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Calif ornian 'Bulbs, Grolvn by Carl Vurdy 



CALIFORNIAN ORCHIDS, continued 

 Californicum. A large-leaved bog plant, with rather small yellow flowers. Needs much 



peat and water. 25 cts. each, $2 per doz. 

 Epipactes gigantea. This is a most charming plant, like a small, brown Lady-Slipper. 



Il is one Orchid that is easy to grow. It forms large masses when undisturbed in 



loose, damp soil. 15 cts. each. 



AMERICAN COWSLIPS (Dodecatheons) 



These dainty plants are among the most charming wild (lowers of California. 

 With our fall rains they begin to grow, and the first mild days in the early Spring bring 

 their sweet blossoms. They ripen early with us, and in the summer the spider-like 

 roots become so dry that they break at the touch, but a little moisture quickly starts 

 them into life again. All are beautiful, and California gives a charming variety in color 

 and habit. There is a bog-growing form in the high mountains (Jcffrcyii) which I do 

 not handle. 



Either as pot plants for forcing, or in the garden, they arc easily grown and pleasing. 

 Any ordinary garden soil will do, although they thrive best in a sheltered (not necessarily 

 shaded) situation, in loose, well-drained soil, in which there is a mixture of rotted leaves. 

 Clevelandii. One of the best. Tall-growing, with fine flowers, pure white, or delicately 



suffused with pink. I cannot supply the pure white variety separately* 4 cts. each, 



40 cts. per doz. 

 Hendersonii. The best red species. 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per doz. 

 Patulum. Yellow. 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per cloz. 



WILD-FLOWER SEEDS 



Our stale is peculiarly rich in beautiful wild annual flowers and it has also many 

 fine perennials. Many of these have for a long time been in cultivation and arc found in 

 all seed catalogs. Some have been so changed by cultivation that they are not as well 

 adapted to wild sowing here as the wild sorts. This is a selected list of some sorts that 

 I have myself grown and found especially good. It will be much enlarged next fall. 

 Almost any grounds have some unused corner which can be beautified by sowing a 

 packet or two of such things. 



TIME TO SOW WILD FLOWER SEEDS 



In California, the best time to sow is in early fall, either before or just after the first 

 rains. They can, however, be sown much later and, if watered, good results can be had 

 with spring sowing. 1 sow in February and do not water. 



MANNER OF SOWING 



Mix the seeds with quite a bulk of dry dirt that they may be scattered widely and 

 evenly.. If in beds, of course do not distribute widely. If sowed before or just after the 

 rains, no raking in is necessary, although it would do no harm. If sown after the grass 

 and other vegetation has become dense and heavy, it would be necessary to work the 

 surface and kill the grass, then lightly rake the seed in. If planted late, it is well to lay 

 some light brush over the beds until the seeds are up. 



BEST PLACE TO SOW 



In many places the annual grasses form a dense mat after they start and less vigor- 

 ous things could not hold their own. In such cases it is necessary to hoe the surface 

 after all seeds have started and resced every year. If the ground chosen is rather tough 

 and poor, many of the annuals are quite able to rcsow themselves and hold their own. 

 The ground below newly built roads or paths is especially fitted for many of them. 

 This is especially true of Eschscholtzias and Godetias. 

 Prices, in retail pkts. at 10 cts. each, $1 per doz. For naturalizing, quantities 



much cheaper 



Following is a list of some of my leading varieties: Coreopsis tinctoria, Gilia tricolor 

 and G. liniflora. Godetias in four superb wild variations. Layia elegans, Limnanthes 

 Douglasii, Nemophila maculata and N. insignis, Eschscholtzia Californica and Golden 

 West and E. tenuifolia, the best of the wild forms. Cream Cups, or Platystemon, Pentste- 

 mon heterophylla. Oenotheras, white, yellow and the orange-colored Calif ornian Poppy, 

 or Papaver Californicum, resembling the Shirley Poppy. 



These and many other fine things. 



The McFarland Publicity Service, Harrisburg, Pa. 



