Burbank's bulb catalogue and "how to judge novelties"

Historic, Archive Document

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

iurbank's Bulb Catalogue

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Burbank’s
Experiment
Farms
L- - ,

Luther Burbank j

Santa Rosa, California, U. S'. A. '

Field View of Burbank’s Hi/brid Watsonias at the Sebastopol Fc

The Burbank Gladiolus

And Other New Bulbous and Similar Ornamental Plants

Terms: All but the heaviest bulbs mentioned in this catalogue will
be delivered at your door, prepaid, by mail or express, but my respon-
sibility for safe arrival ceases on delivery to the proper forwarding
agents. Cash must accompany all orders on these terms.

LUTHER BURBANK, Santa Rosa, Cal., U. S. A.

Catalogues to Follow

“Royal” Walnut Catalogue and Price List.

Partial list of my best new Plums, etc.

Plant Catalogue, describing some new Burbank creations of unusual
merit.

Seed Catalogue offering some rare seeds never before offered.

Descriptive Price List of some New Cactus bearing most delicious
fruits, also greatly improved Forage varieties.

BUBBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

How to Judge Novelties

Forty years ago, when I commenced extensive work on the
Gladioli, the hest of them then known grew tall, ungraceful stalks
which were too easily blown over even by a light wind; the flowers were
small, only a few blooming on the same plant at once, and these so thin
of petal that most of them were withered before a day had passed.
What a revolution today! From Nature’s Horn of Plenty, new ones
have been developed which in variety, beauty, and magnificence of
form, color, and shading of color are unequaled by any other flower.
My own first efforts were to make the stalks shorter and stronger
and to induce the small scattering flowers to produce petals of such
substance that they would resist sun, wind, rain, and heat for many
days, and to make the colors more brilliant and the individual flowers
more graceful in outline and of greatly increased size. How well this
work has been done, the older growers and dealers are well aware,
and I now take great pleasure in offering some of fhese wonderful
Gladiolus in large or small lots at the most attractive prices ever made,
even for the older and more ordinary kinds.

This work on the Gladioli has been carried on extensively through
these many years, while at the same time some six thousand other
similar enterprises were also under my own personal supervision and
care. Even when 1 look now upon the wonderful results of numerous
other experiments, the work on this unusually pliable plant is among
the most pleasing, even with the fact before me that the whole Pacific
Coast fruit industry is being revolutionized, as is more or less the
case for the whole world in certain lines by the new fruits which have
originated on my own grounds by my own efforts. From official sources
I learn that 85 per cent of all Plums shipped overland from California
and west by sea are those produced and introduced by my own efforts
in this line — a record unparalleled on Earth before. These Plums and
Prunes, as a whole, though selling on an average 15 to 18 per cent
higher than others, also produce at least 60 per cent more fruit, and
of larger size, more easily handled, and of better keeping quality.
It is thus readily seen how those who are abreast of the times in plant-
ing Burbank fruits live in fine houses and have automobiles and satis-
factory bank balances. But Gladiolus, Plums, and Prunes are only a
sample of the good things produced on my grounds, though these are
also grown extensively in every part of the Earth where these fruits
and flowers are cultivated.

My perpetual Giant Crimson Rhubarb is also very extensively
exported from this State. It has made several “Rhubarb Kings” in
California and South Africa. My Pineapple, Van Deman and Burbank
Quinces are wholly making over and upbuilding that growing industry.
All these new varieties are so greatly superior to all others in beauty.

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

3

quality, and productiveness that they stand wholly alone as a new kind
of fruit. Much the same may be said of my new Cherries, Berries,
Peaches, Walnuts, Chestnuts, Daisies, Roses, Carinas, Dahlias, Wat-
sonias, Tigridias, Lippias, Verbenas, and Corns, Peas, and Tomatoes,
the last three being very extensively grown for the great canning firms
of America. And what of the Burbank Potato, more than five hundred
million bushels of which have been grown during the last forty-three
years?

