LLOYD AUSTIN’S 
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Welcome 
Te the Geld Discovery Centennial 
This year Caifornia celebrates the most momentous event in 
its history, an event which had far-reaching effects on the history 
of the nation—Marshall’s discovery of gold in the tail race at 
Sutter’s Mill at Coloma on January 24, 1848. News of the dis- 
covery spread throughout the world, and this started the greatest 
mass migration mankind has ever known. The race to California 
was on, by covered wagon and ‘round the Horn. The first year 
$2,000,000 in gold dust passed through the custom house, and 
that was just the beginning. 
PLACERVILLE, 
Our personal interest in this epochal event stems from the 
fact that our Iris nursery is located but a few miles from that famous 
spot at Coloma. We hope that those of our customers who live 
within driving range will visit this historic region to enjoy the many 
special events scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the 
occasion. Details for various phases of the celebration may be ob- 
tained from the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce at Placer- 
Visit Our Iris Displays 
We especially invite you to come at Iris Time, during April and 
May, when our gardens will be aglow with tens of thousands of 
blooms of over 500 Iris varieties. The peak of bloom will probably 
be in late April or early May, but much depends upon the weather. 
If you are considering visiting our gardens this spring, write us 
at once, and we will be pleased to advise you personally regarding 
our prediction of the date of the peak bloom. Or telephone Placer- 
ville 1188R2. 
Our gardens are on a hilltop among the evergreens, not far 
from the Lincoln Highway, U.S. 50, the road to Lake Tahoe. After 
passing the Highway Patrol Office (California Department of Motor 
Vehicles) on the eastern outskirts of Placerville, watch closely for 
our sign on the left, on Carson Road. Follow our signs to the gar- 
dens, about three miles. Bring your Iris-loving friends, and let 
them, too, enjoy our unfolding pageant of beauty. We'll be looking 
for you. 
Attention, Stamp Collectors! 
This occasion is of such importance that the U. S. Post Office 
has recently issued a commemorative CALIFORNIA GOLD CEN- 
TENNIAL postage stamp showing Sutter’s Mill at Coloma where 
gold was discovered. During 1948 all orders will be acknowledged 
in an envelope bearing one of these CENTENNIAL stamps, direct 
from the gold country. In addition, as a special service to stamp 
collectors and their friends, we make this offer: In acknowledging 
orders of $25 or more we will, en request, and while our supply 
lasts, enclose a first day cover, that is, an envelope bearing a 
CENTENNIAL STAMP postmarked at COLOMA on the day of issue, 
January 24, 1948. No more of these than are now in existence will 
ever become available. So act promptly if you want one. The Post 
Office reports that this stamp is in greater demand than any other 
that has ever been issued. 
Special Low Centennial Prices 
While most prices have skyrocketed during the past year, we 
have lowered ours for the Centennial on 100 varieties. Many have 
been cut 25% or more. This is but one of several ways in which 
we try to make it inevitable that, with every order, you get ‘’More 
than your money’s worth”’. 
The Latest 
erveations in EVETY 
color of the rainbour 
CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. 
Centennial Premiums 
In keeping with the significance of the occasion, and in ap- 
preciation of past orders, we are this year making some very un- 
usual offers that will enable you to acquire, without charge, some 
of our finest new Iris varieties. With all orders of $10.00 or more 
we send this year THREE SURPRISE GIFTS, and in addition 
CENTENNIAL PREMIUMS according to the following schedule: 
Value of 
Amount of Free 
Your Order* Premium Varieties Premium 
$10 to $14.99 BERKELEY GOLD $ 2.50 
$15 to $24.99 SIERRA PRIMROSE or BROWN TURBAN 5.00 
$25 to $34.99 MOTHER LODE or SOUTH SEAS 10.00 
$35 to $49.99 Any 2 of the above varieties 20.00 
$50 to $99.99 Any 3 of the above varieties 25.00 
$100 and over All 5 of the above varieties 32.50 
* When two people send in thew separate orders, each of $10 or 
more, IN ONE ENVELOPE, both parties get premiums based on the 
SUM of the two orders—an easy way to obtain more valuable premiums. 
We enclose two order blanks. More available on request. 
All of the above Premium Varieties, except BERKELEY GOLD, 
are recently introduced originations of Prof. E. O. Essig. We are 
making these sensational offers so that we may quickly get these 
grand new Essig varieties tested in many new regions where they 
have not as yet been grown. We hope that you will be kind enough 
to report to us after a couple of years on how they respond under 
your conditions. These varieties are too new to have been fully 
tested in very cold regions and if you live in such a place, we sug- 
gest that you mulch these valuable rhizomes for winter protection, 
as explained in our cultural directions accompanying shipments. 
We have allotted liberal portions of our stocks of these Premium 
Varieties for carrying out this offer. But should these prove inade- 
quate, we will send as Premiums for the later orders other fine 
varieties of equal or greater value. 
Send your order now. If you add to it later, you may count it 
all as one order in determining the Premium Variety due you. 
25 Centennial Sauuenin Varieties 
The following are highly appropriate varieties to add to your 
garden in 1948 as souvenirs of the CENTENNIAL, or to include 
this year in Gift Orders for your friends. For the celebration, these 
varieties, regardless of price, are supplied with our permanent green 
labels (see page 5). 
Historic Name 
Varieties 
The western wilderness that even- 
tually became California passed 
through three important epochs be- 
fore the new state finally emerged. 
We list Iris having names symbolic 
of each epoch. 
Geld Discovery 
Coloma, Gold Hill, Gold Rush, 
Marshall’s Gold, Mother Lode, 
Sutter’s Gold. 
Spanish Epoch 
Casa Morena, Gay Senorita, 
Mission Madonna, Santa Rosa. 
Judian Epoch 
Aztec Copper, Chippewa, 
Yuma. 
Other Souvenir 
Vanrielies 
_ They say, ‘’Gold is where you find 
it’. We find it chiefly in the glorious 
golden Iris of today. There are also 
fine varieties 
and the Sierras where gold was dis- 
covered. 
Inia of Gold 
Berkeley Gold, Dawn of Gold, 
Desert Gold, Golden Fleece, 
Song of Gold, Spun Gold. 
The C alijornia Vanrielies 
California Blue, California 
Gold, California Peach. 
The Sierra Uarieties 
Sierra Blue, Sierra Primrose, 
Sierra Snow. 


Opportunity knocks, like this, but once—IN A HUNDRED YEARS 3 
typifying California - 
