Bromeliads 
By Victoria Padilla 
When Columbus and his men came to 
America, they discovered not only a continent, 
but also a plant, the fruit of which was to de- 
light for ever more the palates of all who 
tasted it. This was the pineapple, which be- 
fore 1493 was unknown to the civilized world. 
The pineapple is just one member of the 
Bromeliaceae Family, a group of tropical 
plants to be found (with just one small except- 
ion) only in the warmer parts of the Ameri- 
cas. They may be found growing on rocks, 
living on trees along side of orchids, or de- 
riving their sustenance from mother earth. 
Some varieties live but a few yards from the 
ocean, enjoying the salten spray of the waves; 
others thrive in the humid heat of the jungles; 
some prefer to cling to the windy sides of high 
mountains; while others, such as the Spanish 
Moss, enjoy nothing so well as living on tele- 
phone wires. 
Bromeliads are utterly fascinating plants, in 
that their habit of growth and coloration of 
leaves and flowers are unique in the plant 
world. Easy to grow, it is indeed surprising 
that they are not better known in this country. 
Anyone who can grow begonias or lilies from 
seed can raise bromeliads, although the easiest 
means of propagation is by offshoot. Brom- 
eliads, particularly the epiphytic types are 
well adapted to indoor culture, and their bi- 
zaare appearance fits in well with modern de- 
coration. 
For the past century, Bromelieds have been 
favorites of growers on the Continent. The 
plants are not raised in just a few numbers in 
a few greenhouses as in this country, but are 
grown by the thousands in Belgium, France, 
Germany and Switzerland. One grower in 
Switzerland raised over 35,000 plants of the 
highly prized variety, Aechmea faciata. The 
exquisitely lovely pink and blue flowers of 
this plant last for months and are favorites 
of the cutflower market abroad. Yet, in 
America, probably not one gardener in a 
hundred has seen or heard of this beautiful 
plant. 
We Americans complain that there are no 
new frontiers left to explore. For the plant 
lover, however, those frontiers are still endless, 
particularly in the realm of the sub-tropicals. 
The Bromeliads, in its many forms, from the 
minute Spanish moss to the giant agave-like 
puya, offers an intriguing study to anyone 
interested in the unusual. There are over 
1,600 species belonging to this family, and the 
plant lover who is looking for something new 
has some delightful surprises in store for him. 
The writer had the pleasure recently to help 
organize The Bromeliad Society, an internat- 
ional organization devoted to the study, cult- 
ure, and conservation of this great family of 
plants. That interest in the Bromeliad is 
growing is evident in the large number of 
letters that have been received from all parts 
of the world, requesting information about 
these plants. 
STARTING GLADIOLUS BULBLETS 
Place the bulblets in a burlap bag or sacx 
and submerge in water until thoroughly soak- 
ed, half to one hour, then remove from the 
yater and after draining for 15 minutes, put 
the sack containing the bulbleis in a box of 
damp peat, saw dust or milled spaghnum, 
cover and leave till growth starts, when they 
should be planted into the field. 
PLANT ASTERS FOR CUTTING 
AQUILEGIA (Columbine) Continued from page 7. 
LOSI ecg UN TN ees perme ee eet e eee ges renee ens a saa sesnsssacooansdaassstdeacseusoseensectsund vsocesctoucesesssazesn AQUI-12J 25¢ 
—Silver Queen. Abeautiful white strain; HP uo. sssssscessseceesees ... AQUI-12S 25¢ 
glandulosa. True alpine, powder blue and white fils; RG; 8’; HP... .. AQUI-24 25¢ 
—longissima. Lovely pale yellow fis; very long spuzs; 3 ft HP... AQUI-32. 25¢ 
Hensol Harebell. A vivid deep violet blue;112ft; HP... ... AQUI-26 25¢ 
PY Len aICA ME WiatmCeEDMMOIU GST IG! APELE © t.cccoxaccausasna¥scs istvinsani ssacdeuniaesessosdabeesteneverteests AQUI-38 25¢ 
Skinneri. Crimson red with greenish yellow sepals; spurs pale red HP... AQUI-42 25¢ 
Torkington’s Double....Pretty double fls; will show few singles;2!12 ft HP ..AQUI-46 25¢ 
WU Gavismenect came Cel WilSS ieriimercceier ner terahasesassvoccesscdesxcatesinasnsncstteancsancecvaandaantnedeaenconsnr’ AQUI-48E 20¢ 
Species Blend. Made up of the species above; no long spurred sorts ........ AQUI-X 20¢ 
ARABIS (AR-ah-bis) 
Rock Cress. Annuals, biennials, perennials with several fine RG species all easily 
grown; mostly low, fis in theminal spikes or racemes,blooming in early spring. 
