simplified our offerings and have even withdrawn 
a number of clones, previously introduced. Strains 
offered by us are constantly re-selected and im- 
proved; the named varieties carefully appraised 
and, if not found to be outstanding, relegated to 
the mixtures. The few species we offer must either 
respond to large-scale production or they too will 
be discarded. 
This task that we have set ourselves is a demand- 
ing one. You, the people to whom we must look for 
the distribution of our bulbs, can make it infinitely 
lighter by giving us the benefit of your long ex- 
perience in the retail field. The amazing increase 
in our sales figures, better than a fifty percent 
increase every year since we marketed the first 
of our lilies some ten years ago, shows that lilies 
are on every gardener’s want list. The present year, 
1953, may well be a decisive one for all of us, so far 
as lilies are concerned. Once the general public 
becomes interested in these fine hardy garden 
plants, the supply is not going to be adequate for 
the demand. From Maine to Florida, from Texas 
to North Dakota and practically everywhere else 
in the United States these fine new garden plants 
have performed well. The commercial florists are 
taking them up as a dependable and interesting 
novelty pot and cut-flower plant. Dealers will do 
well, therefore, to speak early for their supply. 
Care and Storage of Bulbs 
Although we do all we possibly can to insure 
that our lilies arrive at your warehouse as fresh as 
they were when they were dug, it is even more im- 
portant that they receive proper handling through 
the bulb selling season. In some regions this season 
extends from October through January. Most va- 
rieties are easily held in ordinary, cool storage 
without loss of vigor. This does not mean, however, 
that full cases can be displayed in a warm store, 
where the customers are permitted to pick out their 
own bulbs—or to examine several to find the ones 
they wish to purchase. Not only do such exposed 
bulbs become easily dried out, but roots are de- 
stroyed and scales break off. Even though you may 
feel that your customers prefer to see displayed 
bulbs in the store, we suggest that only a very few 
be exposed and that the balance of the case be stored 
in a cool (45°-55° Fahrenheit) room. The packing 
material should never be allowed to dry out and, 
if this occurs, the bulbs should be repacked in moist 
peat-moss, sphagnum, sawdust or even clean sand. 
Bulbs held under these conditions should remain 
plump and fresh until they begin to sprout late 
in the winter. Surplus bulbs that remain late in the 
winter may be potted in clay pots or gallon cans. 
They will then form roots and some varieties will 
begin to sprout almost immediately. Several deal- 
ers have used this method of saving surplus bulbs 
and holding them until the spring at which time 
they can sell them to good advantage. 
OREGON BULB FARMS 
GRESHAM, OREGON 
Handling and care of the lily bulbs in storage 
does not end the responsibility of the dealer. After 
bulbs are purchased across your counter or through 
the mail by your customers, they still must be ade- 
quately packed to prevent drying out and crushing. 
Even though the bulbs are bought in a period of 
“gardening enthusiasm,” they quite often do not 
find their way into the ground for some time. While 
this is not the fault of the retailer, certainly he is 
always the man who is blamed if poor performance 
or even failure of the lilies is the result. It is, there- 
fore, only logical to protect yourself and your cus- 
tomer by packaging the bulbs well at the time they 
are sold. 
In brief, lily bulbs are best considered and handled 
in a manner that you would employ for living 
plants. They are not handled in the same manner 
as the so-called dry bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, 
hyacinths, etc. The dealer must never lose an op- 
portunity to impress this upon his customers. We 
foresee a future for the American-grown lily when 
in volume and popularity it will be in a position 
comparable to tulips, daffodils, gladioli and dahlias. 
True species will gradually disappear from the lists 
and more vigorous, reliable hybrids will replace 
them. Even today we are in a position, if we so 
desire, to introduce twenty named varieties a year 
for the next five years. This means that, as the 
number of varieties continues to increase and as 
these varieties receive publicity, your customers 
will expect you to handle them. This future can 
never materialize if the customer does not receive 
bulbs which are fresh, plump and alive. They must 
remain in that condition by dint of proper handling 
by the grower and the retailer until they are planted. 
Spring or Fall Delivery 
We are not, as yet, prepared to hold any large 
quantities of liles for spring delivery. Wherever 
possible, fall planting is to be recommended. We 
harvest our stocks early enough to enable us to get 
them into your hands while the fall bulb sales are 
still at their height. Even though this means some 
loss of size, we feel that from the standpoint of 
performance for your customers, it is much pref- 
erable to spring delivery. We are willing to make 
every effort on our part to complete all deliveries 
early in October and, with few exceptions, this 
delivery date will allow you several weeks of fall 
planting weather in your particular locality. Even 
though light frosts have already occurred, bulbs 
planted in the fall will immediately make a fall 
root growth, which does much to insure a natural 
growth and flowering the following season. No 
matter how they are handled, bulbs held until 
spring are of inferior quality. They have been de- 
nied the opportunity to make the necessary fall 
root growth and, very often when planted in the 
spring, will immediately make top growth and 
flower without making new, permanent roots. 
Page 33 
