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PULL THE STRING OF YOUR PARACHUTE, 
YOU’LL. LAND ALL RIGHT 
Dear Floral Friends: 
So many of our customers have written us 
friendly letters in reply to our own “Personal 
Letters" that we feel that our recent custom 
may be as pleasing to you as it is to us. 
The heading of this letter may indicate that 
we are becoming “air-minded." Perhaps so, 
even though we have never traveled that way 
and probably never will. We have used the ex¬ 
pression wholly as a figure of speech. 
This is what we mean. Have confidence, first, 
in yourself. Believe that you are able to do 
those worth-while things that you want to do. 
Likewise have confidence in all agencies, both 
ifuman and Divine, that influence and determine 
our activities, our lives. Above all things, live. 
Undertake to do those things that you want 
to do, in reason, as well as those things that you 
must do to preserve life and happiness. Some are 
always afraid to take a step—buy a home, a 
piano, make a flower garden, go into business. 
My advice is, “Pull the string of your parachute, 
you’ll laud all right.” 
Our business is to sell you bulbs. When we 
do that ve feel that we are rendering as great 
/i service as anyone else whose services rnn%M^ 
paid for—the teacher, the preacher or thj 
keeper. Our work is not undertaken in 
pectation of gaining wealth, but because"^/ 
—orre-neetis flowers— 
We hope you will continue to write us about 
your garden. Every friendly letter is appreci¬ 
ated even though we can only answer them all 
this way. If you can interest your friends in 
our bulbs you will be doing them and us a favor. 
Before concluding I want to tell you about 
something that will interest you. Madison 
Cooper is publishing a new Flower Magazine. 
As an editor and writer on floral topics he is 
outstanding. His philosophy of life, an inter¬ 
esting one which he calls the “Cooper Plan," 
trickles through his pages. Floral advice is de¬ 
pendable. fitted to all sections and contributed 
by the best authorities. Send him (Madison 
Cooper, Dept. H, Calcium, N. Y.) $1.00 for a 
year’s subscription. 
Sincerely, 
CECIL HOUDYSHEL 
TERMS, INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
ORDERING, ETC. 
If you are a new customer, the receipt of this 
catalog is an acknowledgment of your order. 
Thank you. 
Bulb orders are filled promptly during their 
dormant period and at the right planting time. 
Nearly all bulbs are ready now except some 
Lilies and Hippeastrums. These mature late 
and will be sent in plenty of time. Include 
everything in one order if convenient. 
No. C.O.D. ordei*9 accepted. This method adds 
at least 26c to your expense for two fees, one at 
each end. 
Remit by checks, M. O. or currency. We ac¬ 
cept no responsibility for lost coins or currency, 
however. Please send remittance with order. 
Charge accounts take all the profit from a sale. 
Postage stamps accepted only at the rate of 
$1.06 for $1.00, when not possible to get a M.O. 
Postage on bulbs is prepaid on orders for 
$1.00 or more in U. S., Canada and any country 
where the rates do not exceed our 8th zone. If 
doubtful send some extra for postage. Orders 
under $1.00 send 10c extra. 
In a few places there is no local Horticultural 
Inspector. In that case bulbs must be mailed 
to him first in a nearby town. He remails to 
you. The postage on the package in this case is 
your expense as we can pay postage only once. 
When we let you know by postal send us that 
amount plus lc. This is for California only. 
Sales Tax. California customers add 3%. 
Wholesale. We are wholesale growers on 
many items, especially Pink Calla Lilies. Please 
establish the fact that you are entitled to whole¬ 
sale prices. If in California send your permit 
number. Send a list of your wants and the 
quantity and we will quote. We have no whole¬ 
sale catalog. Terms, positively cash with order. 
We save you money. 
Catalogs. We issue a Spring Catalog, a Fall 
Catalog and an Iris Price List. The Iris List is 
sent only to those who request it. The two cata¬ 
logs are sent to all on our mailing list. We have 
been mailing these about Feb. 1 and Sept. 1. 
