The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-04-13
TELLS OF PROFIT IN
RAISING BULBS HERE
Expert Says That $500 Per Acre
Can BE Melted on Lynden Soil
In Industry


industry, was the statement made
Thursday evening at the City
Hall by r. Vallentgoed of Bel
lingham, expert formerly on the
government experiment sta ion
staff.
Mr. Vallentgoed emphasized the
fact that the worlds finest bulbs
Is,can be grown in Whatcom Coun-
~. A committee composed of
Mrs. Leonard koole, L. A. Jones,
d. w. Bender, DR.. c. H. Mcleod,
Albert Kok and r. B. LIE Cocq
was appointed to investigate Mr..
Vallentgoed' plan for the estab-
lishment of a 100000 bulb farm
in the vicinity of Lynden.
Said Mr.. Vallentgoed:
1.-The experimental work in the
United States has been going on
for the last Is years, and reports
show that only Northwestern
Washington is suitable to grow
all kinds of bulbs with success.
The main factors in bulb culture
are the climatic and soil condi-
tions. Now the soil may be fav.
orable i'll many parts of the States
but not so, the climatic condition.
Back east, in the middle states
and in the south, it is too hot
in the summer or late spring,
or it is to cold or to warm dur
ing the winter. In the Southern
Pacific States, even where in
some sections the temperature is
suitable, the rainfall is insuffic-
lent, or too heavy.
For instance: l have records
of handling tulips in Northern
California, where with good fer
tility and proper handling, the
bulbs gradually decrease in size.
Two natural conditions in this
locality are accountable. The
moisture is likely to fail before
the plants complete their growth,
and the temperatures are likely
to run high at the same time,
thus shortening the growing per-
Il "a suddenly. Such conditions are
evidently not suited to CONNER
cial bulb production.
"All these difficulties will not
be found in Northwestern Wash
ington. Bulbs require a territory
which receives suitable rainfall
and is sufficiently affected by
sea.oast-voNditioEs t1-esTeIa
rapid transition from winter to
summer.
LAS to soil condition: Some
kinds of bulbs can be grown with
success on almost any kind OF SOIL
but only light sandy soil Will
produce all kinds of bulbs: pro-
viding the right kind of care is
taken with the fertilization and
the drainage. Now this soil can
easily be found all over the coun-
ty. 1t is land classified as poor
land, and not very productive for
farming Therefore this land
should be made productive for
other agricultural purposes, ana
the bulb industry should draw
YOUR attention. The fertilizer re-
uuirement of bulbs is not sufflc-
iently appreciated in this coun-
try. Bulbs require heavy fertility
to produce well, and to maintain
their size: and this is one of the
reasons why Holland made a
success of bulb growing. So we
have before us three factors nee
essary for successful bulb grow
ing. Climate, soil and fertilizer.
And these factors we find in this
section.
"Then there is another thing
-.Nhich is favorable to the what
II, county grown bulbs. some
K1nd of bulbs are troubled with
various diseases. Now on account
of the climatic conditions, one OF
the worst diseases is entirely ell
minated here This is the so-cal-
led black snob, a disease which
spreads very easily, and is caused
in Holland by the frequent occur
ance of density of the atmosphere
During my experimental worn
at the Bellingham Garden, have
never been able to detect symp'
tom of this disease, and l also
found that all other diseases are
more easily controlled here thar
in Holland.
comparing the COSt VI Pio
duction here and in Holland,
have found that bulbs can be pro
duced here just as cheaply /
not cheaper than in Holland.
1.-THE main buyers of bulbs arr
the greenhouse men who force
the bulb into an early flower
and sell bulb and flower 70 tn
public. Now after forcing, Tn
bulb is worthless, and THEREFOR
new supply is needed eVel
year.
THE official reports from tn
Department of Agriculture shoN
that the Washington grown bulp
are superior to the Holland pro
duct. The flowers are brighter !
color and ten days earlier Il
forcing. You can imagine wha
this means to the florist-te
days less heat, ten days less car
ten days less hothouse space an
f.a~, more valuable flower.
a. "At the same time considerin
the high freight rates and tn
duty on the Holland produc
the Whatcom county grown bulh
would be 20ee cheaper for tn
florist. / have connections wit
several of the leading florist
and they all favor the Whatcol
County grown bulbs. There is n