4- 
are wild bulbs from exceptional localities and I do not believe that (lie 
gardeners’ skill will ever surpass them. 
Some liliaceous bulbs vary greatly in size from year to year. This is 
especially true of Brodiaea Volubilis and B. Coccinea. In favorable years I 
could fill all of my orders with the largest sizes, while perhaps the next 
year I cannot fill mv orders in the sizes demanded, either with wild or 
collected bulbs. 
The extreme variability in the size of average flowering Erythroniums 
is a matter which gives me continual worry and I do not doubt is eq Tally 
embarrassing to my customers. Nearly all of the Western Erythroniums 
are native to woodlands, and under normal conditions produce a rather 
small, slender bulb, which however flowers well. Where Erythroniums 
grow, forest hres are apt to be periodical, and after such a fire the bulbs in 
favored locations become much larger and thicker, and for a year or two 
produce a wonderful bloom. 
No such bulbs can be grown in cultivation, nor can they be found wild 
under other conditions. If fifty times as many bulbs were dug in ordinary 
surroundings the same quality could not be secured. As an instance I will 
cite Erythronium Hendersonii. One of mv annual supplies was 5000 bulbs 
from ordinary cimber land. Of these I used at the most 1500 in filling 
orders, yet in these 1500 there was not a single bulb as large as the 
smallest from 1000 bulbs dug elsewhere and doubtless in burned over 
ground. It is a pleasure to me to be able to send my eustomeis these 
superb giant bulbs, but it is somewhat of a hardship if they take them as 
the standard forjudging future consignments 
Some species improve wonderfully in my gardens and as far as possible 
I keep growing supplies of them. Very often my stocks anticipate future 
needs, and I each year send out the best. They are of course selected bulbs 
grown under unusually favorable conditions. A sudden increase in the 
demand, or a loss in my garden, might compel me to supply onlv ordinary 
garden grown or selected collected bulbs of them. 
THE DATE OF DELIVERY. Most Erythroniums ripen and are dug- 
in May and early June. The Globe and Star Tulips begin ripening in the 
middle of May and are dug as they ripen. Mariposa Tulips ripen from 
June 15th to August 1st. Camassias in June, Fritillarias in May, Lilies in 
August and September. I endeavor to have all of the species which ripen 
before July 15th ready for shipment about July 20th. Those which ripen 
later are shipped as they come in unless the customer desires that they 
should be held for some given date. Erythroniums are ready by July 20th, 
but there is some danger in midsummer shipments, and unless otherwise 
ordered I will ship September 1st. 