This may not be the best time as we note a good 
many Fall Catalogs are out in Aug. If you have 
an opinion please write us a post card stating 
which are best dates for Fall also for Spring 
Catalogs. 
Our “Economy" type catalogs are inconspicu¬ 
ous. They are not as good salesmen as large 
illustrated catalogs. But they are inexpensive 
and save us both money. Colored illustrations 
are not true anyway. They lead to disappoint¬ 
ment while our brief and modest descriptions do 
not and our customers get their thrill unmixed 
with any disappointment when their bulbs 
bloom. 
Names are dropped usually from our mailing 
list if no purchase is made for three years. If 
you are not likely to become a purchaser of our 
bulbs it will be an appreciated kindness if you 
will hand this to someone interested and then 
drop a card saying we should take your name 
from our list. Or just hand this back to your 
P. M. and tell him to mark it “refused.” 
We want to sell more bulbs and will appreci¬ 
ate it if you will send the names of those likely 
to buy or if you will refer them to us. We get 
many new customers that way. 
EXCHANGING 
We grow, buy, sell and exchange bulbs. Right 
now we need Sternbergias, Texas Spider Lilies 
and many things. There is a Spider Lily native 
to Texas. If you live there, know them, and 
wish to collect from a few to 1,000 let me know. 
Best to send a sample bulb and state price and 
whether cash or exchange. There are native 
Spider Lilies in other states, in Mexico, South 
America and the West Indies. Write us about 
them. We are interested in cultivated and na¬ 
tive bulbs everywhere. The Amaryllis Family 
is our specialty. We usually allow wholesale 
value as then we pay transportation on bulbs re¬ 
ceived as well as sent in exchange. 
Prices. Where no price per dozen is given, 
multiply the price of one bulb by ten for the 
dozen rate. Six may be ordered at this rate. 
The 100 rate if not given is 70 times the price of 
one. Less than 100 takes the dozen rate. 1000 
is sold for the price of 900. 
BULBS FOR WINDOW GARDENS 
Kinds to Select and their Culture. Bulbs are 
the most interesting house plants of all. Both 
foliage and flower effects are pleasing. For 
fragrance nothing else compares. In the winter 
In the south everything is green and lovely out- 
lag? 1 * 8 but in the north there is a beauty of an- 
sort outdoors. Snowy fields, ice on the 
2® and rivers, icicles and glistening frost 
|ywhere, are beautiful. Here in Southern 
_ _ 'ornia we love that and x>n week ends or 
“iToTiaays we flock to the mountains for winter 
sports. But what heavenly comfort it was to us 
back east to have a little bit of summer in our 
windows. Rich tropical foliage, gaudy flowers, 
as well as modestly beautiful ones, and fragrance 
in the window garden are appreciated in every 
northern home in the winter. 
The foilage of the Spotted Leaf Calla, Z. Albor 
maculata, is especially pleasing. All the Callas 
have pleasing tropical foliage. Add to that their 
lovely white, pink or yellow flowers and what 
could be more suitable for a house plant? Most 
people know there is a yellow calla but only a 
few have seen the pink one. Both are easy. 
Start the bulbs in a fairly large pot after Dec. 
15. To be sure that the pink calla blooms it 
is best to buy a large bulb. We have had as 
many as three flowers on the largest size that 
cost $1.00. The 50c size sometimes fails to 
flower in the hands of inexperience. If 50c- 
$1.00 seems too much there are the Spotted 
Leaf, dime size, and the yellow or white callas. 
The Godfrey and Baby are much more sure to 
bloom than the old giant white calla. One com¬ 
mon error with potted white callas is is not giv¬ 
ing them a rest. The colored callas are bulbs 
like glads and when foliage falls over withhold 
water. They are tired and sleepy. 
