good diet for an invalid or an ill person, however good it may be for one in 
vigorous health who performs hard physical labor. Nor should plants be over 
fed nor fed at all if sick or thirsty. But since one cannot add much rich food 
when potting a bulb, very good results may be obtained by a monthly feeding 
of very weak liquid manure, color of very weak tea. A more convenient way 
is to use Plantabs or Vigoro tabs which we list under Garden Supplies. They 
are less messy. 
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. 
This is the time to fertilize, irrigate and cultivate frequently, until yellowing 
foliage indicates the bulb is becoming dormant. During this growth period 
next year’s flower buds are formed. 
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 pre- 
ferred 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 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 them from frost. 
Pests. Snails and slugs are serious pests and must be controlled in flower 
and vegetable garden. The best control is Bug-Geta Pellets. These may be 
broadcast while one must stoop to place a powder. They also help to control 
cut worms and grasshoppers. The 25 lb. bags are the most economical way 
to buy for a bad infestation. Ants are pests everywhere. They distribute aphis 
and mealy bug and tend them like domestic animals. Ant-B-Gon will kill 
entire colony. Quick temporary relief may be had in greenhouse and garden 
by use of a Chlordane dust, very poison. Keep it off of food plants and away 
from children and pets. Do not breathe the dust and clean up thoroly after 
applying it. It is also an excellent dusting powder on Gladiolus as a remedy 
for thrips. It also gets cut worms. Mealy bugs are universal pests and very 
destructive to plants. First, destroy all the ants and wash or clean them off 
of house or greenhouse plants. A bit of cotton twisted around end of a tooth- 
pick and then dipped in alcohol in a useful tool. In the garden, a spray of 
water from the hose will dislodge mealy bugs, aphis, etc. 
See our listing of Insecticides under Garden Supplies. 
If you do much garden work and end the day too tired you owe it to 
yourself to use our light weight plastic and indestructible, Resinite garden 
hose. See the listing. It is the most economical of all. 
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, Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias, Zantedeschias, Caladiums (and 
other members of Arum family), Nerines, Haemanthus, Gloxinias, Begonias, 
Orchids and most shade loving plants require an acid soil. Some like Gladiolus 
prefer mildly acid to neutral soils: Bearded Iris do best in neutral to alkaline 
soils. 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 mathe- 
matical, I will explain that the numeral is the negative logarithm denoting 
the concentration of hydrogen ions in gram atoms per liter. 
To determine whether your soil is acid or alkaline, purchase for a few 
cents at your drug store a pad of litmus paper. Get both blue and red if avail- 
able. Moisten the soil. Blue litmus paper is turned red by an acid soil. Red 
litmus paper is turned blue by an alkaline soil. The stronger acidity or alka- 
linity is shown by more rapid change of color and a deeper shade of color. If 
only one color paper is available moistened red litmus may be turned blue 
by holding it in the fumes of household ammonia. Turn blue litmus red by 
immersing in a very weak solution of any acid like white vinegar. Then dry. 
Horticultural Peat, leaf mould, (oak leaf mould is the best) or compost 
will help correct soils that are too alkaline. Good drainage will cause it to 
leach out. ; 
Danish Peat. Any peat is difficult to get right now for some reason. 
D 
