8 
Californian "Bulbs, Grolvn by Carl Purdy 
Culture of Calochorti in the Eastern United States 
Calochorti will endure the coldest weather in the eastern United States, but suffer 
from premature thawing followed by freezing. 
(1) In Open Ground. Miss U., living along the Hudson river, has been successful 
every year with many varieties. She writes: 
‘‘I have again had splendid success with my Californian bulbs, and have flowered 
every one. I have planted the first of November in rather sandy soil. The bed is well 
drained and in quite a sheltered spot. It gets the full sun until about 3 in the afternoon. 
Before the ground freezes hard, I have given it 3 or 4 inches of dried leaves. These 
have been removed in the spring when all danger of heavy frost is over. 
“I have found it a good plan to have a few leaves around the shoots for a while 
and to keep some extra leaves at hand at night when the frost threatens. In this way, 
have succeeded delightfully with the Venustus varieties, the Globe Tulips and Gunnis- 
sonii. My bed of Erythroniums was a perfect success. The Globe Tulips always give 
a good account of themselves.” 
( 2 ) In Coldframes. With any ordinary care, all Calochorti can be grown splen¬ 
didly in coldframes. They should be treated exactly as for open beds, except the soil 
will be better with some leaf-mold. Do not coddle, but simply protect from freezing 
and thawing. After ripening, keep the sashes on all summer so that they will stay dry. 
I have glowing reports from customers who have grown them this way. 
(3) In Pots. While they cannot be forced much, they can be grown in pots fairly 
well as follows: Use a sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Plant i| to 2 inches 
apart, which will give six to twelve to a 6-inch pot. Moisten the soil and put the pot 
in a dark place, a cellar preferred, for about six weeks, to let them root. Then bring 
into a warm, sunny place and water moderately. After flowering, let them ripen well 
and then dry off and leave perfectly dry until fall. 
The Globe and Star Tulips will do fairly well under this treatment and fair success 
may be had with the Venustus forms. Of other Californian bulbs, Erythroniums, and 
Brodiaeas, of the first section, can also be grown nicely in pots, giving the Brodiaeas 
full sun and the Erythroniums a cool, shady place in window. 
Culture in England 
Is the same as in California, excepting that the bed should slope more in order to 
shed the heavy rains and have more drainage material. Cover in the fall with reeds 
to shed the rain and remove the reeds in late February. Splendid results are had by 
English growers. The main points are a light, porous soil, sunny position, protection 
from heavy winter rains, plenty of water when in full growth, and thorough ripening 
of the bulbs in August, either by taking them up or placing grass over them. 
SECTION I. Globe Tulips 
The beautiful photograph describes Calockortus albus better than any words can. 
The others are similar in form, while differing in color. All are exquisite in tints, and 
the perfection of grace in form. They are natives of woodlands, delighting in loose soils, 
and liking leaf-mold and light shades. At the same time, most of them will do well in 
heavy soils, and are fine subjects to naturalize on rocks or shaded woods. 
Albus, Fairy Lantern. White. 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per doz., $2 per 100; medium-sized 
bulbs for naturalization, $1.50 per 100, $10 per 1,000. 
Albus, The Pearl. A still finer flower. 4 cts. each, 40 cts. per doz. 
Amcenus. Soft rose-pink. 5 cts. each, 50 cts. per doz. 
Amabilis. Rich yellow. 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per doz., $2 per 100; smaller-flowering 
bulbs, $1.50 per 100, $10 per 1,000. 
Pulchellus. Most exquisite in lemon color. 10 cts. each, $1 per doz. 
Globe Tulips in Mixture. 25 cts. per doz., $1.50 per 100. 
SECTION II. Star Tulips. Cats’ Ears 
Slender woodland plants well shown in photograph. Fine for naturalization in 
rockwork and woodland. 
Benthamii (bright yellow), Lilacinus (lilac), Maweanus major (white), Maweanus 
roseus (rosy). These four at 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per doz. 
Purdyii. Taller; white flowers. 5 cts. each, 50 cts. per doz. 
Mixture of Star Tulips, at 20 cts. per doz., $1.50 per 100. 