Any of the Narcissus or Daffodils grow and 
■flower well in pots. Attention is called in our 
list of varieties to some of the most charming 
and desirable. The Poets are rather late flower¬ 
ing and the Poetaz rather tall so are not as de¬ 
sirable. Hyacinths, Grape Hyacinths, Freesias, 
Hippeastrum hybrids (“Amaryllis”) and Iris 
reticulata are all most dependable and easy to 
grow in pots. 
True aristocrats are the Clivias and Eucharis. 
Cut flower spikes of these seem to sell readily 
for $1.00 each wholesale. Clivias are not diffi¬ 
cult. They like cool rooms and light but no 
sun. They like a rich heavy soil with plenty 
of humus and a little sand. The drainage must 
be good and no water allowed to stand in 
saucers. Eucharis like a warm room, a humid 
atmosphere and are checked (but not hurt) 
when night temperatures fall below 50°. 
Cyrtanthus parviflorus is also quite rare and 
expensive for such a small bulb. They are often 
grown in pots and if they bloom as continuously 
in pots as they do for me outdoors, that’s fine. 
But I recommend it mostly to collectors. You 
can buy more beauty and fragrance, as in free¬ 
sias, for a dime. 
OUTDOOR CULTURE 
Most bulbs will do well in any good soil. A 
rich sandy loam is the best for most. Iris do bet¬ 
ter in heavier soils than in very sandy or grav¬ 
elly soil. They should not be fertilized. Clivias 
like some clay mixed with soil. Good garden 
loam to which manure and humus have been 
added in the past is ideal for bulbs. If the soil 
lacks fertility dig in and mix thoroughly a lib¬ 
eral quantity of very old and rotted manure or 
leaf mold. 
If the winter is dry in California the tulips, 
narcissus, etc., must be watered so that they 
may make root growth. 
When bulbs are through blooming, don’t cut 
their tops off or dig but keep them growing as 
long as they will grow. They need to store up 
food and maybe develop a blooming bud for the 
next season. After blooming is when they make 
their increase. 
NARCISSUS OR DAFFODILS 
It is becoming customary to call all Narcissus, 
Daffodils instead of only those having a promi¬ 
nent trumpet. 
Few realize the wide variation, the great im¬ 
provement recently and the loveliness of modern 
daffodils. They are indispensable to those who 
love flowers and a garden. They are easy to 
grow, sure to bloom and bloom early in the 
spring. 
There is a wide variation in types. If you 
have not already done so, then try a few of all 
types and see what you’ve missed. 
Culture. For garden culture plant in the fall 
from September to January 1. Early planting 
is best. 
Plant large bulbs about 5 in. deep. Smaller 
sizes and varieties in proportion. Distance 
apart should be about 6 in. for large sorts. Good 
rich sandy loam is best soil but any good soil 
I will produce satisfactory results. Most of them 
do well in full sun or partial shade but some 
sorts like Triandrus hybrids must have shade. 
Instructions are given with the varieties requir¬ 
ing special culture. 
Never cut off a leaf until in spite of good 
culture and abundant moisture they go dormant 
after making a good growth following the flow¬ 
ering period. 
Daffodils are hardy in all sections with the 
exception of the Polyanthus narcissus which are 
hardy only as far north as the Carolinas. If the 
cluster or many flowered types are wanted in the 
north plant the Poetaz Hybrids which are hardy. 
Pot Culture. The Chinese Lily, Paper White, 
Soliel d’Or and other Polyanthus varieties are 
exquisite for pots or even in a bowl of water 
with pebbles enough to hold foliage and flowers 
upright. 
Even Trumpet Daffodils may be grown in 
bowls but pots of soil are much better. Any 
variety In this list is appropriate for your winter 
( window garden. 
OUR OWN DAFFODIL GARDEN 
It was an especial delight to us last spring 
because we were trying out many new sorts. 
The old favorites are always a source of happi¬ 
ness, too. Old friends that one can see but once 
. a year receive a warm greeting when they come. 