These few facts have been outlined that gou mag know, if you do
not already, that fifty years of honest, earnest thought and work in the
creation of new plants on the most extensive scale ever attempted,
either by public or private enterprise, on this Earth, in this most
intricate and complicated of the arts and sciences, has earned the con-
fidence and esteem of all intelligent people, as is proved by my more
than 96,000 satisfied customers.

Then, how to judge novelties — LOOK TO THEIR SOURCE, and pur-
chase direct of the originator.

UrHBASK'S BULB CATALOGUE

Offer Extraordinary

Burbank Gladiolus

One hundred thousand absolutely new varieties of every form and
color ever produced from this wonderfully variable plant, including
scarlet, crimson, yellow, blue, purple, lavender, orange, salmon, and
pink, wdtb infinitely varied combinations of all the rainbow colors.
Such a mass of brilliant colors can not be produced at many times the
cost of these in any other flower. Last season people came in multi-
tudes to look over the fence in admiration of these very ones here
offered. Not an old one in the whole lot. All Burbank productions.
Bulbs, each, 40c; ten, $3; one hundred, $20; one thousand, $150.

First Offer of Gladioli Seeds

This season 1 have saved seeds from over one hundred thousand
varieties. This seed is producing and will produce new prize varieties
of every size, shape, and color. If you wish to take advantage of more
than a third of a century of w^ork with the Gladiolus, plant some
of this seed and produce new^ varieties, some of which may be far supe-
rior to those now known.

Plant early in the Spring, rather thickly, one-half inch deep, in any
good, rich, moist, mellow soil. The seed germinates as surely as corn
or beans, and will bring forth most interesting and astonishing results.
Nearly all will bloom the second season if well grown, some the first.
Packet of one hundred seeds, 25c; one thousand seeds, $2; ten thou-
sand seeds, $10; one hundred thousand seeds, $75.

New Gladiolus

“Pinnacle”

Seedling of that always popular florists’ variety, Ameriea, which for
its beauty, vigor, and adaptability to all soils and climates has won
itself into favor everywhere.

Pinnacle resembles America, especially in its robust vigor and free-
dom of growth. Height, three and one-half feet. Five or six flowers
are open on the stalk at the same time — white, deeply tinged, striped,
and feathered crimson. Thrives, blooms, and multiplies abundantly
on all soils. Bulbs, each, 60c; ten, $4.

New Gladiolus

“Fire”

Height, three feet; flowers five inches across; fiery salmon scarlet,
crimson feathering; lower petals tinged straw color with white stripes
and gold and crimson dots. Strong, vigorous, healthy plants. Price,
each, $1; ten, $5.

BURBANK'S BULB CATALOGUE

5

New Gladiolus

“Scarlet”

Height, two and one-half feet; vigorous, healthy, and a good multi-
plier. Clear scarlet except that lower petals are feathered deep crimson
and bordered white. Bulbs, each, 75c; ten, $5.

New Gladiolus

“Penstemon”

Enormously prolific; height, three and one-half feet. Very large
bright red flowers; lower petals feathered light yellow and splashed
crimson. Bulbs, each, 60c; ten, $5.

New Gladiolus

“Acanthus”

Height, three feet; pure pale crimson and slightly tinged orange;
flowers four inches across; very abundant bloomer and free multiplier.
Bulbs, each, 60c; ten, $5.

New Gladiolus

“Abutilon”

Very dwarf; height, two feet; almost pure red. Fine for bedding
and masses. Bulbs, each, 40c; ten, $3.

New Gladiolus

“Elora”

Height, three and one-half feet; great bloomer, even from the smallest
bulbs; slender blue green foliage; long, full truss; flowers produced in
greatest abundance, four and a half to five inches across; WHITE
suffused with pale violet; yellow throat with dainty crimson feather-
ings; very striking. Multiplies with great rapidity. No other Gladiolus
compares with it in health and vigor. It is destined to be the fore-
runner of a new race. Bulbs, each, $3; large bulblets, each, 35c; ten, $3.

