loam. If underdrainage is not perfect, place a handful of coarse sand under each bulb 
and another around them. The soil should be mildly acid. There is only one species 
that will endure alkali and we do not list it. A great deal of humus, as leaf mould or 
peat, should be mixed with soil. Lilies must have their feet cool and their head warm. 
Therefore planted among low shrubs or plants where tops are in the sun is ideal. They 
do very well in the half shade of trees or a lath house. 
Lilium Maxwill. Cross between Willmottiae and Maximowiczii. It has the lovely 
flowers of Willmottiae, orange yellow with recurving petals and black dots scattered 
over them. The Maximowiczii bequeathed tall stems, many flowers and hardy thrifty 
growth. It is a sturdy lily that will do extremely well with ordinary garden culture. 
Sizes at 50c, 75c and $1.00 ea. 
L. pardalinum. California native and very easy to grow. Many deep orange flowers, 
shading to red at tips. Prefers partial shade, moist but well .drained soil. Plant 4” or 
5” deep. Blooms June, July. Hardy. 25c ea. Largest bulbs 35c. $2.50 and $3.50 
per doz. 
L. pardalinum giganteum. Sunset Lily. A hybrid of pardalinum and a glorified 
replica of it. Bright red with brown dots. Large bulbs 45c ea. $4.50 per doz. 
L. regale. White with cream throat and tinted pink on back of petals. A favorite, 
easily grown garden lily. Sizes at 20c, 30c and 35c ea. The larger bulbs give more 
flowers in greater proportion to cost. 
L. regale, improved. Larger and whiter flowers. We have only a few bulbs at 
75c ea. Seeds are easy to grow. Bloom in 2 years. Plant in garden, slightly shaded, 
1” deep, constant moisture but not soggy. Per packet, 50c. 
L. Shuksan. New hybrid. Yellow background with maroon spots. A very striking 
and beautiful lily, 3 to 5 ft. high. Plant 8” deep and give good culture, reasonably 
abundant moisture. $1.25 ea., no quantity discount. 
Roman Hyacinths are scarcer than Dutch Hyacinths now. Plant 3” or 4” deep in 
garden. Full sun or slight shade. Easy in pots but Dutch Hyacinths are preferred. 
Assorted colors, 25c ea. Pink, 30c ea. 
Dutch Hyacinths 
It has been years since we could list Dutch Hyacinths. Early last spring a gaunt, 
emaciated man, Nic Vander Bruggen, recently arrived from Holland, called on me with 
an eloquent talk about the Dutch Hyacinths. He was a Dutch salesman of course. 
Being curious, I commented on his thinness in contrast to his fat brother, a Montebello 
florist whom I know well. He explained, “For a long time in Holland, we had only 
Tulip bulbs and Spinach to eat. I lost weight, down to 95 lbs. I now weigh 125 Ibs.” 
When I saw him last, several months later, he weighed 160 lbs. It seems that the 
Dutch ate their more common and cheaper sorts of Tulips. They are nourishing and 
have a pleasing taste. Therefore Tulips are still rather high priced. But Hyacinths are 
inedible. They could not eat them and they are therefore very moderately priced. 
These Dutch supersalesmen are linguists, well educated and eloquent. After 
placing my order for a few thousand I requested him to write out his own talk to me 
and to describe his own culture methods. He mailed this back to me from Holland. 
I wish I had space available to print all of it for your enjoyment. But I can only give 
a brief resumé. 
Said Mr. Vander Bruggen: “Mr. Houdyshel, I have selected for you six varieties 
showing the entire range of colors and in the most satisfying varieties.” 
Hyacinths for centuries have been the favorites of flower lovers everywhere. Their 
exquisite beauty, rare fragrance and easy, simple culture explain this fact. They bring 
happiness and beauty to the castle and to the humblest cottage. They are loved by 
queens as well as by chamber-maids. 
Culture. Hyacinths are winter hardy but in cold climates, a good mulch of leaves 
or straw is advisable. Plant 3” or 4” deep with conditions similar to Roman Hyacinths. 
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