84 PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



left undisturbed the roots and bulbs will reappear and frequently grow 

 to be as healthy as when in their homes in hill and dale. 



This is the case with the aquilegia (columbine), a flower of rare attri- 

 butes, which deserves a place of prominence. It might well be adopted 

 as our national flower. There are many points in its favor for this honor. 

 It is beautiful, graceful, and unpretentious. It flourishes naturally in 

 all parts of the United States, whether found on mountain top or in the 

 valley, and even its name suggests the bird of our country. 



Many varieties of wild flowers may be obtained from the seed; but 

 that is difficult for people living remote from the habitat of the flowers. 

 A good way is to interest some one living in their locality to watch and 

 gather the seeds and bulbs w^hen they are mature. 



Many of the lily family, including brodiaea, fritillaria, trillium, and 

 the superb calochorti, take transplanting very kindly. 



There is a long list of varieties desirable for the garden, including 

 godetia, larkspur, pentstemon, cypripedium, azalea, nemophila, dicentra, 

 calandrinia, castilleja, clintonia, collinsia, clematis, cillia, dodecatheon, 

 the charming viola pedunculata, the beautiful iris, and many others. 

 Some of these have already been adopted by Eastern and European 

 gardeners. Why not take some means of preserving them, and not have 

 to send abroad for our supplies after we have exterminated them at home? 

 We all, of course, want Eschscholtzias — or shall I say in plain English, 

 California poppies"? No collection of wild flowers, I should say no 

 California garden, is complete without this glorious flower with its soft, 

 dainty foliage and incomparable, golden, cup-like blossom. Fortunately 

 for us, it is easy to grow. The seeds may be procured by gathering the 

 pods while they are still green and placing them in a deep vessel to 

 retain the seed when the pods become dry and burst open. The poppy 

 may also be transplanted with success, but it requires great care, unless 

 the plants are very young, for the large plants have very long tap-roots, 

 which if broken will cause them to droop and die. But one good plant 

 in your garden will soon seed your premises and supply your neighbors. 



There are many people living in the country surrounded by wild 

 flowers of which they take little heed, so common have they become to 

 them, so they allow their workmen to uproot and destroy the dear little 

 creamcups and graceful brodiseas. If they would only set aside some 

 neglected corner of their dooryard and encourage their children to 

 collect and care for all the varieties in their vicinity, they would be doing 

 themselves a favor and their State a benefit. 



What can we do to interest the people in this important subject? Can 

 we not prevail upon some millionaire to purchase a large tract of land, 

 including hills and valleys, and set people to gathering seeds, bulbs, 

 and plants from all over the State and placing them where they would 

 have congenial environments? In the meantime, let us as individuals 

 earnestly exert ourselves to do all we can to preserve the wild flowers. 



