A PERSONAL LETTER — TO YOU 
Dear Floral Friends: 
I planned to write a two-page introductory letter for this catalog since so many have 
expressed their interest in them. But new listings and culture advice vetoed this plan. 
I do wish a lot of “Fun for you, in ’52.” Garden fun. May nothing you plant, from 
us or from anyone disappoint you. 
Please note that where possible we are reducing prices. I regret that books and 
supplies are still climbing and you should lay in a supply for they will go higher. 
We have longer lists of African Violets and Achimenes; Episcias and other Gloxinia 
relatives; new Gladiolus; a short list of Caladiums which we know we can deliver to 
early orders. These cost us much more this year and you must pay a little more. 
May your keynote in °52 be “activity.” Activity is life and health, mentally and 
physically. Inactivity is death. Physical growth is completed long before old age but mental 
growth needs never cease. One can learn at any age. But the inactive muscle or brain 
becomes useless and feeble. Old age does not make one wise. Experience does. Experience 
results from activity. An active life, with good habits, in youth, maturity and old age is_ 
a long life. For happiness, make it also a useful life. 
If we have your confidence, send us your orders and recommend us to your friends. 
Sincerely, 
Cecil Houdyshel 
P.S. We recommend that you buy copies of Flower Grower and Popular Gardening 
at your newsstand. You will then want to subscribe for both. 
TERMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING 
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. 
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. Special Handling 
gives your package the same handling as First Class mail and hastens delivery. More 
safe. Up to 2 lbs. costs 15c. 2. lbs. to 10 lbs. costs 20c for each package. . 
Special Delivery of packages costs you 35c for 2 lbs. or less. 2 to 10 lbs. costs 45c. 
Over 10 lbs. costs 60c. This hastens transportation and delivery of your package as it 
will also be given the same service as Special Handling without an extra fee. Most post- 
offices require that you sign for the package. Thus it is not left outside to freeze. 
Insurance, Special Handling and Special Delivery are for your protection. Please re- 
mit the amount required if you want this protection. 
Express is much the safest transportation. Express cars are heated in winter but mail 
cars are not. Express also handles more carefully and assumes more responsibility for 
delivery in good order. But it costs more and we ship that way only collect. We add 
extra bulbs to approximate cost of postage saved to us. 
Time of delivery. Most bulbs and plants are ready for delivery now, excepting plants 
that become dormant only a short time in the spring. We deliver by parcel post to the 
north as soon as safe. If in a hurry, you should instruct us to send by express, f.o.b. 
This is safe at any time, usually, but if frozen in transit place a claim with your own ~ 
agent and you will recover your loss. Arrange with your agent for prompt delivery to 
avoid storage over night or a long trip in a cold truck. | 
Prices given are usually for one bulb. A dozen costs 10 times the price of one; 6 are 
sold at dozen rate; 100 cost 70 times the cost of one or 7 times the cost of one doz.; 50 
are sold for the price of 4 doz., not at 100 rate, unless otherwise specified. Quantity rates 
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