A PERSONAL LETTER, — TO YOU 
Dear Floral Friends: 
Many of you have written me interesting letters which, altho much appreciated 
and enjoyed, I was unable to answer. There have been many who expected an answer 
but when the information asked for was in the catalog, I sent the catalog. Only a 
super-man could answer all our letters and I am definitely not super. 
But I can write you in this way and this letter is to you, personally. I thank you 
for the fine orders you sent me and the many nice letters written. Sorry that I have 
such a short space available this fall in which to answer you. 
If we could sit down together and had the time to talk, (it seems I never have 
time for anything except work) we would naturally talk first about Peace. On the date 
of writing this, Peace seems sure. When we celebrate, let us hope that we express our 
joy more by prayer and thanksgiving than by violence and noise. Let us give thought to 
those heroes who have given their lives or have suffered the injuries of battle and thus 
received handicaps to their entire future lives. 
Let us hope and pray that it may not all have been in vain. But all humanity 
emerges from this war with an ugly scar and a grave handicap. We hate our enemies. 
Many will say, “Why should we not hate the Japs and the Germans?” 
I have but a brief answer to that, will you not please read again the words of all 
the wise men of old. The wisest of all was Jesus. Read again Corinthians, Chapter 13. 
All that He said at any time regarding Hatred and Love. 
My own conclusion is that if humanity is not bound together by the love of all 
our fellow men, force will not permanently maintain peace. 
There are many influences that will aid in building better human relationships; 
family relationships; neighborhood relationships; the relationships of states, nations, 
races and classes. They are Religion, Education, Sobriety, Morality, Health, Science, 
Art and Security. 
It is easy to find the place among these agencies where the love of flowers belongs. 
In fact, it is a-supplement to every one of them. We need flowers every day of our 
lives. Flowers are not an extravagance. They are a necessity. 
I must tell you again of a great grief that has come to me. My beloved daughter 
Eleanor died May 13.— She was the mother of Virginia Lee and Gordon Wayne, for 
whom I named the Crinums. Eleanor was a lover of all beautiful things and talented 
in creating beauty. 
Sincerely, 
Cecil Houdyshel 

TERMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING 
Read the following carefully. It will avoid delay or misunderstanding. 
Sales Tax. California customers must add 2% % for state sales tax. 
Order Early. Late planting is less favorable but better than not at all. 
Remit with order by check or M. O. Currency or coins are acceptable but we are 
not responsible if lost. Stamps reluctantly accepted at 8% discount. Please do not ask 
for credit. 
C. O. D. We do not ship C. O. D. 
Postage prepaid on orders of $1.00 or over. Under $1.00 add 10c extra. 
Insurance. Customers are urged to insure every order. Under war conditions, 
many orders are lost. We have had orders go astray in a distance of 30 miles. We have 
never lost one insured package. Costs little. Send 3c extra for values to $5.00; 10c for 
values $5.00 to $25.00. Insure your order and it will receive more careful attention. 
Express is much safer and is advised for large or valuable shipments especially in 
very cold weather in north. But it is usually a little more expensive and we ship by 
express only at your expense. We will add extra bulbs on express shipments. 
i 
