24 
Californian "Bulbs, Grolvn by Carl Purdy 
CALIFORNIAN ORCHIDS, continued 
Californicum. A large-leaved bog plant, with rather small yellow flowers. Needs much 
peat and water. 25 cts. each, $2 per doz.. 
Epipactes gigantea. This is a most charming plant, like a small, brown Lady-Slipper. 
It is one Orchid that is easy to grow. It forms large masses when undisturbed in 
loose, damp soil. 15 cts. each. 
AMERICAN COWSLIPS (Dodecatheons) 
These dainty plants are among the most charming wild flowers of California. 
With our fall rains they begin to grow, and the first mild days in the early spring bring 
their sweet blossoms. They ripen early with us, and in the summer the spider-like 
roots become so dry that they break at the touch, but a little moisture quickly starts 
them into life again. All are beautiful, and California gives a charming variety in color 
and habit. There is a bog-growing form in the high mountains (Jeffreyii) which I do 
not handle. 
Either as pot plants for forcing, or in the garden, they are easily grown and pleasing. 
Any ordinary garden soil will do, although they thrive best in a sheltered (not necessarily 
shaded) situation, in loose, well-drained soil, in which there is a mixture of rotted leaves. 
Clevelandii. One of the best. Tall-growing, with fine flowers, pure white, or delicately 
suffused with pink. I cannot supply the pure white variety separately. 4 cts. each, 
40 cts. per doz. 
Hendersonii. The best red species. 3 cts. each, 25 cts. per doz. 
Patulum. Yellow. 3 cts. each, 23 cts. per doz. 
WILD-FLOWER SEEDS 
Our state is peculiarly rich in beautiful wild annual flowers and it has also many 
fine perennials. Many of these have for a long time been in cultivation and are found in 
all seed catalogs. Some have been so changed by cultivation that they are not as well 
adapted to wild sowing here as the wild sorts. This is a selected list of some sorts that 
I have myself grown and found especially good. It will be much enlarged next fall. 
Almost any grounds have some unused corner which can be beautified by sowing a 
packet or two of such things. 
TIME TO SOW WILD FLOWER SEEDS 
In California, the best time to sow is in early fall, either before or just after the first 
rains. They can, however, be sown much later and, if watered, good results can be had 
with spring sowing. I sow in February and do not water. 
MANNER OF SOWING 
Mix the seeds with quite a bulk of dry dirt that they may be scattered widely and 
evenly. If in beds, of course do not distribute widely. If sowed before or just after the 
rains, no raking in is necessary, although it would do no harm. If sown after the grass 
and other vegetation has become dense and heavy, it would be necessary to work the 
surface and kill the grass, then lightly rake the seed in. If planted late, it is well to lay 
some light brush over the beds until the seeds are up. 
BEST PLACE TO SOW 
In many places the annual grasses form a dense mat after they start and less vigor¬ 
ous things could not hold their own. In such cases it is necessary to hoe the surface 
after all seeds have started and reseed every year. If the ground chosen is rather tough 
and poor, many of the annuals are quite able to resow themselves and hold their own. 
The ground below newly built roads or paths is especially fitted for many of them. 
This is especially true of Eschscholtzias and Godetias. 
Prices, in retail pkts. at 10 cts. each, $1 per doz. For naturalizing, quantities 
much cheaper 
Following is a list of some of my leading varieties: Coreopsis tinctoria, Gilia tricolor 
and G. liniflora. Godetias in four superb wild variations. Layia elegans, Limnanthes 
Douglasii, Nemophila maculata and N. insignis, Eschscholtzia Californica and Golden 
West and E. tenuifolia, the best of the wild forms. Cream Cups, or Platystemon, Pentste- 
mon heterophylla. CEnotheras, white, yellow and the orange-colored Californian Poppy, 
or Papaver Californicuny resembling the Shirley Poppy. 
These and many other fine things. 
The McFarland. Publicity Service, Harrisburg, Pa. 
