9a 53 
We are presenting you with our 1953 catalogue with the hope 
you will enjoy it. Our comments are based on our own growing ex- 
perience, and if you do not agree with us, please bear in mind that 
performance will vary under different soil and climatic conditions. 
We do not all see alike, and if our reports in your opinion, do not 
do justice to a variety, please bear in mind that what we report is 
what we have observed under our own growing conditions. Having 
three test gardens in our immediate neighborhoood, we were able to 
observe a lot of the newer varieties, some even before they were 
named. On the whole our growing season was considerably warmer 
than average, and a lot drier. This was particularly noticeable at 
the local shows where a large percentage of the spikes had fewer 
buds and much shorter heads. Our irrigation system got lots of 
usage this year and our straw mulch was a real life saver. 
EXPERIMENTS 
Once again, we tried out some new experiments and continued 
some of the old ones. Our report— 
STRAW MULCHING—A continuation from last year and really a 
life saver under conditions such as we had last season. One has only 
to look at a variety in a row and then walk down to where the 
mulch stops to see the difference. Troubles—wheat and oats grow 
up in between the rows, giving one the appearance of a wheat field, 
considerable difficulty in plowing under the straw in the fall. 
Benefits—better growth, less water needed, cooler soil, lots of humus 
in the ground for the next several years. 
SEEDS IN BANDS. We started out to put only four or five seeds 
in a three inch band, but tried putting as high as eighteen or twenty 
to a band. Some crosses seem, naturally, to make bigger bulbs than 
others, and we have had as high as eighteen bulbs, half inch or 
better in size from one three inch band. It seems that the bulbs 
space themselves throughout the band, some deeper than others. 
Other bands will come up with as high as twenty bulbs, maybe a 
quarter inch or better in size. Starting them early, either inside or 
in the greenhouse, and moving them into the cold frames when the 
weather permits give us extra growing time, both at the start and 
the end of the season. About 90% of the bulbs will bloom the next 
growing season. We recommend cyprus bands as they last through 
the growing season nicely. 
We have been watching an experiment in growing show quality 
spikes. Two bulbs, one a large bulb grown from a bulblet or a 
number six bulb, with a scar not over a quarter inch was pitted 
against an older bulb with a scar of an inch or more. The theory 
was that the bulb with the larger scar would have a greater root 
area and thus produce better spikes, the reasoning being that the 
more roots a bulb has, the more water, fertilizer etc. it can absorb. 
The bulb with the small scar has only a limited root area. Try this 
for yourself and see. We would be inclined to say that the large 
bulb with a large scar will outperform a large bulb with only a 
small scar. This experiement is still running and our results are not 
conclusive. 
BeUmYeue A MicakelG Ai NaGaR.©O Ww NeaB.U Bas 
Seng eas 
