File:Beckert's garden annual - 1949 (1949) (19738559403).jpg

Title: Beckert's garden annual : 1949
Identifier: beckertsgardenan1949beck (find matches)
Year: 1949 (1940s)
Authors: Beckert's Seed Store; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
Subjects: Nurseries (Horticulture) Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Nursery stock Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Flowers Seeds Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Bulbs (Plants) Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Grasses Seeds Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs
Publisher: Pittsburgh, Pa. : Beckert's Seed Store, Inc.
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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How? When? I EETO Where? Why? GLADIOLUS Perhaps the most useful of all summer- flowering bulbs. Excellent to fill in places where perennials have died, or where annuals have failed. When used in this way, need no care other than that given the other garden flowers. Do not use extra fertilizer; too much food promotes production of bulbils or offsets at the ex- pense of good bloom and of a sound cen- ter bulb. Gladiolus bulbs can be planted at any- time from earliest spring until July first (if sound bulbs are on hand that late). Before planting, treat bulbs for thrips (ask for information). In light soil, plant 5" to 6" deep. This will help support the flower spike which might otherwise fall over. In heavy soil, 4" deep is cor- rect. If planted too shallow, more bul- bils will be produced, but not as good flowers. Space 6" apart in rows 24" apart, though for smaller, older sorts, 4" may be enough room to allow. Regular spraying to control thrips is essential wherever this insect pest has been seen. If your flowers failed to de- velop properly last year, and if the leaves had greyish tan patches on them, this means you had thrips, and will have them again unless you treat. D.D.T. has proved a perfect control for this pest. DAHLIAS Perhaps our most spectacular fall flower, the Dahlia should not be planted too early, as the flowers will not do well In warm weather. Do not, however, keep tubers later than June 1st, since by that time they usually start shriveling and may be injured if kept later. Dahlias need plenty of potash and phosphorus. If you apply the 25 to 30 lbs. of mixed fertilizers recommended for general use before planting, then additional feeding of potash and phosphorus will still be needed to produce firm tubers that will keep over winter, healthier plants and better bloom. Leaf hoppers which carry disease and which also injure the plant by sucking juice from the leaves and stems are easily controlled by regular dusting or spray- ing with D.D.T. Mulching with straw, excelsior or some other airy, light ma- terial will help keep the soil moist and cool. Don't use leaves or grass clippings that mat down and pack—they hold in too much moisture. Horticultural vermiculite is the perfect win- ter storage medium for dahlia tubers. Dry the freshly dug tubers in the sun for several hours. Then cover them completely with dry vermiculite. They can't freeze in it. They won't shrivel or mold. FANCY LEAVED CALADIUMS These spectacular foliage plants are par- ticularly valuable because they do well in shade. Start them in a mixture of half sand and half leaf mould at a tem- perature of over 70 degrees. When the roots are well-developed and the shoot is beginning to show, pot up in rich soil. Set out in the garden when weather is warm and settled. Elephant ears can be planted directly in soil out of doors, but the weather must be warm and settled, otherwise they will rot. Bulbs and tubers are a good INVESTMENT Few garden flowers pay such high dividends as bulbs and tubers! Lasting for years . . . they return your investment over and over ... by giving so much beauty for such little care, or cost, or effort. TUBEROSE This warm-weather bulb should be planted in rich soil, with 2" of soil over the tip after the weather is warm and settled. Do not try to save the bulbs: these must be grown by a specialist if they are to bloom well. Buy new bulbs each year. CANNAS While cannas will tolerate cold soil, they usually do not start growing until hot weather comes. If planted in round beds, you will need 37 plants for a 10 foot bed (18 plants on the outside, 12 in the second row, six for the third row and one in the center). A 7 foot bed will use 19 plants, with 12 plants on the outside row, six for the middle row and one plant in the center. LILIES Even the swamp lilies will not tolerate wet feet; all must have perfect drainage. Yet they like a moist, cool soil. This means that liberal quantities of old well- decayed compost is almost essential for lilies. Most varieties will not tolerate lime; your soil should have a pH of 6.5 or below if you want to grow good lilies.

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