A PERSONAL LETTER, TO YOU 
Dear Floral Friends, 
This catalog is arriving about one week late. Writing it required more than the 
usual length of time as we wished to make a rather full revision of culture advice, as well 
as prices and to add a number of new items. 
Re prices I am happy to say that we are able to hold the line on all items we grow 
and even to reduce many prices. Mr. Holland, our field manager, is a most efficient man 
and deserves much credit for this. 
But on Books and Supplies we are unable to prevent them from following the 
general upward tendency. On books, and catalogs the rising cost of paper and of labor 
indicates that these prices will not level off for some time. We advise that a one year’s 
supply of books and garden supplies should be ordered early. Particularly advise that if 
you want Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture for yourself or as a Christmas present, you 
should get it soon. The price will surely be higher on the next printing. These books are 
perhaps the greatest work in horticultural literature. 
The cost of printing catalogs is up considerably and the cost of mailing is up 50%. 
We have reluctantly been compelled to revise our mailing list more carefully and to take 
off names that do not have credit for annual purchases. We have found it advisable also 
to cease sending first catalogs free and have placed a 10c charge on all. We try to make 
them interesting and useful and 10c does not pay the cost of printing, postage and 
clerical expense. 
Among the new items listed and the special offers please note the special offer of 
Lycoris. There is one there that I believe has never before been listed in American catalogs. 
We expect to receive our bulbs from Japan this month or not later than early September. 
We are informed also that a few bulbs of a new or at least undetermined species will be 
included. It will be known as Lycoris, sp. nova and can be ordered for $3.00, additional 
to collection prices. 
Fancy Leaf Geraniums are attracting much attention and we are able to offer 
several kinds. Geraniums are old favorite house plants and easy to grow. We are again 
able to offer Iris reticulata and are reducing the prices of the easiest of all Orchids, 
Bletilla hyacintha, a terrestrial for the outside garden. Our list of African Violets has been 
greatly enlarged, I believe we have all the latest ones. More leaves are listed. The culture 
advice has been brought up to date tho you do need Mrs. Rector’s and Mrs. Wilson’s 
books. This is not all that 1 should mention. Please read the entire catalog. 
Mrs. Houdyshel requests that I call attention to her Kodachrome slides. She 
rents these, accompanied by a descriptive lecture, for $10.00. She is frequently invited to 
lecture to clubs and has been very easy regarding fees. But the expenses and the risks of 
traffic compel us to place a minimum fee of from $10.00 to $25.00, depending on distance. 
Do you love dogs? Nearly every one does including ourselves. We have raised two 
litters from our excellent Cocker female, Cinderella, bred to a blonde sire, Gold Chip, 
famous Canadian and American Champion. In the ancestry of these litters there are 27 
champions. Recently we sold one to a N. Y. customer and she was offered and refused 
$300 for him. He is worth it. But we must not undertake this again. We pay the top 
stud fee and raise them scientifically. We have lost money on both litters. We still have 
a male and female from last litter, now 7 mo. old. They have had all puppy and adult 
shots. All are registered. The progeny of both will be about one half black and one half 
red or blonde. The best offer will buy them. We prefer to sell to someone who can call 
and see them and carry them away. 
Following this letter is a picture. I have never before included my own picture in a 
catalog. I have been against it. But have sometimes been requested to do so and also have 
been asked personal questions. Confucius said, “A picture says more than 1000 words.” 
Here is my answer, but it would not be included here except for my pride in my grand- 
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