—alpina grandiflora. A large pure white strajn; 9”; Pe A aahia a heaste tact netics ARAB-2G. 15¢ 
—mMmana compacta. A very dwarf free flowering white strain; HP... .ARAB-2C 20¢ 
—rosea. Very pretty bright rose strain; silver-gray fol; 6’;HP..... . ARAB-2Z 20¢ 
Breweri. Rare dwarf shrubby sp, RG, fis deep red; 6”; Cal; HP. .. ARAB-9 25¢ 
pumila, Snow Cap., Profuse, white flowers; trailer, RG; 6”; HP........ .. ARAB-35S 20¢ 
purpurascens. Dense cushions of neat rosettes: deep rose; HP............... ARAB-35 25¢ 
Schneehaube. A pretty white strain; very early; HP ou... ecssseeceessreees ARAB-39 20¢ 
Saier’s Arabis Blend. Hand made blend of many species and varities...ARAB-X 20¢ 
ARBUTUS AHR-beuw-tis) 
Grown outdoors in warm sections or under glass in the N; grown from seeds; best in 
in well drained soil. They are evergreen trees cr shrubs with attractive flowers. 
Unedo. Strawberry Tree. Drooping clusters white or pink 30ft; HHP ....ARBU-4 20¢ 
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (ark-toh-STAF-ee-los) 
Bearberry, Manzantia. Evergreen shrubs and small trees mostly native of Calif. 
culture same as for Arbutus; not hardy in the North. 
fomentosas iW DiLeGmmOrmmpInkish  fowers;) U5 tC) UEP) eiccccteccccescesccccesscacecsess ARTO-22 20¢ 
bicolor. slow eLs maoseme naive POLe Calat., (Gifts | FUELE) J rscsvscsestcavetosctcuersececcevncrore ARTO-2 20¢ 
ARCTOTIS (ahrk-TOH-tis) 
S. African annuals with attractive daisy-like flower heads valuable for cut flowers; 
easily grown in fair soil and full sun; start seed indoors for early flowers or they may 
be planted in the open in May. Flowers can be cut in the bud and will open quickly 
if placed in the sun. They are half hardy in the North. 
acaulis. Stemless; yellow ray purplish beneath, 8’, HHA wee ARCT-1 20¢ 
staechadifolia. African Daisy. Pure white with blue disk, easy; 12” HHA ....ARCT-8 10¢ 
—Large Flowered Hybrids....Shades in yellow, orange, bronze, red ...ARCT-8H 15¢ 
Arctotis Blend. All varieties and 
ARDISIA  (ahr-DIZ-i-ah) 
A large genus of tropical ornamental evergreens for the greenhouse. They maka 
nice pot plants; seed germinates readily. 
—macrocarpa. Tender sh. red fis in cymes 
ARENARIA §(ar-e-NAY-ri-ah) 
Sandwort. Low growing annuals and perennials usually in low mats; RG.....They 
are excellent for carpet bedding; do best in sand soil. 
laricifoliagsplarcemwinitem fom exbram iG. (8275 FURS cccccscrcsssndssevscaacocss satnevecce aomeeenere AREN-23 20¢ 
lithphila. Extra good white fis, April-May; lft; HP... .. AREN-27 20¢ 
montana. Charming sp; pure white, free bloomer, trailer; .. AREN-29 25¢ 
PATEL AT Tame Ps Orel emer eN mma el ELC Sy ge LUNES C CL, tates acacnceccean Cuatcecerner. sxases aa couse coattateavessssnasetamasion AREN-X 15¢ 
ARGEMONE = (ahr-je-MOH-ne) 
Prickly Poppy. Grown as annuals in the flower garden, thriving in any good soil 
in a sunny place. Large poppy-like fis; 2-4 ft tall; the plants make fine hedges; April. 