4 First to be mentioned are the Pink Daffo- 
j dils. Lovenest was a beautiful daffodil with a 
4 suggestion of pink on the trumpet’s brim. Its 
i beauty is well worth the price, for “more pink" 
costs more money. 
Mrs. R. O. Backhouse (pronounced bakkus) is 
truly “more pink." The trumpets are a lovely 
coral pink. 
Mrs. E. H. Krelage ("pronounced kre-lage) 
was another wonder. We had hundreds. Con¬ 
trary to our fears that so white a daffodil might 
not be a hardy grower, it grows and increases 
flne. The trumpet is a very pale yellow at first 
. but fades to white especially when cut. It can¬ 
not be over praised. 
The rich coloring of King Alfred. Orange Cup, 
Red Guard: the refinement of Crystal Queen 
and the pure whiteness of Agnes Harvey were 
thrilling. Fragrant bouquets of Campernalle 
giganteus were carried to the house or given to 
friends. 
But we can’t mention all here. Just refer to 
the descriptions. We loved every one and not 
one could be left out of our garden. The Oh’s 
and Ah’s of our visitors, when repetition had 
weakened our own ability to express our pleas¬ 
ure, were very good substitutes, and we did not 
mind because the beauty of the daffodils had 
become inexpressible for us. 
TRUMPET DAFFODILS 
Emperor. Rich golden trumpet, petals lighter, 
good grower and free bloomer. 10c ea. S5c doz. 
* Glory of Snssenhcim. Golden yellow trumpet, 
white petals. 10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
King Alfred. Large deep golden yellow. Best 
and most popular. 10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
Lovenest. The Pink Daffodil. Trumpet tint¬ 
ed apricot pink. Petals white. $1.50 each. 
Mrs. E. H. Krelage. The White King Alfred. 
The pale yellow trumpet turns white. Exquisite. 
20c ea. $2.00 doz. 
Mrs. R. O. Backhouse. White petals. Trumpet 
tinted coral rose. An exquisite daffodil with a 
pink trumpet of a very definite tone. We are 
able to reduce the price this year. Price $2.50 
each. 
Olympia. Golden yellow, with frilled trumpet. 
10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
Tresserve. Exquisite large, golden yellow, 
frilled trumpet. 10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
W. I*. Milner. Dwarf. Pale sulphur. Fine 
for potting or rock gardens. White when forced. 
Try one in a pot or in fiber in a bowl. 25c ea. 
INCOMPARABILIS DAFFODILS 
Croesus. Petals pure gold with a deep red 
crown. The best at a low price. 20c ea. $2.00 
doz. 
Homespun. Soft yellow petals, richly colored 
crown. 10c ea. 75c doz. 
Sir Watkin. Petals and trumpet pure yellow. 
10c ea. 75c doz. 
BARRI DAFFODILS 
Bonfire. Ivory white petals, glowing orange 
scarlet crown. A dazzling contrast. 15c each. 
$1.50 doz. 
Firebrand. Creamy petals with red cup. 10c 
ea. $1.00 doz. 
Red Guard. Petals tinted copper apricot. 
Crown, blazing orange red. $1.50 each. 
Diana Kasner. Pure white petals and fluted 
yellow cup with blood red frill. Fine forcer in 
pots. 25c. 
LEEDSI DAFFODILS 
Crystal Queen. Pure white petals, crown 
primrose fading white. Leader in this class. 
15c ea. $1.50 doz. 
TRIANDRUS HYBRIDS 
Agnes Harvey. A dainty pure white daffodil. 
Trumpet sometimes flushed apricot pink. 3 5c 
each. 
Pearly Queen. Creamy petals with lemon yel¬ 
low trumpet overlaid by a pearly sheen. 50c. 
Queen of Spain. Beautiful, distinct and grace¬ 
ful. Canary yellow. Fine for pots or rock gar¬ 
dens like all Triandrus. 35c ea. 
Thalia. Two or three pure white daffodils, 
two inches or more across, on one stem. Ex¬ 
quisite. Especially flne in a pot. 35c ea. 
