Tulip and Narcissus bulbs are purchased when at their peak of perfection where they are grown in Holland. They are grown under ideal conditions of soil and climate to produce top quality flowers the first season after planting. Then, due to different climate and soil conditions in most areas in this country, these bulbs often fail to come back the second year with the same size blooms. The third year may find them decreasing still further in size until plants finally produce nothing but foliage.

This situation is especially true with Tulips, while Narcissus and Daffodils of the new varieties are a little slower in showing deterioration in bloom quality.

Due to this gradual deterioration of quality, and sometimes quantity, of flowers when bulbs are left in the ground year after year, it is best to lift them each year after the foliage begins to yellow. Then, store the bulbs in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place such as in a basement. This curing, and later planting of larger bulbs, tends to keep blooms at a better quality performance than if bulbs are left in the ground all summer. This, at best, is still not a duplicate of growing conditions in Holland or the Pacific Northwest, but will prolong the usefulness of these bulbs.

Plants of the Narcissus family can be kept in good flowering growth for many years even when bulbs are left in the ground each summer. Deterioration in flower size will be evident with the new hybrid varieties; but decrease in numbers of blooms will become evident when plants become too crowded due to rapid multiplication of bulbs. Where plants of the Narcissus group are left in the ground, they will have to be lifted, stored and separated about every third or fourth year to overcome the crowded condition. This will be helpful in getting a longer usefulness of these bulbs in your garden.