164 Pacific Const Bulbs in the East. 



which succeeded the typical sandstorm of the desert, while the pure 

 mountain water which flowed from the granite cliffs somewhat recon- 

 ciled us to our fortune. Thus ended a visit to Laguna Maquata. 



C. R. Orcutt. 



PACIFIC COAST BULBS IN THE EAST. 



(From Garden and Forest, iii. 480.) 



Many of the species of Calochorfcus and Brodieea from the Pacific 

 Coast, especially those from California, are somewhat difficult to 

 manage in our cold Eastern climate. The ocean currents of that 

 coast have such an influence on the climate that even in the northern 

 portion of Washington along the coast the winters are quite mild as 

 compared with the same season further east. Some of these bulbs 

 when wintered in an ordinary cellar begin to grow about the last of 

 February, and by the time the ground is ready for them in spring this 

 early growth has so exhausted them that they have little vigor left. 

 They are not hardy, and if planted in autumn without protection 

 will not survive our severe winters. Perhaps a very cool cellar might 

 prevent this winter growth, but I question it. The only way I have 

 been able to flower many of them has been to plant early in autumn 

 and protect with three or four inches of leaves. If planted before 

 the weather is too cold they become well rooted before winter. I 

 believe that most of them will bear some freezing, and it seems to 

 me that it is the alternate thawing and freezing of plants that winter 

 kills so many. If they can be kept from thawing before spring 

 after they have once been frozen, the cold is not so injurious. By 

 covering them with three or four inches of leaves, though not enough 

 to keep out all frost, they will remain frozen and dormant until it is 

 time to remove the covering in spring. 



Mexican bulbs are quite different in their manner of growth, and 

 may be wintered in a cellar with perfect success. They will not 

 usually start to grow before the last of May or first of June, even if 

 planted as early as the ground can be prepared in spring. The Frit- 

 illarias from California and Oregon have done much better planted 

 in autumn and treated in this way; aud the lilies, though much 

 more hardy than the other bulbs, seem to do better when covered. 

 No doubt deep planting may answer for some of them, but if the 

 soil is of the right kind I would prefer to plant five or six inches 

 deep, with a light covering, to eight or ten inches. 



Most early- flowering plants, if not all of them, should be planttj 

 early the previous autumn. August or July even, is not too early 

 for some of them. The Dog's tooth violets, Chionodoxas, spring beau- 

 ties, Trilliums, etc., are never as strong the first season when planted 

 in spring or late in autumn as when set in August and September. 

 They do not flower so early nor last so long. 



The lilies from the Pacific coast are most of them early bloomers, 



