type 
of fertilizing after the first freeze in the fall. 
WE WARN DEFINITELY AGAINST CHICKEN MA- 
NURE. It is exceedingly rich in nitrogen, and even when 
sparingly used, is likely to burn the bulbs. Do not use it. 
Many good commercial fertilizers can be applied after plant- 
ing, but do not apply them until spring; reason, too rapid in 
their action for fall use. The best time to use commercial 
fertilizer is after the foliage comes up, but well before the 
bloom appears. You can then keep it away from the foliage, 
and since it is quick-acting, it will have plenty of time to 
reach the bulbs and benefit your flowers. 

The illustration above shows the method of applying com- 
mercial fertilizer in the spring. It is here being cultivated 
into the ground before being watered in, thus preventing 
splashing of the leaves and possible burning. 
Good dealers usually have the best formulas for you, and 
their advice is usually reliable. But, if the dealer does seem 
in doubt, ask for about a 4-8-4 formula. This is only moder- 
ately rich in nitrogen, and has ample phosphorous and pot- 
ash. Phosphorous will develop a good root system, potash 
will develop stems and both together will benefit the flow- 
ers. 
The reason for avoiding fertilizers too rich in nitrogen is 
that nitrogen promotes too much foliage, at the expense of 
the flowers, and if in great abundance, may burn the bulb 
or foliage. 
How To Plant 
he actual planting of bulbs is simple. The only warning 
is: do not throw them into the trench haphazardly. 
There is a top and bottom to each bulb, and you always 
put them bottoms down. The picture below shows the right 
and wrong methods. 


And How To Grow Them 

Set each bulb in the trench individually, and perhaps press 
it slightly into the soil, to make it stand upright. The small, 
pointed end is the top. 

Next, fill the trench with earth, as shown above. Leave a 
slight mound to allow for settling; otherwise you will have a 
hollow. 
Also, finally, press the soil firmly to eliminate air pockets. 
In fact, you may first fill in half the dirt, then press the soil 
with your feet, then fill in the rest, as shown in picture. Few 
things are more dangerous than air pockets, as they cause 
bulbs to dry out. 
Time To Plant 
L is impossible to say that your bulbs should be planted 
on any certain date, but naturally you plant later in the 
south than in the north. In the north, you must plant ahead 
of freezing, because planting would be very difficult after a 
frozen crust has formed. You could break through the crust, 
but who wants to go to that much labor? 
e 
Usually you can plant bulbs soon after you receive them. 
Some say plant as late as possible to avoid mice; but before 
the ground freezes, mice will more easily find other tidbits, 
much easier to get at than your planted Tulip bulbs, then 
after the ground freezes, they will have even more difficulty, 
and anyway they always seek a new inside home after the 
first freeze, and cease to be a hazard. 







Mice are dangerous where mole runways are present, be- 
cause the runways give them a nice, easy subway through 
which they can travel to the bulbs. They are also dangerous 
if you mulch too early, for then the mulching makes a nice 
cozy home for them, at the same time it protects your 
ground from freezing; and with other food made unavail- 
able to them by freezing, they may be able to eat your bulbs. 
Mulch after the first freeze, and mice will seldom bother. See 
picture above. 
Some say moles eat bulbs, and some say not. Anyway they 
can make things easy for mice, as just stated, and if the run- 
ways run among the bulbs, they may cause drying out with 
consequent casualties. 
(Continued on page 10) 
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