SELECT BULBS FOR FALL PLANTING 
15 
SPANISH IRIS 
The large flowers have very clear coloring, and are borne at the top of long, stiff, 
but slender, stems. Few flowers combine more good points, either for cut-flowers or 
garden decoration, and luckily they are very cheap. The colors range from the darkest 
blue to pure white, clear yellow, and have many marvelous combinations of stripes 
and splashes of color. These Irises have been known in America for only about ten years. 
Culture. They do best in a thoroughly worked light or fairly heavy loam, and 
indeed do better in adobe than in lighter soils. Plant about 3 inches deep and water 
freely until after flowering. Light shade helps, but dense shade is a detriment. They 
do not need to be lifted for several years, and they flower more freely each season. 
I offer two mixtures: Trade Mixture. This is put up in Holland and is good. The 
bulbs are fair, and the varieties of an average; most of them are from the best named 
sorts, but the bulbs arc not large size. Price, 15 cts. per doz., 75 cts. per 100, $6 per 1,000. 
Purdy's Superb Mixture. I make this up myself by using equal quantities of the 
finest named sorts. It saves me the trouble of labeling and wrapping a lot of parcels, 
and it gives you the finest quality at a lower rate. 20 cts. per doz., $1 per 1 00, $9 per 1,000! 
Named Spanish Irises 
In these I buy bulbs of unusually high quality and of the best standard varieties. 
No better can be bought. 
In yellow, Chrysolora, early and large; Cajanus, late and tall. In blues, Alex, 
von Humboldt, and the dark blue Darling. In white, Belle Chinoise and Blanche 
Superbe; also Louise, in white and dark blue; La Tendresse is white, tinged yellow; 
Snowball is white, tinged blue. All at 20 cts. 
per doz., $1.25 per 100, $10 per 1,000. 500 at 
1,000 rate. 
ENGLISH IRIS 
The English Irises are too little known. Like 
their cousins, the Spanish Irises, the bulbs can be 
handled dry, and also like them, they prefer an 
open situation and rather heavy and moist soil, 
though they will grow anywhere. The beautiful 
drawing by Mr. Valentine on this page well shows 
their beauty. The glorious flowers, much larger 
than the Spanish Irises, come in all shades, from 
blue to white, with many exquisite lavenders. 
Mixed bulbs all 30 cts. per doz., $1.25 per 100. 
Two Other Good Irises 
Iris ochroleuca, otherwise known as Iris 
orientalis, is a truly noble plant, which stands 3 to 
4 feet high, and bears large, cream-colored flowers. 
It will grow in any garden soil, and will do well at 
the water's edge. Strong plants, 25 cts. each. 
Iris Sibirica is almost unknown in Californian 
gardens, but well worth knowing. It forms strong 
masses not unlike the larger-growing wild Irises, 
and the fine, deep blue or white flowers are borne 
well above the leaves. They should have a rather 
moist soil and should not be disturbed often. 
Strong plants, 15 cts. each, $1.25 per doz. 
DUTCH IRISES 
This is something entirely new in California 
and, from reliable authority, are very fine novelties. 
The flowers somewhat resemble Spanish Irises 
but are much larger. The foliage is broad, the 
flowers arc in much the same colors as the Spanish 
Irises, but very rich in shades, with a large, golden 
yellow central spot. Mixed colors, 60 cts. per doz. 
California Native Irises will be found in my Hardy 
Plant Catalogue English Iris 
