THE CAMASSIA 271 



when the camassias are grown either for bulbs or 

 for flowers. 



I have also successfully hybridized some of the 

 camassias with certain of their relatives, the squills 

 (genus S cilia), of which I have imported many 

 species from South America. The two tribes 

 hybridize readily. The hybrids showed conspic- 

 uous changes in the bulb. The outside covering 

 of the bulb of the squill is whitish, while that of 

 the camassia is usually darker. The hybrids pro- 

 duced more compact bulbs of a lighter color than 

 those of their maternal parent, the camassia. 



But there are all gradations in the bulbs as to 

 color and other qualities. 



I have worked quite extensively also with the 

 scillas, but with reference solely to the develop- 

 ment of the flowers, with results that will be out- 

 lined in another connection. Here reference is 

 made to them only as suggesting that these plants 

 may be of value in introducing new qualities into 

 the strains of hybrid camassias, stimulating fur- 

 ther variation, and thus giving opportunity for 

 betterment both of bulb and flower. 



It is too soon to predict just what place these 

 improved camassias may take in the vegetable 

 garden. But the experiments have progressed 

 far enough to show that the species has hitherto 

 unrecognized possibilities. 