Gladiolus bulbs can be planted at any time of year, when most con-
venient to the planter, in all climates where the ground does not freeze
over three inches in depth; in colder climates, all Spring and Summer;
and, if planted in succession, will yield a wealth of blooms which no
other flower can surpass in abundance, beauty, variety, or ease of
culture.

6

BURBANK'S BULB CATALOGUE

Plant six inches deep and two to six inches apart each way in beds,
or two to six inches apart in rows, which may be one to four feet apart.

If I should be sold out of any variety here offered, will replace it with
a better one, of which I have not enough bulbs to offer this season.

Watsonia (Bugle Lily)

A genus of sixteen species of bulbous plants, all from the Cape of
Good Hope, except one from Madagascar. The flowers of the original
species have scarlet, rose, and white flowers only and bloom from July
to September. They are very much like Gladioli, having the same
foliage and a similar conn. The main differences between Watsonias
and Gladioli are that the Watsonias have regular flowers, while the
upper and lower petals of Gladioli differ in fonn and size. Great
interest was aroused some years ago when the “White Watsonia”
(W. Andernei) was introduced. This was found by Mr. H. W. Anderne,
a banker, some eighty miles from Capetown, in a bog amongst thou-
sands of the dull rose pink variety. This grows three to four feet high,
bearing a dozen or more pure white blooms to each stalk. The purity
of its color makes it especially valuable for floral work. Treat Wat-
sonias exactly like Gladiolus, though the bulbs are slightly more sensi-
tive to drying too much. Can be planted at any season if dormant.
From July to November are the best months to move them.

Watsonias — The Old at the Left, the New at the Bight

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

1

New Watsonia

“Royal White”

No Watsonia before seen can compare with “Royal White” in its
astounding productiveness of large, purest white flowers borne on
double and triple trusses. “Royal White” most resembles a tall branch-
ing white Gladiolus, but will produce nearly or quite ten times as many
blossoms to each bulb, and of a crystal, glistening whiteness never seen
in Gladioli. Tbe coming florists’ flower, “Royal White” produces all
large bulbs (no small ones), multiplies rapidly, and in all respects is
the best Watsonia ever produced. Height, four to five feet. Rulbs,
each, $2; ten, $15.

New Watsonia

“Snow Storm”

A perfect storm of snowiest white, graceful, open, saucer-shaped
flowers, nearly three inches across. Short, broad foliage; height, four to
seven feet. Rulbs, each, $1; ten, $9.

New Watsonia

“Salmonia”

Fiery salmon flowers, compacf truss, short dark-green foliage. Very
large, long, tubular flowers. Rulbs, each, $1; ten, $9.

New Watsonia

“Combustion”

Very dwarf plant, with short, slender foliage. Stems three feet in
height, with flowers of intense fiery scarlet salmon color. Commences
to bloom earlier than others. A beautiful foreground for tbe taller
varieties. Bulbs, each, 90c; ten, $8.

Watsonias

Neiv Hybrid Seedlings, mixed. Rulbs, ten, 75c; one hundred, $5.

The New Burbank Hybrid Hemerocallis

The seven species of Hemerocallis, or “Reautiful-by-day” lilies, are
all well known as among the most beautiful of all hardy perennial
plants. Very little has been done with them by crossing and selection
until quite recently. Among the thousands of cross-bred seedlings raised
during the past ten years at Santa Rosa, the “Burbank” stands out easily
as by far the best ever produced, either by Nature or by the aid of man.

BUHBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

A New Hybrid Hemerocallis

The “Burbank”

The “Lemon Lily,” though bearing a small flower, has been con-
sidered one of the best until recently the “Grandiflora Aurantiaca
Major” was introduced. And now comes a new one, the “Burbank,”
which in combination of size, great beauty of form and color of tbe
flowers, and tbeir amazing abundance and perpetual production, bas
never been equaled — a wholly new form. Height, twelve to eighteen
inches. Every little plant blooms abundantly from the first; the flowers
open wide and flat, not irregular and tubular like all those heretofore
known; flowers five to six inches across; purest sparkling pale-lemon
yellow throughout. Increases rapidly. Each, $2; three, $5.

