Californian "Bulbs , Grolvn by Carl Purdy 
7 
BRODIAEAS—SECTION III 
Flowers in Heads. Californian Hyacinths 
The stems are a foot or two in height, bearing a close head of true violet-colored 
flowers. Very graceful. Especially fitted for naturalizing either on rough ground or in 
clay. For this purpose, small bulbs, 75 cts. per 100, $5 per 1,000; large bulbs, 3 cts. each, 
25 cts. per doz. 
SECTION IV. The Floral Firecracker 
This wonderfully striking plant is well named. The flowers hang in umbellate 
clusters, for all the world like fire-crackers in shape, and of a vivid crimson, tipped pea- 
green for a fuse. Among ferns, for rockwork, or in the shaded corner, they are very 
effective, and they do well in shaded places on rocks. They grow in clays, gritty soils, 
and best of all where there is leaf mold and sharp drainage. Small bulbs to naturalize, 
a part will flower the first year, $1 per 100, $7.50 per 1,000; large bulbs, 5 cts. each, 50 
cts. per doz. 
SECTION V. Twining Brodiaeas 
Still another striking plant, in which the flowering stems will twine around any 
support. The buds slowly develop until a cluster of pretty pink flowers tip the twining 
stem. Large bulbs, 5 cts. each, 50 cts. per doz. 
BLOOMERIAS 
Almost like Brodiajas, and with golden yellow, many-flowered umbels. B. aurea 
is a fine plant. 4 cts. each, 30 cts. per doz. 
CALOCHORTI 
These are lovely bulbous plants which are best described under the separate groups. 
Culture in California 
Let the bed be slightly raised, and with the drainage perfect. A raise of 3 inches 
with a slight slope will assure this. 
Soil. No fresh manure must be used, but any loam will do, although sandy loam 
best meets the needs of the greater number of species. Still, clay loam, gritty soil, or 
even adobe, if lightened with sand, grit, spent tanbark or leaf-mold will give good results. 
If only a few dozen are grown, it is really better to plant them in a flat box, when 
10 inches of soil is ample. 
Time to Plant. Plant as soon after October 1 as possible, and not later than 
January 1. 
Depth to Plant. Two to 2I inches is ample. 
Distance Apart. They will thrive 2 inches apart each way. 
Water. During our winter and early spring, the rains are sufficient, but if the 
spring is dry, keep the ground barely moist after April 1, and water liberally when the 
buds show for bloom. 
Care of Bulbs after Flowering. If the bed can be left dry all summer, do not 
dig the bulbs and they will come up again in the fall. They should not be watered dur¬ 
ing the summer, and if the bed is where watering is done it is better to dig the bulbs and 
store them without packing material in paper bags, in any dry, cool place. One advan¬ 
tage of planting in a box is that the box can be put in a dry place and the bulbs left 
undisturbed. A box 2x3 feet will hold fifty or seventy-five bulbs. 
Gophers. These troublesome rodents are very fond of Calochortus bulbs as well 
as of Tulips. If they cannot be poisoned or trapped, they can be kept out in several ways. 
I have found that an underground fence made of 2-inch planks set 2 feet deep with an 
inch above the surface will keep them out. Another method is to make a fence under 
ground of wire screening. This can lie had 2 or 3 feet wide. Still another good way is 
to make a large sunken box, with only the top of the side boards showing above the 
ground. Ten inches is deep enough. Such ^ box can have a bottom of wire mesh or 
roofing tin. 
