PURDY'S CALIFORNIA BULBS AND PLANTS 9 
CULTURE OF CALOCHORTI 
IN CALIFORNIA 
Let the bed be slightly raised, 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 re- 
sults. The most satisfactory results are obtained with a soil that is light and porous, 
not made too rich with fertilizers, and providing thorough drainage. These require- 
ments can be secured very easily in almost any garden, and the results justify all efforts 
expended in securing proper conditions. 
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 Jan- 
uary 1. 
Depth to Plant. Two to 2^ 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 late 
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 during the 
summer, and if the bed is where watering is done, it is better to dig the bulbs and store 
them without packing material in paper bags, in any dry, cool place. One advantage 
of planting in a box is that the box can be put in a dry place and the bulbs left undis- 
turbed. A box 2x3 feet will hold 50 to 75 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 other 
ways. I 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 
of wire screening of three-fourths-inch diamond mesh underground. 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; 10 inches is deep enough. Such a 
box can have a bottom of wire mesh or roofing tin. 
Pot Culture. See paragraph at bottom of page. 
IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES 
Calochorti will endure the coldest weather in the eastern United States, but suffer 
from premature thawing followed by freezing. 
(1) In Open Ground. Miss U., living along the Hudson River, has been successful 
every year with many varieties. She writes: 
"I have again had splendid success with my California bulbs, and have flowered 
every one. I planted them the first of November in rather sandy soil. The bed is well 
drained and in quite a sheltered spot. It gets the full sun until about three o'clock in 
the afternoon. Before the ground freezes hard, I give it 3 or 4 inches of dried leaves. 
These are removed in the spring when all danger of heavy frost is over. 
"I have found it a good plan to have a few leaves around the shoots for a while and 
to keep some extra leaves at hand at night when the frost threatens. In this way, I 
have succeeded delightfully with the Venustus varieties, the Globe Tulips and Gun- 
nisoni. My bed of Erythroniums was a perfect success. The Globe Tulips always give 
a good account of themselves." 
(2) In Coldframes. With any ordinary care, all Calochorti can be grown splendidly 
in coldframes. They should be treated exactly as for open beds, except the soil will be 
better with some leaf-mold. Do not coddle, but simply protect from freezing and thaw- 
ing. After ripening, keep the sashes on all summer so that they will stay dry. 
I have glowing reports from customers who have grown them this way. 
(3) In Pots. While they cannot be forced much, they can be grown in pots fairly 
well as follows: Use a sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Plant 1 ]A. to 2 inches apart, 
which will give six to twelve to a 6-inch pot. Moisten the soil and put the pot in a dark 
place, a cellar preferred, for about six weeks, to let them root. Then bring into a warm, 
sunny place and water moderately. After flowering, let them ripen well and then dry 
off and leave perfectly dry until fall. 
