Californian 'Bulbs, Grolvn by Carl Turdy 



BRODIAEAS— SECTION III 



Flowers in Heads. Californian Hyacinths 



The stems are a foot or two in height, bearing a close head of true violet-colored 

 flowers. Very graceful. Especially fitted for naturalizing either on rough ground or in 

 clay. For this purpose, small bulbs, 75 cts. per 100, $5 per 1,000; large bulbs, 3 els. each, 

 25 cts. per doz. 



SECTION IV. The Floral Firecracker 



This wonderfully striking plant is well named. The flowers hang in umbellate 

 clusters, for all the world like fire-crackers in shape, and of a vivid crimson, tipped pea- 

 green for a fuse. Among ferns, for rockwork, or in the shaded corner, they are very 

 effective, and they do well in shaded places on rocks. They grow in clays, gritty soils, 

 and best of all where there is leaf mold and sharp drainage. Small bulbs to naturalize, 

 a part will flower the first year, $1 per 100, $7.50 per 1,000; large bulbs, 5 cts. each, 50 

 cts. per doz. j 



SECTION V. Twining Brodiaeas 



Still another striking plant, in which the flowering stems will twine around any 

 support. The buds slowly develop until a cluster of pretty pink flowers tip the twining 

 stem. Large bulbs, 5 cts. each, 50 cts. per doz. 



BLO OMERI AS 



Almost like Brodiaeas, and with golden yellow, many-flowered umbels. B. aurea 

 is a fine plant. 4 cts. each, 30 cts. per doz. 



CALOCHORTI 



These are lovely bulbous plants which are best described under the separate groups. 



Culture in California 



Let the bed be slightly raised, and with the drainage perfect. A raise of 3 inches 

 with a slight slope will assure this. 



Soil. No fresh manure must be used, but any loam will do, although sandy loam 

 best meets the needs of the greater number of species. Still, clay loam, gritty soil, or 

 even adobe, if lightened with sand, grit, spent tanbark or leaf-mold will give good results. 



If only a few dozen are grown, it is really better to plant them in a flat box, when 

 10 inches of soil is ample. 



Time to Plant. Plant as soon after October 1 as possible, and not later than 

 January 1. 



Depth to Plant. Two to 25 inches is ample. 



Distance Apart. They will thrive 2 inches apart each way. 



Water. During our winter and early spring, the rains are sufficient, but if the 

 spring is dry, keep the ground barely moist after April 1, and water liberally when the 

 buds show for bloom. 



Care of Bulbs after Flowering. If the bed can be left dry all summer, do not 

 dig the bulbs and they will come up again in the fall. They should not be watered dur- 

 ing the summer, and if the bed is where watering is clone it is better to dig the bulbs and 

 store them without packing material in paper bags, in any dry, cool place. One advan- 

 tage of planting in a box is that the box can be put in a dry place and the bulbs left 

 undisturbed, A box 2x3 feet will hold fifty or seventy-live bulbs. 



Gophers. These troublesome rodents are very fond of Calochortus bulbs as well 

 as of Tulips. If they cannot be poisoned or trapped, they can be kept out in several ways. 

 1 have found that an underground fence made of 2-inch planks set 2 feet deep with an 

 inch above the surface will keep them out. Another method is to make a fence under 

 ground of wire screening. This can be had 2 or 3 feet wide. Still another good way is 

 to make a large sunken box, with only the top of the side boards showing above the 

 ground. Ten inches is deep enough. Such a box can have a bottom of wire mesh or 

 roofing tin. 