CYCLAMINEUS HYBRIDS 
February Gold. Pure golden yellow dwarf 
daffodil. The trumpet is fringed orange. Very 
nearly. Exquisite for pots or shady rock gardens. 
35c each. 
Culture note. The Triandrus and Cyclamineus 
types need plenty of moisture and at least part 
shade. 
POETICUS DAFFODILS 
The Poets Narcissus are distinct in form, 
having white petals and a red cup. They bloom 
late. Their beauty intrigued the poets from 
Vergil to Tennyson. 
Horace. Conspicuous red eye, free flowering, 
strong stemmed. 10c each. $1.00 doz. 
Juliet. Pure white, fine cup margined scarlet. 
15c each. $1.50 doz. 
Recurvus. The “Pheasant’s Eye" Narcissus. 
This is the Poeticus celebrated by Vergil and 
best loved of all Narcissi. Very hardy. 10c each. 
65c doz. 
POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS 
The “cluster flowered.” Hardy only in mild 
climates but unequalled for pots in the house. 
Highly perfumed. May be grown in bowls of 
fiber or held up by pebbles. 
Chinese Lily. White with yellow eye. Blooms 
December to January. 10c each. 85c doz. 
Grand Monarque. White with primrose eye. 
10c ea. 85c doz. 
Paper White. Pure white, earliest. 10c ea. 
75c doz. 
Soliel d’Or. Petals pure golden yellow, cup 
brilliant orange. Makes a brilliant effect in the 
garden here in January. Equally flne in the 
house and goes right on blooming even at 
20° F. 10c ea. Good blooming size, 85c doz. 
Large, $1.00 doz. 
POETAZ HYBRIDS 
Hybrids between the Polyanthus and Poet’s 
Narcissus. Hardy and flne. 
Aspasia. Pure white, yellow cup. Beet in 
this color. 10c each. 90c doz. 
Abundance. Creamy yellow, with deep orange 
cup. 10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
Orange Cup. Pale yellow, with deep orange 
cup. 10c ea. $1.00 doz. 
JONQUILS 
They look like small Trumpet Daffodils, with 
about three flowers on a stem. Exquisite. Very 
hardy and rapid multipliers. Fine for potting. 
A most alluring and distinctive fragrance. 
Campernelle regulosus. Improved pure yel¬ 
low. 10c ea. 85c doz. 
Campernelle giganteus. Much larger. The 
finest yellow Jonquil. 15c ea. $1.25 doz. 
Campernelle Orange Queen. Very striking. 
Intense golden orange with fluted cup. True 
Jonquil fragrance. Gayest of all Daffodils. 25c 
ea. Five for $1.00. 
Golden Scepter. A new Jonquil-Daffodil hy¬ 
brid. Flowers 3 inches across. Late. Deep 
Jonquil yellow. 20c. 
NARCISSUS BARGAIN 
A mixture of Grand Monarque, Paper White. 
Daffodils, Poets, etc. Thirty for $1.00. 
TULIPS 
Our Tulips are Oregon grown. They “Beat 
the Dutch." Oregon tulips mature two weeks 
before the imported bulbs. They are sounder 
because of shorter shipping distance, better, and 
an American product produced by American 
labor. 
These are all large bulbs, 1 in. in diameter 
and up. This size is best for bedding as the 
bulbs do not break up the first year Into small 
bulbs as the “top size" does. We have had them 
bloom every year for five years without digging. 
Culture. September, October and November 
are the best months for planting tulips. Bulbs 
planted in December do well usually. We have 
planted as late as March and over half 
bloomed. Too late planting gives shorter stems 
and smaller flowers. 
Don’t forget that tulips we growing under 
ground all winter, therefore in California you 
must water them if rains are late. 
Plant 4 in. deep (or deeper in cold climates) 
and 4 In. apart in good rich sandy loam prefer¬ 
ably but any type of soil well enriched with old 
rotted manure will give excellent results. 
