Arum italicum. Ivory flower. Foliage veined white, ornamental. Hardy in 
north. 15c and 25c ea. $1.50 and $2.50 doz. Seed, 10c packet. 
Dracunculus vulgaris. Gorgeous tropical foliage with large black-purple 
flowers with bad odor when first opened. Hardy in north if planted 8” to 12” 
deep and mulched. 35c and 65c ea. $3.00 and $6.00 per doz. 
Sauromatum venosum, Odd tropical foliage, and the most unusual flower, 
with a spathe 16” long, 1” wide, yellow with purple-black spots. Spathe lies 
on the ground hence the common name, Lizard Lily. Dry bulbs will bloom out 
of ground. Disagreeable odor. Need shade, plenty water. Large plants suggest 
tropical jungle. Hardy. S. 25c. Largest blooming size, $1.50 ea. 
RANUNCULUS AND ANEMONES. RANUNCULACEAE 
These have recently become among our most popular flowers. Their vivid 
colors, cheapness and the easy culture well fit them for a top rank in amatuer 
gardens. 
Ranunculus range in color from red, pink, white to yellow. There is no 
blue. If well grown and from a good strain the flowers are very double, in a 
variety of shapes. 
Anemones are red, pink white and blue in a variety of tones, but no yellow. 
They should be grown with Ranunculus to make a complete color range. There 
are two types. The De Caen have huge poppy-like single flowers. These are our 
favorites. The St. Brigid have double flowers and many prefer them. 
Culture of Anemones and Ranunculus is very easy if one conforms to their 
requirements. The soil should be rich. Sandy loam is a little better than very 
heavy soil. The plants need constant moisture, and drying out or baking of the 
soil only once will result in less perfect flowers, and may be fatal. A good 
mulch helps to save the moisture. The beds should be well drained and never 
sogey. 
Plant 1” or 2” deep and 4” to 6” apart depending on size. Some advise to 
soak the bulbs but it is usually overdone. Do not soak over 1 hr. When 
weather is dry and warm a slight cover of brush helps and also keeps birds 
away. A shade of cloth or lath is good. They like cool conditions and the 
greatest threat is a heat wave shortly after planting. Heat and moisture com- 
bined rot the bulbs. It is best to delay planting until weather is cool but if hot 
weather follows, put up shade. One can gain a couple of weeks on the chances 
of hot weather by sprouting the bulbs before planting. Fold the bulbs in a wet 
burlap sack and lay in the cool shade of a tree. Plant before sprouts are 
over 1”. 
Our bulbs are good ones, the best available. We consider the quality of 
the flowers produced first rather than the ‘‘good looks” of the bulbs. We test 
them every year and they must show good germination and thrifty growth 
under proper conditions. 
Our customers report the highest satisfaction with our bulbs. Only rarely 
does one, who thru inexperience or adverse weather conditions report a failure. 
One of these this year told us she was going to tell all her friends that our 
bulbs were ‘‘no good,” that we are unreliable, etc., if we did not replace her 
bulbs or refund the money. 
But we have had hundreds like the following report: 
Dear Mr. Houdyshel. Early in the spring I ordered 100 of your Ranunculus 
bulbs of the small size. I took a large bouquet of assorted colors to our Flower 
show and received a ribbon and many compliments on the beautiful colors and 
the size of the blossoms. They were the most beautiful colors I have ever 
purchased at any price. 
Aug. 5, 1941. MRS. HENDERSON (Calif.). 
The size usually planted in the garden is No. 3. This size produces flowers 
as good, as large and with as long stems as larger bulbs and are much more 
economical. Larger sizes produce more flowers per bulb but at a greater cost in 
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