Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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When the Spanish Conquistadores first entered Peru four centuries ago they found more than Inca gold —for this equatorial highland country abounded in plants new to Europeans, among them the brilli- ant Tithonia (Ty-tho'ni-a) eae explorer Pizarro found the Tith- onia to be Peru's national flower, with many images of it wrought with exquisite workmanship in pure vir- gin gold. It had religious signif- icance due to its resemblance to the sun, and priestesses of the temples wore the flowers on their bosoms. Pizarro seems to have taken the flower to Spain, where all trace of it was lost.

Rediscovered in Mexico in the 18th century, the flower was given its present name, from Tithonius, son of Laomedon the King of Troy. Tithonius was So handsome that Au- rora, Goddess of the Dawn, is Sup- posed to have fallen in love with him and persuaded the gods to make him immortal. Tithonia's ancient history was soon unearthed, and the flower acquired its best-known common name: Golden Flower of the Incas.

This wild Tithonia (Speciosa) came North before the time of Pan- cho Villa, but northern frosts cut it down before it flowered, and its popularity was confined largely to the warm Southwest—much as the famous Heavenly Blue Morning Glory before Clarke's early strain made it one of the world's most popular flowers. By the early thirties some progress had been made toward an early strain of Tithonia, but plant habit was unsatisfactory.

Some late strains had good flower color. Most important, however, was the discovery in Hawaii of plants which had adapted to a strange climate by producing a compact, bushy plant form which unfortunately had very insignif- icant flowers. Here the story of TORCH Tithonia really begins.

All the elements of a prize-win- ning novelty existed: earliness, good flower color and dwarf plant habit, but they were in three dif- ferent packages. The very real ac- complishment of combining these 3 into one distinctly new and supe- rior strain was begun at Bodger Seeds Ltd. breeding grounds in 1939. It took eleven years to pro- duce the novelty which was top winner in All America Selections for 195l1—a Silver Medal Award and flower of the year.

Like the Zinnia, which also came from Mexico, TORCH thrives on hot weather. The hotter it is, the more flame-red cutflowers you can pick for the house. Like the Zinnia, TORCH is so easy to grow you can be a "porch-hammock gardener". Cultural directions are just the same—put out seed or small plants when all frost is past; thin to 1% or 2 feet apart. Plant in full sun and water by deep irrigation (never sprinkle). Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers or overwatering,or the plant will grow taller than its normal four feet. TORCH will bloom in July in warm climates, August elsewhere; and if flowers are kept picked will continue to bloom well into Autumn.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SELL

ORCH

TITHONIA

PUBLICITY RELEASE! DISPLAY MATERIAL! NEWSPAPER MATS! SAMPLE PACKETS! MAILING STUFFERS! FLAT MARKERS!

+ + + HF HF FH

Selling THatertal AVAILABLE WITHOUT COST

To help you make those extra profits on TORCH this Spring, we've prepared a kit of display material which is yours without cost. This kit includes:

Flash!

Better Homes & Gardens,

Gardening and Popular g& Garden y will feature

House

have just advised the 1. One 14” x 20” poster, showing TORCH in full

r January issues 'n

TORCH in thei rece eel color. color! Sunset, Flower Gro pn 2. One 9” x 12” three-dimensional counter display Holland's will feature and rec showing TORCH almost life size, in full color.

nd TORCH editorially and you me

3. Two sets attention-getting flags, one strung. this means:

know what all

y nation-wide All

4. Two T-shaped cards in color, to call attention to TORCH packets in your packet-rack.

5. Three 1-column x 2” mats for use in advertising

a backed uP b They in your own newspaper (illustrated above). They America newspaper CA ae a may be used as complete ads, or with lower line

te the demand; YOU se removed, used as part of a larger ad. The 25c atl u have it! packet price is our suggested minimum. If you

the seed. Be sure thee plan to charge more, this can be removed.

Also enclosed are two 9” x 12” full color cards, two 7” x 22” full color streamers and two T-shaped cards to help you sell more of FIRE CHIEF Petunia, our 1950 Gold Medal All America winner, and one T-card for Darling Morning Glory. If your kit is incomplete, please tell us about it. Additional copies of most of the above available; large quantities at cost.

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é ze. y to growas a Zinnia!

TITHONIAW £ ORCH Ample packet for] 25¢ 1951 ALL-AMERICA TITHONIA

TOP WINNER YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE

ag 7 ORCH

Ample packet for only 25¢

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE

packet 25e

YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE

Selling Waterial AVAILABLE AT COST PRICE

From Bodger Seeds Ltd. Service Department, El Monte, California

—a non-profit trade service:

Electro (illustrated at left) 1194G 8” x 10” black-and-white photographs CR IS a \ RE lee FR een Soe $ 4.00 ea. Color plates TORCH (same pose as illustrated

electro, but larger) 4:3147H (37%%” x RG Ve ee a Oar Se ene $40.00 set For your mailing list: 342” x 8%” envelope stuffers or

circulars. Just the thing to include in the envelope when

oe $ 1.00 ea. 8” x 10” true color photographic prints... $ 6.50 ea.

Color plates TORCH (various poses, not illus-

Sreibe cl pee ees ee tac cel, $35.00 & $40.00 set mailing out statements, club bulletins, etc. Announces

Color plates DARLING Morning Glory (one TORCH and invites customer to Bias your stele to buy flower close-up) $35.00 set; others vari- their seed. Sample on request. Minimum quantity 200: ous prices.) $1.00. 500 for $2.00. 1000 for $3.50.

Choice OF TWO | PACKETS FOR “TORCH” |

Schmidt Lithograph Co., 461 Second St., San Francisco 7, Calif. (packet with sin- gle flower) and Stecher-Traung Litho- graph Corp., 274 W. Goodman St., Rochester 7, N. Y. (two flower packet) have kindly supplied sample packets so we can show you what is available. WE DO NOT SELL THESE PACKETS. PLEASE CONTACT THE MAKERS DI- RECT.

Colorful SEEDLING FLAT

MARKER FOR PLANT SALES

FIURE-CHIIEF } Tattle

ie fe PETUNIA

As _ illustrated above, available from G&M Exchange, 2012 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 25, Calif., for very mod- erate cost. WE DO NOT SELL THESE. PLEASE CONTACT G&M DIRECT.

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