Purdy's Galirornia Flowering Plants 29 
SILENE Californica, the A'lountain or Indian Pink, is a most siiowy flower, with 
brilliant scarlet flowers, and Silene Hookerii with exquisite, soft pink flowers is as 
beautiful. The latter forms a low circle of stems and is most beautiful. S. Californica 
at 15 cts., each and $1.25 per doz.; S. Hookerii 25 cts. each, $2 per doz. 
SMILACINA amplexicaulis is our best Palsc Solomon's Seal, a fine plant for 
shade. 10 cts. each, 75 cts. per doz. 
SOLIDAGO Californica is a low-growing Goldenrod. Solidago occidentalis grows 
4 or 5 feet high, with fine, feathery panicles and is splendid. Either sort at 10 cts. 
each, 75 cts. per doz. 
SPIKENARD, or Aralia Californica, is a noble plant, thriving in moist spots and 
growing 4 to 5 feet. A fine plant for a largo fern-bed. The very heavy roots are worth 
?l each. 
SYNTHYRIS rotundifolia is one of the pretty woods iilants which have their best 
place ill a rock garden. We have no prettier foliage plant in the forest region. 10 cts. 
each, $1 per doz. 
VANCOUVERIA Hexandra, called Mexican Ivy and Redwood Ivy, has of late 
years become a favorite bouquet green on this coast, and is sent East in great quan- 
tities. It is a very handsome plant of the Barberry family. I have good garden plants 
at 15 cts. each, $1.25 per doz., or collected plants at $5 per 100. 
VIOLETS are well represented in California's wild flowers, and I give but few of 
the large number. Viola atropurpurea is low, with cut lea\-es and a flower yellow on 
one side and dark brown on the other. V. chrysantha is differenl, but with cut leaves 
and flower in yellow and browji. V. ocellata is a wood X'iolet, with the true Violet leaf 
and a i3retl>- flower, white above and purple beneath. All at 10 cts. each, Si per doz. 
VERATRIUM is the great broad-leaved Hellebore of the Sierran moist grounds; a 
noble i)lant for dam|) spots. 25 cts. each. 
California Native Ferns 
ALII'ORXIA has a number of most excellent Ferns, and nothing is easier 
than to succeed with the hardier ones, such as Aspidiums (Sword Ferns), 
Woodwardia (the Chain Fern,) or Pteris (the Brake). I have noticed 
them thriving in shaded corners in almost any class of soil, and they will 
stand considerable summer drought after they are once established. 
The shadiest place that you have, whether under trees or shaded by 
buildings, and a soil well mellowed with either old manure, spent tanbark, sawdust, 
old leaves, or any other material which will rot into leaf-mold, makes them thrive. As 
to watering, it may be said that, of all things, the Fern likes a fine spray, and that 
frequently. The most frequent reason of failure to grow the Five-Finger Fern well is 
that they are watered with a hose, or coarse s|)ray, and the foliage beaten down. The 
finer the spray the better for them. 
In pots, all of the Ferns will do well if gi\-en a cool position, si3ra\-ing, or water at 
t4ie roots, and a soil well made, with leaf-mold in abundance. Ne\'er allow l-"erns that 
are grown in pots to become enlireh- (lr>- at ihe roots, else ihe small leaflets (pinnae) 
will turn yellow and soon die. Do not water t )ften, but when \i>u do, thoroughly 
soak the pot in a bucket of water. Spra> ing in cold, cloud\- weather ttirns fronds black. 
Hardy Ferns about the Veranda 
From the time in earliest spring when the uncurling fi-onds greet us until late winter, 
there are few things that grow which afford so much genuine interest and satisfaction 
to the home-owner as our beaittiful native Ferns. 
Plant them about the porch or \-eranda and beside foundations of a house, in hict, 
in almost any cool, shady nook. With a little care after first planting them, the\- thri\-e 
year after year. Their graceful fronds serxe as a shiekl to the barren ground, hide the 
foundation, and connect the lawn and house in a most charming wa\-. 
Collection of twelve sorts of California Native Ferns, one each, my selection, $1.50. 
A Few^ Native Ferns of Merit 
When a wild Fern is moved into a garden, it takes ftilK" a year for it to get to grow- 
ing thriftily. I have a good stock of garden-grown l-'erns. Prices include postage or 
expressagc. F'erns ai-e best mo\-ed jtist as the\- are starting into growth, which is in 
February or March, and at m\- gardens it is later than in the ba\' region. 
