, 1889-12-08
A KlNsHIP OF FLOWERS.
A Florists Interesting Talk on the Hy-
bridixation of Plants.

AA1o AAAo AloCos
''This rose is a brother of this one"
said he, as he laid out two beautiful
flowers of the deep pink variety. "Here
is the grandfather of these two" contin-
ued he, as he placed upon the counter a
splendid red rose on a spindling stock,
and here is the grandmother"
The latter was a small white rose of
unattractive appearance, but upon a
rugged stalk. Then Mr.. Bertermann
pointed out the cousins, and aunts, and
uncles and other relatives of the flowers
he had exhibited.
Its just like raising horses or cattle
or hogs" said he. 1.-THE stock is contin-
ually improved by careful breeding.
Flower breeding has become a science,
and, by crossing the best varieties every
year, new and more beautiful flowers are
being grown. A man who ceased to be a
florist ten years ago, could not go into q
first class flower garden now and recog-
nize many of the flowers that we deal in
most extensively. There has been a mix
u r of blood, so to speak, until nearly
all the old time flowers have lost their
identity. Nearly all the flowers sold
now are hybrids, or crosses between the
most desirable old tocks.'
Mr.. Bertermann then explained the
process of hybridization, the mere opera
ton of which is easy enough. 1t is SIM
ply necessary to carry the pollen by
means of q camel hair brush, or other
wise, from one blossom and place it on
the stigmatic surface of the flower of the
other, or seed bearer. A colony of bees
in a flower garden will do the work bet
ter than it can be done with a brush.
They constantly carry the pollen from
one flower to another, but of course
there is no system about TIE crosses
they bring about. When hybridization
is attempted the florist must be certain
that the plants are receptive. AS a rule,
by close observation the florist may be-
come able to tell when to apply the pol
len. MOI a few plants develop stigma
and anthers at the same time, and with
them it is necessary to remove the an
theirs before they burst, and at the same
Inn by means of a fine gauze, or other
wise, to prevent the visits of insects
which might convey pollen from another
flower, and thus effect an undesirable
cross.
This sometimes happens; a flower in
good form, but defective in color, is per-
haps crossed with another, which is
faulty in shape, but of novel and desira-
BILE shade. A weakly grown variety
may be used in an effective way in a
combination with stronger grown, lack
ing the particular qualities of the for
mer. AS with the grandfather" and
grandmother, Mr.. Bertermann pointed
out where breeding the dark red rose,
supported by a weak stalk, to the puny
white rose on a healthy stalk, a splendid
pink rose, supported by a well developed
stalk, was produced. Sometimes the
florists ideal is kept SO constantly in
sight that the pollen of a particular
strain becomes more or less futile.
Growers of cyclamen and gladiola ha-
bitually call in the aid of a microscope
to determine the state of the pollen in a
highly bred Seeding. If it is found to
be uneven-not plump, clear and regular
lin size and outline, the plant is dis
carded as a propagation, and another
chosen which promises to allow the de-
sired results in size, form and color of
flowers.
Hybrids between two distinct genera
are by no means common. Mr.. Berter-
mann cited one example in ~philageria, a
cross between the beautiful and climb
ing Lapageria roses and the bushy Thi-
lesia buxofolio, which is intermediate
between its two parents, though not
nearly so desirable as either. Species of
the same genus frequently refuse alto
gether to cross with each other, and
some again will cross only one way.
Florists, however, nave never been able
to lay down any definite rule, and excep-
tons can only be learned by experience.
For the most perfect and symmetrical
flowers, it is best to select single flowers
which are most perfect in their petals for
seed bearers. Another interesting fact
is that single or semi-double sorts, with
perfect c~arrolas, will produce double
flowers of a regular, symmetrical forma-
ton.
"It's a fascinating business" said Mr..
Bertermann, land the only trouble is,
florists who make a business of raising
flowers for the market, as we do, have
not the time to devote to liberalization.
That work is done most successfully by
gentlemen who make the business a con-
slant study. The best man at hybridiza-
ton in Indiana, perhaps, is the florist at
Purdue university. He makes the breed
ing of flowers a speciality, and is certain
ly very proficient in the business"
Are artificial colorings much used
now?''
VERY little, as compared with former
times, for the reason that all tints can
be obtained by naturalization. Cut white
flowers are sometimes placed in ink, and
by absorption they take on a blue tint.
And then roses are sometimes given a
blue tint by placing about their roots
iron dust from around anvils in black
smiths shops.
II observed a strange thing recently.
l had placed some hyacinths in water,
and after they had stood for a while the
color all left them. In handling the
earrhen pots in which they were placed,
their departed color stuck to my hands
from the outside of the pots. The water,
it seemed, had drawn the coloring mat
ter all out of the flowers, and it had set
tied on the outside of the earthenware."
indianapolis News.