SPECIALLY GROWN CALI LORN IA BULBS 
11 
Culture of Calochorti 
IN CALIFORNIA 
Let the bed be slightly raised, 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. The most satis¬ 
factory results are obtained with a soil that is light and porous, not made too rich with fer¬ 
tilizers, and providing thorough drainage. These requirements can be secured very easily in 
almost any garden, and the results justify all efforts expended in securing proper conditions. 
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 Jan¬ 
uary 1. 
Depth to Plant. Two to 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 late 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 during 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 advantage 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 50 to 75 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 other 
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 of wire 
screening underground. This can be 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; 
xo inches is deep enough. Such a box can have a bottom of wire mesh or roofing tin. 
Pot Culture. See paragraph at bottom of page. 
IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES 
Calochorti will endure the coldest weather in the eastern LTnited 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 three o’clock 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, I have 
succeeded delightfully with the Venustus varieties, the Globe Tulips and Gunnisoni. 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 splendidly 
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 ijf 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. 
From Chicago a letter details results with Calochorti in the open ground without pro¬ 
tection, and very fine flowers were grown. 
“The expressman tells me that you send many things to Berkeley, to three others I 
believe the same day that mine arrived, and I do not wonder at it, if all have had the same 
pleasure that I have had with the things that you have sent. I planted my Calochortus in a 
box, but without manure, November 5. The Globe Tulips flowered freely in May. I he 
blossoms of Vesta were especially large, and were much admired for their beautitul coloring. 
I have never seen such specimens growing in the mountains.” 