A New Hybrid Hemerocallis

“Calypso”

The flowers of “Calypso” resemble big pure lemon-yellow lilies,
and can be produced anywhere, while the true lilies are not easily
grown. The flowers are produced nearly all the season; the petals are
revolute like the true lilies; height, three feet. Each, 75c; three, $1.50.

Another New Hemerocallis

“Surprise”

Flowers, very light straw yellow — almost white — very large, full, and
open. Blooms almost constantly through the season; height, two feet.
Greatly surpasses the older kinds. Each, 60c; three, $1.50.

Dierama (Sparaxis Pulcherrima)

The best of several species of these South American bulbous plants
and the most graceful and one of the most beautiful of all decorafive
plants. Long, slender, grass-like foliage and slender, wiry, gracefully
drooping stems four to six feet in height, bearing numerous pendulous
deep rose-colored flowers like a gigantic Ixia. Of unique and graceful
decorative value. For parks, lawns, gardens, hall, or house adornment,
few plants can compare with these. Hardy where the ground does not
freeze over three inches deep. Strong nursery-grown plants. Large
clumps, each, 75c; three, $1.50; ten, $2.50; per hundred, $12.

Isemena Calathina

This unique and beautiful flowering bulbous plant from the moun-
tains of Peru belongs to the Amaryllis family, but is much more

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

easily raised. The large pearly white flowers are among the most
unique and handsomest of bulbous plants. Plant out of doors in Cali-
fornia. Large field-grown bulbs, each, 30c; ten, <‘p2.

Cannas

Too well known to need general description.

“Tarry town”

The best of my crimson seedlings. Height, four feet. It is well known
that no Ganna surpasses this triple truss, pure crimson Canna in
brilliance of color and freedom of bloom. It sends out truss after
truss of flowers from Spring to frost; a veritable mass of crimson.
Each, 30c; ten, $1.50.

Canna

“Burbank”

This is now well known and prized everywhere for its giant, pure yel-
low flowers and broad, thick, dark-green foliage. Height, three feet;
each, 20c; ten, 75c; one hundred, $6.

Canna

“Wintzer’s Giant”

The largest Canna ever grown. The deep crimson flowers are six to
seven inches across. Free bloomer. Height, five feet. Each, 25c; ten, $2.

New Hybrid Crinums

The Crinums have flowers and bulbs somewhat resembling the
Amaryllis. Many of the best species are tropical and can not, there-
fore, be grown where frosts occur. Some twenty-five years ago my own
work with the Crinums commenced, and from this work new, beautiful,
hardy varieties have been produced.

The bulbs of all these here offered will thrive outdoors throughout
most of California and similar climates, and anywhere if taken up
in the Fall and kept dry through the Winter. Flowers very large,
like Amaryllis, mostly purest white and pale rose; often fragrant.
Beautiful new hybrids. Enormous bulbs weighing five to seven pounds.
Each, $2; ten, $15. Vigorous oft'sets, each, 50c; ten, $3.50.

New Hybrid Camassias

The improvements made with these fine, hardy, bulbous plants on
my own grounds during the past twenty years have been about all that

10 BUIWANK'S BULB CATALOGUE

has ever been done for them since Nature fitted them for their wild
environment. Those heretofore offered everywhere have been mostly
gathered from the wilds. These new hybrids show a very great improve-

The Burbank Hybrid Camassias

ment over anything before known. The blossoms are larger, set closer
on the stem, are brighter in color, and vary far more widely than any
before known. Large bulbs, each, 25c; ten, $1.50.

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

11

A New Decorative Flower

The Flowering Rush
(Scirpus Elegans)

Everybody everywhere
knows the Bulrush, one of
the commonest of the
sedges. This new one pro-
duces handsome rosettes
of large rose-pink flowers
which burst forth from the
sides of the round tule-
like leaves early in Spring.

