LITTLE BROWN BULBS 



ferences in climate. I am particularly pleased with the effect 

 of the smaller bulbous flowers when planted in the grass in 

 this country. Freesias, oxalis and the smaller narcissus or 

 daffodils are particularly charming with this effect. If the 

 lawn is already planted to grass, all that is necessary is to 

 go through with a sharp pointed stick or rod, and place the 

 bulbs, packing the soil over them, but it is very much better to 

 plant them when planting the grass. It is rather surprising 

 that we see in so few California gardens anything like a large 

 collection of calochortus. These beautiful Mariposas or but- 

 terfly-lilies bloom in summer, and are of very rich and bril- 

 liant colors, in all shades of white, purple, yellow, pink and 

 lilac. The fact that our Carl Purdy of Mendocino County 

 introduced this lily to commerce, and that he has made a 

 specialty of it for years in his gardens in the North and is 

 now propagating both the native varieties and his own beau- 

 tiful garden hybrids for wholesalers all over the world, 

 makes it indeed seem strange, that our gardens are not re- 

 splendent with them in the summer months, but this may be 

 put down to the fact that our people are negligent of all 

 bulbous bloom. The cyclamen, the fritillaria and the 

 freesias are all readily grown here. Lilies-of-the-valley are 

 readily flowered in the house, but so far as I know have not 

 been a success in out-of-door gardens. The tuberous be- 

 gonias are particularly luxuriant in this climate. Of all the 

 blooms that grow in the bulbous section, I know of nothing 

 finer for display for early spring and summer than the 

 irises. They are our own American flowering flags, "fleur- 



[431 



