water. Over this drainage material we usually place a handful of sphagnum 
moss to prevent the soil from sifting into and clogging the drainage material. 
_The drainage must be perfect and it is essential that the soil above this 
drainage be of a friable texture that permits water to pass thru freely. 
The best soil is a rich sandy loam with the addition of plenty of humus. 
For humus one can combine rotted leaf mould and old rotted dairy manure 
well broken up and rubbed thru a screen of smallest gauge. For most plants 
the proportion can be %4 sandy loam, % humus. 
Fertilizers. Many advise the addition of fertilizer to potting soils. We 
never use any except the rotted dairy manure and leaf mould and sometimes 
a tablespoon of bone meal. If new roots come into contact with much fertilizer 
they are burned. Commercial fertilizer is especially a hazard. A potted 
dormant bulb, seed or plant must be babied to the extent of giving only a 
light diet. A rich, full meal will often cause failure. We prefer to get them 
well started and growing and of some size before adding more fertilizer, if 
any. The chief food of plants is carbon dioxide taken from the air thru the 
foliage. Water, nitrogen and minerals come from the soil. 
When bulbs are well rooted, liquid fertilizer can be used once a month. 
Weak liquid manure is excellent but not quite as well balanced as Spoonit, 
Plant Tabs and Vigoro tablets, all of which we list. 
For the starting temperatures and further culture of the plants please 
read “General Cultural Directions” and the culture advice given with the 
listings. Be sure to read both. 
GARDEN REFERENCE BOOKS 
Bailey’s Cyclopedia of Horticulture. This 3-vol. set of over 3,600 pages 
’ describes almost every cultivated plant and has a wealth of culture informa- 
tion. On Orchids alone, this work is most valuable for its descriptions and 
culture instructions for almost every orchid in cultivation. The same is true 
for all types of bulbs, plants, shrubs or trees. Price $37.50. This is the most 
monumental work in any language on the entire field of Horticulture. It is 
an ideal gift for a plant lover. 
Hortus Second (Bailey). A Concise Dictionary of Gardening. This 778- 
page volume lists and describes nearly every plant offered in catalogs, and 
some that are not in the Cyclopedia of Hort. It contains only a few culture 
hints. Both works should be in every garden library. Price, $7.50. 
The above publications are subject to price changes, without notice by the 
publishers. In the case that prices again rise on these or any books listed here 
we will notify the customer. The customer may then accept or cancel order. 
A Southern Garden, by Elizabeth Lawrence, a handbook for the Middle 
South. A most useful handbook for all gardeners, north or south. Bulbs and 
all garden plants. 251 pages. Price, $3.00. 
Enjoy Your House Plants. Excellent handbook of window gardening by 
Dorothy Jenkins and Helen Van Pelt Wilson, 238 pages. Price $2.50. 
Begonias And How To Grow Them. Bessie Raymond Buxton. Invaluable 
in growing all Begonias, including the Tuberous. 161 pp., $3.00. 
American Orchid Culture. Edward A. White. This is a complete handbook 
of American Orchid Culture for both commercial and amateur growers. Most 
interesting accounts of Orchid hunting trips, in many lands, are related. 
14 beautiful color plates and many other illustrations. A beautiful, interesting, 
useful book. 276 pp., $6.00. 
Greenhouse Gardening For Everyone. Ernest Chabet. Important factors 
are noted including correct temperatures for forcing plants, bulbs and orchids. 
266 pp., $4.00. 
Tuberous-Rooted Begonias and Their Culture. George Otten, veteran 
grower of Tuberous Begonias, with 60 years experience. An 88-page book, 
with 35 excellent illustrations. Price, $2.00. ; 
Bulbs For Beauty. Charles H. Mueller. 296 pages, illustrated. Experienced 
gardeners will gain new information about bulb culture from this book. Price 
SOUS 
How to Grow Orchids. By Cecil Houdyshel. A 12-page pamphlet, no illus- 
trations, carefully explains requirements of easily grown orchids. Price 25c. 
The African Violet, Saintpaulia. Helen Van Pelt Wilson. The first and still 
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