THE CAMASSIA 275 



fortunately, however, there is a complementary 

 relation between the seed and the bulbs, and in 

 order to secure bulbs of the largest size, it is neces- 

 sary to remove the seed stalk before blossoming 

 time. 



Whether cultivated for flowers or for bulbs, 

 the brodiaeas are very interesting plants that give 

 great promise of improvement under the hands of 

 some careful experimenter. 



It is a little difficult to cross them. I have pro- 

 duced many hybrids, however, and occasional 

 hybrids are found where two wild species are 

 growing in the same neighborhood. They all 

 bear seed abundantly, though it takes three, 

 four, or even five years from seed before they 

 bloom. 



They can be grown by thousands on each 

 square yard of ground, appearing almost as thick 

 as grass on a well-kept lawn. 



In the same species there is a good deal of 

 variation in the form and size of the flower. On 

 the heights of the Sierras, the Brodicea lactea 

 grows only a few inches high, whereas in the 

 valleys it grows to a height of eighteen inches 

 or two feet. 



Along the alluvial creek banks Brodicea laxa 

 grows very large and tall, with handsome clusters, 

 while on the mountain sides it is dwarfed. 



