Hardiness 
Omaha, Nebraska*—June 19, 1952 
“Regarding the Mid-Century bulbs you sent to us last fall for experimentation 
and particularly as to hardiness, we are glad to report that the results have been 
very favorable. 
“They were distributed among a number of good flower gardeners (amateur) 
in Omaha and one lot was sent to a gardener in Norfolk, Nebraska, some 150 
miles northwest of Omaha. This place was chosen because it is a cold spot in 
the eastern half of our state. The places in Omaha were widely scattered but 
they had in common a native clay (loess) which has been worked over a period 
of years with various degrees of improvement. 
“Out of the entire lot only two bulbs were reported as failing to show up and the 
growers have just informed me that they are delighted with the blooms. Goldrush 
was the first to open and then Pagoda and Serenade. Then followed four succes- 
sive days of 102° temperature which caused the remainder to open suddenly. 
However, of this group Bolero opened first and Campfire last. Then a sudden 
overnight cold wave from the north brought the temperature to 49 the next 
morning and today it is back in the 90s. This high temperature would be normal 
for July but in June it was a month ahead of time. Nevertheless the blooms held 
up very well and the secondary blooms are faring better. Goldrush had seven 
blossoms on many stalks and Valencia averaged ten and twelve. Serenade and 
Harlequuin had the largest flowers just like the full moon in the evening. En- 
chantment and Pagoda because of their height were favorites. 
“We are now confident that my customer who tried them out in 1949 and 1950 
used too much leaf mold in the soil which kept the bulbs on the wet side and that 
this was the cause of them rotting. The same customer planted his allotment last 
fall in an old iris (Germanica) bed that had been renovated. The soil was friable 
and somewhat gritty from a liberal supply of old plaster and the results were 
splendid. 
“In view of the uncertain extremes in temperature that frequent our territory 
it is customary with all growers to mulch their plantings moderately and this 
was applied to the Mid-Century. Even those who make no pretense of mulching 
find that nature automatically whips around the leaves and twigs to supply 
a natural protection. 
‘When there is a failure with bulbs a customer can comment abundantly both 
in real and imaginary ‘reasons why’ but when success is the verdict the one word 
tells the story. For this reason our remarks are rather limited and we thank you 
sincerely for the privilege of making this experiment.” 
*Name on request. 
Page 41 