The cut shows the fine
decorative value of this
most curious perennial
flowering rush. Easily
grown on any comon gar-
den soil. Plants, each, 40c;
three, $1.

A New Agapanthus (Cape Colony Lily)

Agapanthus Albo Gigantea

A new gigantic Agapanthus, bearing immense heads of snow-white
flowers on strong stems, nearly four feet in height. The flowers last
for many weeks and have a most unusual decorative value. A distinct
new florists’ flower which will become popular everywhere. Never
before offered. Strong field-grown divided roots. Each, $3; two, $5.
One year seedling plants, each, 35c; ten, $2.50.

A New Tritoma

Exquisite

A most beautiful new dwarf, almost ever-blooming Tritoma, bearing
yellow flowers, shaded crimson, in unusual abundance. Each, 50c;
ten, $3.

Various Other Bulbous and Similar Plants

Acanthus Mollis Latifolia

One of the most striking, rapid growing, and most decorative of all
perennial garden and park plants. Gigantic, glossy, crenate leaves in
abundance. Height, three to four feet. Improves in beauty and effective-
ness from year to year. Rare. Fine field-grown plants; each, 75c;
two, $1; five, $3.

The New Plant Creation, the Flowering Bulrush

12

BURBAA’K'S BULB CATALOGUE

Burbank Hybrid Delphiniums

Many Eastern seedsmen,
florists, and Superintendents
of Parks recommend this
most beautiful perennial
strain as the best so far pro-
duced. The flowers are ex-
tremely large and of the
softest mild shades of blue
and lavender, with pale
shades of rosy pink; single
and double. Selected for
years with unusual care.
Plants, each, 25c; ten, $1.75.
Seed (blooms the first sea-
son), per packet, 25c.

New Ever-blooming
Crimson- Scarlet
Perennial Hybrid
Poppies

The most stately and beau-
tiful of all the poppies; a
most remarkable ever-
blooming strain produced
by crossing the annual
Poppy (P a p a V e r Somni-
ferum) with the perennial
Oriental Poppy (p. Ori-
entale), resulting in Poppies
that in a mild climate bloom
ten or twelve months con-
tinuously. Never before
offered. Roofs, each, 50c;
three, $1.

New Seedlings ofScilla
Amoena

The Burbank Hybrid Larkspur

Extremely handsome hyacinth-like early Spring flowering bulbs of
easiest culture. Flowers blue, white, and sometimes rose color. Height,
eight inches. Bulbs, ten, 25c; hundred, $2.

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

13

“Starfish Plant”

(Stapelia Asterias)

An interesting low-growing South African succulent plant with very
curious but not fragrant flowers, two inches or more across. A warm,
sunny location suits it. Each, 20c; ten, 75c.

Antheuicum Major — White. Each, 20c; ten, $1.

Iris — New, tall, pure yellow Chilian. Each, 60c.

Iris Versicolor — The hardy Eastern “Blue Flag.” Flowers, light blue
variegated with white, yellow, and purple. Each, 20c; three, 50c;
ten, $1.50.

Richardia (Calla) — A fine, new, free blooming variety. Ten, 50c; hun-
dred, $3.

Phornium Tenax (New Zealand flax)- — A large, handsome, useful,
and decorative perennial plant. Field grown. Each, 40c; ten, $3.

Soap Root — A new dwarf kind which multiplies rapidly by bulb divi-
sion. Each, 20c; ten, $1.

Brodiaes of many kinds. Ten of a kind, 25c.

Magnificent New Dahlias in their season.

14

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

Rare Ornamental Cacti

During my experiments in producing improved fruiting and forage
cactus, there were growing at one time on my place several hundred
species and innumerable varieties of cactus. The least attractive were
from time to time weeded out, and I now offer the best selection.
All grow best in warm, sunny locations. Cuttings of all root well if
planted in dry sand in a warm place. All these are as hardy as orange
or fig trees, and may be grown in house, greenhouse, or out of doors
where the ground does not freeze. Besides these I have some fine
Phyllocacfus, Cereus, and curious variegated Opuntias. SIX VARIETIES
including those named below, $2.

