FUN IN ’50 
Dear Floral Friends, 
The 40’s are past and I am glad to see them go. Not that I welcome the 
passing milestones any more but the bloody ’40’s brot war and its many after- 
maths of struggles and disappointments. They brot much hunger, loss of 
homes and lives and the displacement of many large groups. But we must 
credit the 40’s with a large accomplishment — victory. Time never returns. 
The 40’s are behind us, the 50’s before us. Let us have fun in ’50 and a lot 
of hope. If we do take the fun that life offers, we are more likely to realize 
our hopes for the future. ee 
Fun for some can only mean frolicsome gaiety. In the right proportion 
this is the privilege of youth and even the old folks have their square dancing. 
For a flower lover, it’s fun to grow flowers. Reading catalogs, planning, pre- 
paring, planting, achieving success are all parts of a thrilling adventure. They 
are all fun. 
Fun is fun — damental, a necessity of the human mind because, like sleep, 
it “knits up the ravelled sleeve of care.” If growing flowers is your favorite 
hobby, you have the best because it offers fun and relaxation and cultivates 
aesthetic and spiritual values. If you are a salesman, you will sell more goods 
and advance and earn more money. It is of equal value to lawyers, doctors, 
merchants, mechanics or laborers. 
A doctor once ordered some bulbs from us saying he wanted something 
to look at besides sick people. A wise idea. 
If my argument is correct, then when you buy flowering bulbs or plants 
you are not merely indulging in a luxury. You are making an investment that 
will return a profit. 
Here is something that I hope may give you some fun. If you love flowers 
and plants you have no doubt been reading about them. Test your fund of 
information by answering the following questions. They are intentionally 
difficult so if you can answer only one or two you have done very well and 
you Should make research in our catalog for answers to the rest of them. 
What is frangipani? 
What part of Monstera deliosa is edible? 
Give name of an early distributor and promoter of apples. 
Who was Louie Gim Gong? 
What famous columnist stated that pansies were orchids? 
What plant name is spelled both correctly and incorrectly on the 
same page in Webster’s Unabridged? (Look up the names here 
used. Look in word list and top of page.) , 5 
7. Are Saintpaulias related in any way to violets? 
This edition of our catalog offers some information here and there on 
plant breeding, directions for crossing and for growing seedlings. Breeding 
plants, started as a hobby, has often led to fame just as it did for Louie Gim 
Gong, a Florida Chinese, who produced new varieties of citrus fruits. 
This summer we must revise our mailing list and we may remove 10,000 
names. We must remove the names of those who have not sent an order for 
$1.00 or more in ’49 or from this catalog. We do admit that business is down. 
We must cut down expenses and 10,000 catalogs, twice a year cost us over 
$1000.00 to send out. If our catalogs help you or if you enjoy them, you should 
give us your orders. It is the only way to stay on our mailing list. If you do 
not get our fall cataloz you will know why. If you are no longer interested 
in our catalogs, do please return this copy to your postmaster and ask him 
to send it back, marked refused. 
I did want to write you a 5 page letter. There are so many things I 
wanted to write about. But the printer will not allow it. 
Wishing you a prosperous, happy year and a lot of fun and flowers. 
Sincerely, 
CECIL HOUDYSHEL 
P.S. I have just acquired a few Gloxinia “Waterloo,” bright scarlet, frilled 
edge, price 65c ea., 12 for $6.00. 
Sete ee bie 
