Culture is very easy. It prefers a sandy soil to which pea t or leaf 
has been added. In pots the drainage should be perfect. mount 
Specially priced, for the cost of two hyacinths . It’s worth ten. 50c ea. $ 6 . 00 . 
coz. Extra large bulbs, 75c and $1.00 ea. 
THE ALLIEAE 
The onion tribe has until very recently been placed under Lilaceae. In this 
tribe beling Allium, Brodiaea, Miha, Bessera, Lf"-~ocoryne etc. But recent botan¬ 
ical writers submit good reasons for including them under Amaryllidaceae, altho 
the ovary is superior. The tendency also is to revise the idea of close relation¬ 
ship between Day Lilies and Lilies and to give them to the Amaryllidaceae, 
Like an animal, every plant recapitulates the evolutionary changes thru 
which it has passed, in its own life history. In the effort to group plants ac¬ 
cording to their relationships it would seem to be necessary to begin the com¬ 
parative study with the single cell from which every individual plant develops. 
The characters of a plant are inherited from its two parents. The material 
which ultimately leads to vast differences in form must all be present in the 
cxigmal tell which has resulted from the fusion of the cells of pollen and ovules. 
To discover this material which so powerfully affects development may re¬ 
quire a better microscope than can ever be made. But at least plant relation¬ 
ships are partly the concern of the cytologist and geneticist. We must not be 
guided wholly by the final results in adult plants but look for the earliest appeu - 
ance of characteristics that may result from factors contained in the cells, and 
study seeds and young seedlings and! every phase of a plant’s development, in or¬ 
der to discover exact relationships. 
It i s evident that such casual similarity as exists between plants like Lycoris 
radiata and Nerine sarniensis does not make them the same species nor even 
place them in the same genus. Another case is the similarity between the Pan¬ 
cratium and Ismene. Nor are such botanical characters as an inferior or super¬ 
ior ovary or a certain type of umbel a supremo guide except that they are pre- 
ceeded by other distinguishing characters. Some of these characters may 
be forever hidden in the cell. But others may appear and be observable in the 
seed and- its embryo and in the young plant. First leaves often show rela¬ 
tionships. 
It is probable that all this would confirm the placing ot- this group in the 
Amaryllidlaceae. We are leaving it with the Lilaceae in this catalog but here¬ 
after we will probably list it under Amaryllidaceae. 
Culture note. Most, and possibly all of the Allieae require neutral or al¬ 
kaline soils. Therefore use no peat. We lost a good sized crop of Alliums 
that way. 
Allium neapolitanum grandiflorum. Improved form of this well known bulb. 
Large and attractive umibel of white flowers used for cutting. Forces well in 
pots. Fine in southern gardens. 6c ea. 60c doz. 
A. sativum. Burbank’s Elephant Garlic makes huge bulbs that are often solid 
and when it breaks into cloves they are very large and peel easily which is a 
great advantage. Same flavor as small sorts. Ornamental in the herb garden as 
it grows very tall with a large globe of white flowers topping a tall, stiff stem. 
A. senescens. The leaves are narrow, flat and erect. Many deep lilac flow¬ 
ers in a dense globular umbel. 10c. 
Brodiaea. These natives of western America are hardy in the south but not 
guaranteed hardy in the north tho capitata and laxa have been so reported by an 
authority. Culture. They may be grown in pots like freesias. Ideal in the 
rock garden with ferns, columbines, etc., or for naturalizing. Plant 2" deep in 
any soil or situation but they like best a gritty soil and slight shade. Do not 
dig until necessary to thin them. Spring blooming. 
Brodiaea capitata. California Hyacinth. 12" to 18" tall and up to 20 flower 
stems per bulb. Violet blue. Plant early and they will begin to bloom in 6 
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