A PERSONAL LETTER — TO YOU 
Dear Floral Friends, 
Again the plants listed and the culture directions have taken nearly all 
our catalog space. I had a 3 page letter written to you but there is less than 
one page available, apparently. 
In my Jan. letter, I suggested that we have “Fun in 50.” I am still 
promoting the same idea as there are 4 more months in 50. And why not 
“More fun, in 51’? Garden fun, of course. | 
I am happy to tell you that we were fortunate in being able to find some 
hard-to-get Lilies to add to our listings; a very rare Amaryllis and an equally 
rare Haemanthus, a Clivia and Anthuriums. We have divided some fine 
Cattleya orchids and offer them at a new very low price. We have many more 
varieties of Saintpaulias and 6 new Gloxinias that are probably not offered 
by any other American catalog. I was lucky to find in Holland 10 var. Tulips 
in the best Darwin, Ideal Darwin and Triumph types, in the largest size, 
12 cm., that I can list at much below recent prices. If you find any listed at 
a lower price I am sure they must be assorted var. and smaller in size. One 
centimeter difference in size makes considerable difference in price and 
results. We give you the size of our tulips. Anything above 10 cm. might be 
called “large.” 
Many gardeners are interested in growing seed. It is better to grow your 
own seed and we offer many bulbs and plants that are rare and of which 
you will be unable to purchase seed. It is interesting to cross varieties to 
produce hybrids. 
In this catalog I tell you about many that produce easily grown Seed. 
Sometimes culture information is given along, but most of the culture 
information could be given in a few words by saying, ‘‘Culture, the same as 
for radish seed.” There is nothing mysterious about growing bulbs from seed 
or about plant breeding even tho the results may be very wonderful. 
Many amateur growers have cressed Iris, Gladiolus, Daylilies, etc. and © 
have had excellent success. Many of our horticultural types were produced by 
amateur growers. 
Two years ago, I crossed two Marica species and raised 12 plants. One 
of them multiplies more rapidly, has larger, better and twice as many 
flowers: I can list it in 1952. None for sale now. 
Please note our advice to subscribe for Popular Gardening under ‘Sources 
of more information” on pg. 5. Please mention us when you subscribe. If you 
subscribe and tell us that you gave us the credit, we will include with any 
B00 ey before Jan. 1, one bulb of Houdyshel’s Hybrid Scilla peruviana, 
value ‘oc. 
Are you interested in colored slides of our bulbs and plants, with a written 
lecture? Mrs. Houdyshel has several sets. Tell her what you are interested in 
and she will send you her terms. 
Sincerely, 
Cecil Houdyshel 
TERMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING 
Many customers order without reading the following instructions. This 
is a grave error that may delay your order or cause you to make errors. 
Study these instructions carefully and comply with all. 
The prices in this catalog cancel all former quotations. 
California customers must add 3% Sales Tax. 
Remit by check or M.O. If stamps are sent, send $1.05 for $1.00. We do 
not carry accounts. Remit the full amount of your order in advance. 
C.O.D. We do not ship bulbs C.O.D. 
Postage prepaid on orders of $1.00 or over. Under $1.00, add 15c extra. 
Many ignore this. No small orders will be filled unless you comply. 
Insurance and Special Handling. Please note changes in rates. Insurance 
up to $5.00 value costs 5c. $5.00 to $10.00 costs 10c. $10.00 to $25.00 costs 15c. 
Over $25.00 costs in proportion to $25.00 rate. Special Handling gives your 
package the same handling as First Class mail and hastens delivery. More 
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