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 the 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 condi- 
tions. If left in one place a few years, most bulbs adjust themselves to their 
preferred 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. 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 poisonous. 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 toothpick and then dipped in alcohol is a useful tool. In the garden, a 
spray of water from the hose will dislodge mealy bugs, aphis, etc. Mealy 
bugs and mites and sometimes Red Spider are serious pests on house or 
greenhouse plants. Any spray containing parathion or lindane will control 
these but they are so extremely poisonous that we do not list them or take 
the responsibility of giving directions for their use. They are unsafe for use 
in a living room. For plants in the house try N. N. O. R. It is safe, but less 
effective. For Scale use an oil base spray, preferably containing D.D. T. 
which you can add. Do not use oil sprays on orchids. Use only wettable or 
liquid D. D. T. sprays. 
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. 
Rhododrendrons, 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 concentra- 
tion 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 mathematical, I will explain that the numeral is the 
negative logarithm denoting the concentration of hydrogen ions in gram 
atoms per liter. 
In regions having heavy rainfall, excess alkali is usually dissolved and 
carried away by the runoff. Semi-arid regions usually have alkaline soils. 
Calif. soils usually have too much unless cover crops or applications of 
humus, which are acid, have lowered the pH. I am told that Texas soils are 
sometimes too alkaline. The remedy is obvious. Apply humus, ground 
phosphate rock, or small, even applications of sulphur. Improve the drainage. 
Potting Directions. Use clean pots of the right size, neither too large 
or too small. A 2%” Amaryllis, for example, needs a 6” pot. A 11%4” Eucharis 
needs 5” pot. Small bulbs like Ranunculus or Achimines may have 3 to 5 in 
a 5” or 6” pot. Cover the hole at bottom with a piece of broken pot, concave 
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