The Dickinson press., 1890-01-11
A klNsHIp OF FLOWERS.
A Florists Interesting Talk OIL the ny
bridizatiOn of Plants.

SAS ~
bridizatiOn Of Plants.
William Bertermann talked to n re.
porter from behind a bank of roses of all
tints and hues.
"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 tho counter a
splendid red rose OH 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.
cts 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 q
florist ten years ago, could not so into
first class flower garden now and rccog.
nize many of the flowers that we deal in
most extensively. There has been a mix.
turc of blood, so to speak, until nearly
all the cid time flowers have lost theil
identity. Nearly all the flowers sole
now are hybrids, or crosses between the
most desirable old stocks"
Mr.. Eertcrmann then explained the
process of hybridization, tho mere opera
ton of which is easy enough. 1t is sim,
ply necessary to carry the pollen by
means of n camel hair brush, or other.
wise, from one blossom and place it or
the stigmatic surface of the flower of the
other, or seed bearer. A colony of bees
in n flower garden will do the work bet.
ter than it can be done with n brush.
They constantly carry the pollen from
II 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. Not 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
time by means Of u 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-
bic 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
NOR. AS with the grandfather" and
grandmother" Mr.. Bcrtermann 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 q particular
strain becomes more or less futile.
Growers of cyclamen and gladiola ha-
bitually call i'll the aid of a microscope
to determine the state of the pollen in a
highly bred seeding. II it is found to
be uneven-not plump, clearand regular
in 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-
cited one example in %philageria, a
cross between the beautiful and climb
ing Lapageria roses and tho bushy Thi-
lcsia 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, have never been able
to lay down any definite rule, and excep-
lions car 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 carrolas, 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 q 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 h~ybridiza-
ton in Indiana, perhaps, is the florist at
Purdue university. He makes the breed
ing of flowers aspeciality, and is certain
ly very proficient in the business"
care artificial c%olorings much used
now?"
Every little, as compared with former
times, for the reason that all tints can
be obtained by hybridization. Cut white
flowers are sometimes placed in ink, and
by absorption they take on q 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.
L opoeA HSu u olAduSc eullS IeCeutly
1 had placed some hyacinths in water,
and after they had stood for a while the
color all left them. In handling the
earthen pots in whieh 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.
Artificial Teeth.
The finest artificial teeth are made O
the best ivory, but the great majority o
false masticators now in use are simpl
pieces of specially prepared hard POI
celain. The following is one Of the pre-
cesses adopted for their manufacture
Fine calcined OF roasted quartz powde,
well ground fuorspar, china clay, and
very little oxide of tin are very intimate
ly mixed and ground together, and al
forwards made into a soft paste wit