“Woolly”

(Opuntia)

A curious Opuntia with woolly leaves and short woolly spines;
height, about three feet, flowers yellow. Cuttings, 25c.

“Opuntia Basilaris”

A new form with unusually large, handsome, deep rosy crimson flow-
ers; height, twelve to fifteen inches. Cuttings, 25c.

“Quisco”

(Cereus Chilensis)

This is the native name of a South American corrugated, handsome,
tall, barrel-shaped cactus having very numerous, but not vicious spines.
Large blossoms of various colors, followed by good fruit with white
pulp and minute black seeds. Cuttings, 40c.

“The Favorite”

(Echinopsis Pentlandi)

The Peruvian hedgehog cactus, a variety which bears large, beau-
tiful, delicate, rose-pink flowers in fhe utmost profusion even on small
plants. Makes a fine border plant. Cuttings, 25c; ten, $1.

“Pitajaya”

(Cereus Variabilis)

Sometimes classified as Cereus Pernambucensis. There are numer-
ous forms of the Pitajaya cactus both in flower and fruit. The variety
offered has great pure- white flowers, nearly eight inches across; the
plants are quite hardy in most parts of California. The variety here
offered also bears a most delicious globe-shaped fruit, the flesh of
which is snow white, which is greatly prized by all who know it.
(See cut.) Large cuttings, 75c; rooted cuttings, $1.25. Seeds per
packet, 25c.

“Pitajayas” in Bloom

If)

BURBANK’S BULB CATALOGUE

The Training of the Human Plant

LUTHER BURBANK

Dedicated to the Sixteen Million Public School Children of America
and to the Untold Millions Under Other Skies

A book, primarily, for every parent and every teacher, but, also,

A book to be read by every thinking man and woman.

It is a prophecy of the finest race the world has ever known.

It is a startling presentation of the possibilities of the ideal in character.

It is a plea for an heredity, environment, and training which shall realize here
and now the ideal.

LUTHER BURBANK claims :

By placing ourselves in harmony and co-operation with the main high poten-
tial lines of human progress and welfare we receive the benefit of strong magnetic
induction currents.

We are now standing upon the threshold of new methods and new discoveries
which shall give us imperial dominion.

“Luther Burbank is unquestionably the greatest student of life and philosophy
of living things, in America if not in the world.”^ — S. H. Comings, Corresponding
Secretary American League of Industrial Education.

“Well worth reading by all parents.” — Friends’ Intelligencer.

“It should have a place in every normal school library and in that of every
parent and all interested in the progress of humanity.”^ — Kindergarten Review.

“During the course of many years of investigation into the plant life of the
world, creating new forms, modifying old ones, adapting others to new condi-
tions, and blending still others, I have constantly been impressed with the simi-
larity between the organization and development of plant and human life,” is
Luther Burbank’s introduction to his discussion of “The Training of the Human
Plant.”

Mr. Burbank believes, further, that upon a wisely directed crossing of species
rests the hope of all progress, and that in the United States today exists the
grandest opportunity ever presented of developing the finest race the world has
ever known.

Out of the richness of his years of experience and investigation, Mr. Burbank
urges an ideal training looking toward an ideal race. He shows that we are
more crossed than any other nation in the history of the world, and that we
meet the same results that are always seen in a much-crossed race of plants;
if we follow the teaching of Nature, we may produce the finest race ever known.

He demands for the child of the race — most sensitive of living things — first
and foremost an heredity and environment of love; differentiation in training,
sunshine, good air, and nourishing food. He condemns the marriage of the
physically unfit, and discusses at length heredity, predestination, training, growth,
environment, and character. The fundamental principles of education, Mr. Bur-
bank declares, should be the subject of earnest scientific investigation including
all the causes which tend TO PRODUCE MEN AND WOMEN WITH SANE, WELL-
BALANCED CHARACTERS.

THE CENTURY CO.

Also for Sale Here

60c NET; 65c BY MAIL

NEW YORK