grandiflora alba. White fis, foliage marbled white, 3ft; HHA... ARGE-2 15¢ 
EIS PIU ea as ee eee eee acs ns sats sae tant an asec dace saan saeeesn saeszobeaees tant sateveednseame sony inc. deasidat csaareneaee ARGE-4H. 20¢ 
Pplatyceras rosea. Blooms for months, bluish rose-crimson;4ft; HHA... AHGE-4 25¢ 
AAT GSMION Cie Bem Clete ep ireear eatin sgn cette vccecauscarcichvesetustsovasenntesssngueccecauscasecssceuseuepeteceaas ARGE-X 15¢ 
ARISTEA (ah-RIS-te-ah) 
S. African plants tender in the North but grown in the open in Calif. Leaves are 
in basal rosettes fls blue in spikes. Grown in the GH in the North. 
Ecklonil-asoli chime Olem HS sor ACKOSS:, lft! (ein. MAtaccnsteeactere. cleeettratecrrertces: ARIT-3 25¢ 
aL V DO EICS Meme LVLLX CCE WA TICLL OS ors cigar an cancatceacusestcsaporvaneins cuss auaksaustssaasussNakonscntp dutta maneican sepa ARIT-X. 15¢ 
ARISTOLOCHIA (ar-is-toh-LOH-ki-ah) 
Dutchpipe Vine Mostly perennial climbers with odd shaped leaves. Some are 
grown in the GH. Easily grown from seed. 
elegans. Purple-brown fis,. white markings GH climber, hardy S of D.C ARST-5 25¢ 
ARMERIA (ahr-MEER-ee-ah) Thrift, Sea-pink 
Statice, Thrift, Sea-pink. Dwarf perennials making excellent border and RG plants 
best in a sunny position and well drained. The genus has been reclassified of late. 
—juniperjfolia. Hardy RG alpine; 2’ tall; white to deep pink, HP............ ARME-10. 25¢ 
PATINA VLUELC ARV OMEGE EDL ECTOSES MC LECE LEY iin recooccessncvctecssccstevsesote cuchvachetesvenstsrevece ARME-14 15¢ 
—alpina. White fis 1 across; 8” tall; HP .. ARME-14A  15¢ 
tormosa vhybrids. Large fis in many colors; 115 £0 FP coco. ccccccstccscssccoceees ARME-6H 15¢ 
Welwitschii v. stenophylla. Tufted sh pink flower heads lit; HHP.....ARME-22 25¢ 
ARNICA (AR-ni-ka) 
Perennial plants with clustered basal lvs. and bright yellow As on long spikes. £f- 
E—CordMoliamenlara ys Neads Layer fiSs eeloris  EUP ic, 22.5 ccettenticen, cortaceteassectevs teste etents ARNI-6. 20¢ 
fective in colonies in the wild garden growing rapidly in acid soil. 
montana. Mountain Tobacco. Large heads yellow ray fis; 2ft; HP... ARNI-11 15¢ 
ARTEMISIA  (ahr-tee-MIZ-e-ah) 
Wormwocd. Hardy aromatic plants. The fl is :n heads and composed entirely of 
tubular disk fis. Grown mainly for their aromatic ana medicinal properties; thrive in 
poor soils. Flower in late summer and make nice plants in the back border. 
Se CL 4S NCA aM rete ocr Stee enina ces cents enaeee teeeazeas este eranastouneuvace tantecessccvreenementecnaersceecane tetancsancsegeerte se ARTE-15. 25¢ 
sacrorum v. viridis. Summer Fire. Erect;yellowish fis; 3-5 ft; .ARTE-40V 20¢ 
vulgaris, Erect yellowish fl heads;free; fragrant; 3% ft, HP... cca ARTE-50 2C¢ 
ARTHROPODIUM = (ahr-throh-POH-di-um) 
Tufted perennials of Lily Family grown in GH in N; lvs grass-iike, fis in clusters. 
cirrhaium. 3ft stems carrying hundreds small white fis; cuts (5-6) HHP ARTH-2 25¢ 
SpeciesvHHA. .,.; See eet asco en ARCT-X 10¢ 
Soba ct eo noch ad Pest cocencocreconcaern se recucco crn cock ARDS-4. 30¢ 
Seed list continued on page ten. 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
