4 
size and the second year the bloom is glorious. No such bulbs can be 
grown in cultivation, nor can they be found wild under other condi¬ 
tions. If fifty times as many bulbs were dug in ordinary conditions, 
ihey would not give as many large ones. For instance, I had an annual 
supply of 5000 E. Hendersonii, of which I used not over 1500 in my 
trade. In these 1500 there was not a single bulb as large as the average 
of a 1000'lot secured doubtless from burned-over ground. It is a pleas¬ 
ure to send out these giant bulbs, but ‘it is somewhat of a hardship if, 
as has several times occurred, they are accepted as a standard of ordi¬ 
nary size. 
Some species improve wonderfully in my gardens, and 1 am accu¬ 
mulating stoc! s of them as fast as possible. When my stocl s are large, 
I each year send out the best, and they are extremely fine. If in later 
years an increased demand diminishes the supply, I can only give or¬ 
dinary fine bulbs, and here again I have found that the immense bulbs 
first sent out are accepted as standards of size. 
DATE OF DELIVERY. Most Erythroniums ripen in May and early 
dune, but it is not always possible to collect all that early. I have had 
some heavy losses in shipping Erythroniums in midsummer, and would 
advise that they be shipped about September 1st. The Globe and Star 
Tulips begin ripening in the middle of May. Mariposa Tulips ripen 
from June 15th on. Many of them are not ripe until mid July, and a 
few in August. 
Camassias are ready in June, Fritillarias in May and Lillies in 
August and September. 
I endeavor to ship all species which are ripe by July 15th about 
July 20th to July 31st. Those which ripen later are shipped as they 
come in. Erythroniums, September 1st, Lilies ‘in early October, unless 
urgently needed earlier. They carry much better then. 
