THE STORY OF THE EREMURUS 
View of Clump of Wild-growing Eremurus Olga 
Digging up Eremuri in Turkestan 
K NOWN also as the "Foxtail Lily," "Desert-Candle" 
or "Giant Asphodel” they are with the exception 
of the variety Himalaicus native of Turkestan. 
As the method of reproduction is very slow, the 
roots are collected in the desert country of Turkestan, 
far from habitation and carried by caravan to the 
nearest shipping center whence they are brought to 
the great nurseries in Holland where they are grown 
until acclimatized and exported to other countries. 
Since the embargo they have been grown success¬ 
fully in this country. 
A well-grown clump of eremuri may justly be 
regarded an achievement to be proud of. The great 
flower stalk, often eight feet tall and more, rises from 
a crowded tuft of long, narrow leaves, and is crowned 
by a flower spike two to three feet long, composed of 
closely set bell-shaped flowers, star-like in effect, in 
soft tones of rose, yellow, salmon and white. 
When the gigantic flowering is over, the plant dis¬ 
appears entirely, but reappears very early in the 
spring, when it is advisable to protect the young 
flower spike from late frosts. 
To fill the great bare space left when the plants 
go to rest, gypsophilas may be planted near and kept 
staked until the eremuri die down, when they may 
be allowed to fall forward in their pace. Some of our 
clients have planted them most successfully on the 
north side of evergreens. 
Bivouac of Bulb-collecting Expedition in the Desert 
Caravan Delivering Bulbs to Nearest Collecting Station 
