Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-09-01
Visit to a Flower Farm-H0W Flower
Seeds are Gr0Wn-The Poetry of Gard

L
enlng.
The Rochester IN. " Express describes
flower farm in Western New York:
The warm, pleasant weather We have
enjoyed for few days past rejoices not
only the farmer, but the seedsmen and
florists as well. Mr. Vick's fields Of flowers
are now in their glory, and are well worthy
a long visit to see. We know that many
visitors travel miles to see them, and find
themselves well repaid for their trouble.
On his home farm of twenty five acres on
East avenue, just outside the city limits,
he has fully ten acres devoted to flowers,
mostly annuals.
''Ihe flowers are mainly grown for the
seed, and beauty is only an incident in their
culture Mr.. Wick finds that many varie-
ties of flowers are so especially adapted to
our hot, dry climate that they grow more
beautiful and perfect better seed than in
Europe. Years ago almost all seeds o1
choice flowers were grown III England Oh
France. Some are yet, but many varieties
grow better here than there and London
seedsmen are importing the seeds grown in
Rochester. One London house has offered
to take all the Phlox Drumondi for term
of years. His Zinnias are also superior tc
that are grown in this country. Many OF
them are as double and perfect as the finest
dahlias and of every imaginable hue except
pure white.
''Zinnias are famed all over the world
where flowers are grown. The history of
this flower is curious, 1t is a native OF
Mexico, and was originally introduced into
England in 1896. Our grandmothers aud
reat-grandmothers used to grow the Mex
ican Zinnia, under the fanciful name OF
Youth and Old Age It was not remarka-
BILE for beauty, or anything except remain
ing in bloom q long time. It's flower was
single, poor looking, and as large as an old
fashioned quarter dollar, with a narrow rim
of flower leaves around it. In 1860 Messrs.
Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., florists of Paris,
succeeded in growing double Zinnia, and
it was a great curiosity in London. About
that time Henry Ward Beecher wrote let
ter to Mr.. Wick, who was then editing the
horticultural department of the Rural New
Yorker. Mr.. Beecher wrote that he had
watched zinnia flower six week {, and it
was as bright at the end Of that time as at
the beginning. He thought the Zinnia de-
served more attention. Mr.. Wick at once
took the Zinnia in hand and began it's i'm
provement. Selecting the finest flowers
each year, and pulling up all plants that
produce single flowers, he has fully estab-
lished the double Towering habit Some
of his finest Zinnias are three to four
inches across, as beautiful as dahlias, and
of almost every shade of color the crimson,
scarlet or magenta being most common.
Some of the flowers are more than double,
the banks of leaves being two and half to
three inches deep, and bending the stalk
with their weight.
''The Petunia has been quadrupled in
size and grown double, of various shades
The original flower was very small, white
and always single. Now the seed produces
large flowers, seventy five per cent. of them
double, and of various beautiful shades.
The double Petunias produce no seed, and
the seed to grow double flowers from all
has to artificially fertilized every morning
with pollen from the double flowers, which
are cut off for that purpose. This opera
ton requires great care, cutting out all the
pollen on the single flowers SO soon as they
expand. 1t must also be performed under
glass, or dews or rains would wash off the
pollen and destroy the seed. OF course
double Petu.eia seed grown in this expen-
sive manner is scarce and high priced.
'The Asters are large, beautiful and
bright. These almost always come true to
color; which is not the case with Zlnnias
or Verbenas.
ssThe double German stock is one of the
finest Towering plants, and the most diff
cult to save seed. Double stocks have no
seed, and the flowers are forced into fruit
fulness by starving the plants under cover
until they can no longer produce double
flowers. Then they will seed profusely,
and so to IS per cent. of this seed will pro
6Ouh1n HOyyaro
GA half acre of Verbenas presented O
magnificent spectacle. Each plant spread
over two to four square feet of ground. and
was covered with these beautiful flowers.
inexperienced florists are apt to cramp
their Yerbenas by planting them too
closely.
The Gladioi was just coming into
bloom, and occupied about an acre and a
half Of ground. One very fine variety, the
James Carter, stands erect, and is not
quite so large as others. Each root in
creases to two, three Or four roots during
the season. Some fine Lilies and Dahlias
are just beginning to blossom" !"