Important Announcement. Many persons apply for our catalog only to 
get the information but buy no bulbs, or very few. Such names are soon 
dropped from our files. Recently we discarded 15,000 names that had received 
our catalog two years or longer but sent no orders. These people had received 
4 catalogs each, or a total of 60,000 catalogs. Can you realize that this cost 
us at least $4,000.00. The postage alone cost $600.00. 
We must avoid this loss. We are therefore revising the terms upon which 
we will keep your name on our files to receive catalogs twice annually. Send 
us an annual order amounting to $2.50 or more. 
Or you can merely be a “subscriber” for the catalog for 25c per year. 
But you must remember to send, as we will not ask for it. 
California Bulbs are as good as any grown. We are often asked if they 
are good for growing in east. They must be because several important firms 
buy from us. We do not solicit or advertise for wholesale orders but annually 
Sell 50,000 or more to eastern dealers. Other growers sell millions. They must 
be good and our customers say they are. 
Again we are asked by a would-be Indiana customer if we can ship that 
far away. Good Land O’Goshen! We have shipped thousands of dollars worth 
of bulbs and orchids safely to the Philippines. Recently we sent African 
Violets to Costa Rica and they arrived in excellent condition. We ship to 
Palestine, Egypt, Russia, many far away places. 
GENERAL CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
Rich, sandy loam is the best soil. Only a few, like Bearded Iris, prefer 
heavy soil. A very few, like Gloriosas, must have sandy soil. 
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, compost and com- 
mercial fertilizers that are of organic origin such as Spoonit and others listed 
in this catalog for use on potted bulbs. In the outside garden fresh manure 
can be used on most plants, that are growing vigorously, as a very light 
mulch, but after flowering. Too much fertilizer before flowering time may 
almost or wholly stop the flowers. When the growth of a plant becomes 
adnormally rapid it is unlikely to flower or produce fruit. Your over-fertilized 
peach tree is likely to produce no fruit. 
Do not fertilize a plant in dry soil, or use any fertilizer (unless thoroly 
rotted in a compost heap) in the soil before planting bulbs, seeds or plants. 
Water lawns, trees, and plants well the day before applying fertilizer and 
again a few days after application. Do not fertilize a sick plant in order to 
make it well. You are more likely to make it worse or even kill it. Small 
plants and seedlings should not have too much either. Lush, rapid growth 
may be weak and “flabby.” Sturdy growth with firm structure is better. 
Chemical fertilizers are like ‘patent’ medicines. They are stimulating but 
often the final result is bad. The physical structure of soils is the most 
important thing. A well drained, friable soil is the best. Sand and humus 
can be added in sufficient quantities at least in flower beds and the humus 
can be added in fields by growing cover crops. For humus, add rotted manure, 
composted weeds, grasses and leaves, leaf mould or peat. It is seldom 
necessary to add any but organic materials to soils. 
Compare plants with people. Both are living, organic beings. Air, water 
and food are necessary to their growth and health. But one does not give 
babies beefsteak, fried potatoes, apple pie and a cup of coffee. Nor is this a 
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 or 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 Spoonit, 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 
5 