Tulip Special. Forty large tulip bulbs for 
$1.00. 100 for $2.25; 500 for $10.50, 1,000 
for $20.00. These are mixed colors, named vari¬ 
eties of long stemmed, large flowering types— 
Darwins, Cottage and Breeders. These types do 
best in California. Preferable everywhere. 
They are similar in type and often called merely 
Darwin Tulips. They are self colors and flower 
at different times. No selection of colors may be 
made by purchaser. Accidental mixtures, lost 
labels and surplus ar6 thus sold at one-half the 
usual price. We do not have tulips in separate 
colors or varieties. They cost about double our 
price. 
Do not be misled by offers of “100 Tulip bulbs 
for $1.00. Every one guaranteed to bloom." 
These are small bulbs usually about *4 in. 
diameter. Ours are large, 1 in. or over. 
THE FREE TULIPS 
Last year we had a few tulips left over. Since 
it was later than the right planting season we 
advertised to give them away. The offer expired 
in March. We still get requests for the “free 
tulips." I regret many were disappointed but 
the bulbs could not be kept unplanted later than 
the date given as a limit to the offer. 
To those who received them, we want to re¬ 
mind you the bulbs were out of season and could 
not be expected to give best results. 
HYACINTHS 
To Mohammed is attributed this remark: If I 
had but one loaf of bread I would sell half of it 
and buy a Hyacinth to feed my soul. The gar¬ 
den, out doors or in a window is incomplete 
without Hyacinths. 
Culture. In the garden plant about 4 or 5 
in. deep in rich sandy loam soil. Keep them 
growing as long as possible after blooming to 
insure a good bulb and increase for next year. 
They do flne in pots set near surface of soil or in 
hyacinth glasses with only water. Place pots 
or glasses in cool dark place until considerable 
top growth is made or flower stem will be short. 
L’lnnocence. Pure white. 
Gertrude. Favorite deep pink. 
Grand Maitre. Porcelain blue. The hardiest 
and best grower for outdoor culture in Califor¬ 
nia, probably elsewhere. 
La Victoire. Red. 
Marconi. Deep rose. 
Myosotis. Light blue. 
Paul Kruger. Deep, dark blue. 
Prices of all, 15c. Per doz. $1.50. 
Special. Mixture of above, our selection, 25 
for $2.50. 
FREESIAS 
They are perhaps the most deliciously frag¬ 
rant flower grown. Their perfume is not as 
heavy as that of the Chinese Lily or Tuberose 
and never offends anyone. Their beauty Is dis¬ 
tinctive and, thanks to the breeders, this flower 
once white with a yellow center may now be 
had in a great variety of colors. The flowers 
are popular for cutting and lend themselves to 
all decorative uses as a cut flower and for grow¬ 
ing in the house and garden. 
They are not hardy outdoors in very cold cli¬ 
mates but are the cheapest source of flowering 
bulbs for potting. 
Culture. In California and the south plant 
any time in the fall up to the holidays, but be¬ 
fore Nov. 1 is best. Sandy loam containing 
plenty of decayed humus is the best soil. Plant 
2 in. deep and 2 in. apart. Best way is three 
rows in one furrow and about 18 buibs to the 
foot. They like to be close. They are so pretty 
it’s no wonder they are affectionate. 
In pots, plant 6 bulbs to a 5 in. pot. In a 
box or pan, 2 in. apart each way. Unlike most 
bulbs they do not have to be kept cool and dark 
at first. Set them in a window and they are up 
in a few days. They bloom in 12 weeks. Try 
them. For a few pennies you may have dollars’ 
worth of perfume and beauty. Plant a pot every 
two weeks. 
Purity superflora. The improved Purity, best 
early white, 25c doz. $1.75 per 100. 
Dorothy Scheepcrs. A lovely pink and one of 
the most popular colored freesias. 40c doz. 
$2.75 per 100. 
