of 
and Flowers 
Begonias and Gladioli — flowers grown from roots; 
Pansies and Petunias — flowers grown from seeds 
— these are but a few of the many plants on 
which Mr. Diener proved that, with intelligent 
help, any form of plant life may, within a few 
short years, be brought to a standard of per- 
fection to produce which, nature unaided, would 
require centuries. 
Now Ready to Share New 
Kinds With Others 
In the course of the years, Mr. Diener has accumu- 
lated sufficient stocks of some of his most notable plant 
successes, to enable him to offer some for sale. Among 
them are the largest and finest Gladioli evolved so far 
in this country' — new kinds and types that have won 
highest honors wherever exhibited. Then there are 
his monster Petunias, flowers of which measure eight 
inches across. 
For years Mr. Diener has been working on Amaryllis 
to enlarge the size and enrich the coloring, and a good 
stock is now on hand. The colors range from almost 
white to all shades of pink; red to the deepest scarlet; 
the most brilliant and dazzling colors imaginable. For 
conservatories, these Amaryllis are the greatest show 
objects of the day. The flowers measure over a foot in 
diameter, and the colors are so dazzling, that there is 
nothing to compare with them at the present time. 
Seedlings will commence to flower from eighteen 
months to two years after sowing. Seeds only, for sale. 
Prices: 15 seeds $1.00; 100 seeds $4.00. 
Free Catalogue Available 
Besides a finely illustrated catalogue which may be 
had for the asking, Mr. Diener has published a book 
on his newly discovered Law of Hybridizing, which is 
of interest primarily to teachers, students, and horti- 
culturists. Because of the limited edition, the price of 
the book is $5.00. Those interested in either book 
should write to address below, kindly referring to 
G.vrden Magazine. 
Richard Diener Company, Inc. 
Kentfield, Marin Co., 
California 
Front view new gladiolus seedlings. Famous Mt. I amalpais in the background 
Breeding 
Greater Races 
Food Plants 
T HIS is a story of work, blended with an in- 
herent love for growing things, and the de- 
. sire to improve. About twenty years ago 
a boy of seventeen adopted hybridizing of flowers 
as a hobby. \\ ith patience and perseverance he 
made thousands of “crosses,” meaning that he 
took the pollen of one flower to another flower, 
to effect cross-fertilization. Then he studied the 
resulting offsprings with great care. 
One day, not so many years ago, he saw the 
light. His loyalty to his hobby had helped him 
to a great discovery. He found that the evolu- 
tion of plant life is governed by a law as immut- 
able as the law of gravitation. By intelligently 
applying this law, he set out to evolve more 
fruitful races of food plants and more beautiful 
flowers. 
Just Got Started 
Although this work has now been going on for 
over a decade, Mr. Diener modestly asserts that 
he just got started. About five years ago he 
started with an ordinary strain of Wheat, yield- 
ing about thirty bushels per acre. The improved 
strains, five of which are put on the market this 
year, yield up to one hundred fifty bushels 
per acre. Not only has the whole plant been 
strengthened, but the size of the kernels has 
been more than doubled. 
Seemingly no Limitations to 
Application of the Law 
In order to prove the working out of the law 
on widely differing forms of plant life, experi- 
ments were conducted with the greatest diver- 
sity of crops. Sudan grass — a forage crop; 
Tomatoes, Beans, and Corn — typical vegetables; 
The variety here 
shown is Diener’s 
Improved Bunyip 
Wheat which ripens a 
month earlier than 
the average wheat. 
