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 
available. 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 
alkalinity 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. 
If you wish to know the degree of acidity or alkalinity—the pH of your soil— 
send us $1.00 for a small Soil Testing Kit that any one can use. 
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. Buy 
any horticultural peat locally if possible. Danish peat is one of the most acid 
but is quite lumpy. It is fine for basketing Laelias and other orchids. When 
used in soil it is better to soak a day or so then rub thru a coarse screen 
or break up lumps by hand. We prefer to break it up and make finer in 
texture also when used in potting Begonias, Gloxinias, etc. 
Vitamin B1 is a useful, stimulating food for plants and reduces the shock 
of transplanting. 
Please note our listing of these useful products under Garden Supplies. 
Sources of More Information. Please note our garden Reference Books. 
Subscribe for Popular Gardening. The editor Paul Frese, former editor of 
Flower Grower, author of several books on gardening, lecturer and even 
more important, experienced gardener, is an accepted authority on garden 
problems. Send them 25c for latest copy or buy a copy on your news stand. 
Better still, take advantage of their introductory subscription rates of 12 
issues for $2.50 or 24 issues for $4.00. Be sure to mention that you saw this 
offer in our catalog. Address, Popular Gardening, 90 State St., Albany, N. Y. 
The old and popular Flower Grower now has a new editor and personnel. 
It is also recommended. Subscription $3.00 per year. Flower Grower, 99 N. 
Broadway, Albany, New York. 
Join your local garden club and be active in it. Tell your fellow members 
about our catalogs and price lists. 
American Plant Life Society. Note mention of this under Amaryllidaceae. 
The American Horticultural So. publishes the National Horticultural Maga- 
zine, quarterly, which members receive. This beautifully printed and _ illus- 
trated magazine covers entire field of horticulture. Send $5.00 annual dues, 
to Am. Horticultural So., 821 Washington Loan and Trust Bldg., Washington 
4, D. C. The Midwest Hemerocallis So., send $3.00 to Pearl Sherwood, Atlantic, 
ee OE American Gladiolus Council, send $1.00 to A. Bazdorf, Lincoln 
ark ONaid:. 
POTTING DIRECTIONS 
Bulbs bloom better in pots that are not too large. A 242” Amaryllis will 
do well in a 6” or 7” pot. Many use a_ 5” size but I prefer to give as large a pot 
as will be favorable to flowering. Give larger or smaller bulbs of any sort, 
pots in proportion to this size, that is, 2 or 3 times the diam. of bulb. Small 
bulbs may be planted 2” or 3” apart in any size pot. 
Most large bulbs, like Amaryllis, may have %4 of bulb above surface but 
small bulbs, especially Anemones and Ranunculus, should be covered about 1”. 
Use clean pots. It is advisable to boil and scrub the surface. Even new 
clay pots should be boiled, or soaked for two days to remove chemicals. Cover 
the hole at bottom with a piece of broken pot, concave side down. Above this 
place small pieces of broken pot and gravel. This helps to drain away excess 
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