Smyrna times., 1890-06-04
WHERE FLOWERS GROW.
ASTORIA, LONG ISLAND, A LAND OF
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

ASTORIA, LONG ISLAND LAND or
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.
What Goes On in One of the Great Green
houses Which Supply New York with
Flowers and Plants-The Problems of
Forcing and HybridizatiOn.
To one in search of pOesy or anything /
above the dull level of the commonplace, |
probably the last spot which would sug- |
gest itself as likely to yield it would be |
the typical, prOsaic Long Island town.
Yet one of these, and one of the most |
prosaic at that, is-paradoxical as it may
appear-a veritable land of flowers. As !
toria teens with lovely, though hidden |
blooms.
If the flowers which the florists jealous
care covers from the inclement weather
were left exposed, they would spread
over thousands of acres, and make of the
little town garden of lOveliness.
For eight months in the year the daily
supply of flowers to this city amounts to
SIS, 900 worth, while on special occasions,
such as Easter and other holidays, the
amount is nearly doubled, and the greater
part of this supply comes from Long
Island
The largest of the Astoria nurseries
stands Just within the limits of the viii
lage. The wide eXpanse of turf around
it is dotted with no less than thirty-One
greenhouses, whose glistening roofs COM
prise some 1000 square feet of glass.
The hybridzation of plants to form
-
dependent on chance. The method en-
ployed is in itself simple, and consists of
dusting the pollen from the bloom of one
plant upon the stigma of the other, the
result being 4 flower partaking of the
characters of both. The incidental cir
cumstances, however, are almost impOs-
sible to regulate, save by scientific ap.
plicatiOn and the minutest care. The
selection of two plants which are liable
to Join, is, in itself, a test of the floricult-
urist's skill, and this being achieved, the
| temperature must be regulated to the
convenience of the plants, and the dry
ness or moisture of the atmosphere care
fully watched. Yet, in spite of all pre-
cautions, and for no apparent reason, the
attempted hybridizatiOn is often fail
ure. Some of the best discoveries ever
made in this branch of horticulture have
been brought about accidentally, the
beautiful chrysanthemum called Mrs.
Alpheus Hardy being the result Of one of
these fortunate blunders.
FORCING BLOSSOMS AND FRUIT.
Another problem which has from time
immemOrial busted the nurserymen is
the question of producing blooms or fruit
at stated periods by forcing, in defiance
of natural laws, and although this has
not yet been reduced to a certain law,
important improvements have been
made. A slillful gardener can, by the
regulation of heat, moisture and ferti-
lizers, considerably advance or retard
the production of any plant. In Japan,
where Horticulture has attained to scien-
tilo heights as yet unknown in America,
the precise day can be fixed for the bios
soming or fruition.
Only a vast experience can fOretell the
degree of heat necessary to a plant, and i'll
all nurseries the greatest precautions are
utilized to insure success. In the nurser-
les referred to, more than 40, ,000 feet of
pipe arc used for heating, while a wind
mill pumps 20, 200 gallons of water daily
for use in the hOthouses. The regulation
of heat varies with the nature of the
plant. The difference of temperature be-
tween individual hothOuses is marked;
for, while in one there will be 100 degs.
or more of dry, parching heat, the next
will be almost cold, and the air of another
may be heavy with moist heat which
turing it into YapOF bath
The amount of forcing also varies with
different species of plants, some thriving
under it and displaying marvellous beau
ties which they never attain in Their
native state, while others, like the slen.
der pendEobium Fhyrsihorum, refuse tc
depart from ordinary laws and die when
artificial means are applied. The plants
are watered every day, and in somecases
twice or three times day. This alone
takes up considerable amount of the
workmen's time, but it is not the only
attention claimed by them. A daily
round must be made in each greenhouse
and each one of the growths investigat
ed, certain plants clipped or grated anC
weeds and withered leaves removed from
allL
> To the tOrlculturist flowers have pt
romance Their cultivation to him is
mere matter of commercial value, anC
the sight of u florist and his apprentice
seizing delicate plants by the handful
and pulling them hitller and thither al
ways fills the layman with alarm.
A MILLION PLANTS UNDER GLASS,
Each of tho spacious hOthouses is de
voted to a single plant and it's varieties
and the whole number aggregates near
ly /, 200, 900 plants. This firm handle
more ferns than any house in the coun
try, and it sends out over 100, 900 fern
annually. All sorts and conditions O
ferns are represented, and from the wel
known Adiantium, or maidenhair, to tn
: Dixona, or tree fern, which frequentl
sells for $50
The other hOthouses contain Il pris
: matte graduation of colors, from the pal
/. yellow of jonquils to the burning Orang
Z of the large amaryllis, and from the dai
zling white azalea to its richest deep re
shale; Of course, roses are PLENTIFUL
represented; the well known la Franc
n is here; also the majestic America
u beauty, and the newer varieties whic
have superseded these in popular favoi
as the Bride, Puritan, William Franc
, Bennett and Mime. Holstie. The fashio
] in roses, like every other, is subject t
fads, and their prices are greatly affecte
IN consequence. When a rose is "th
rage" the smallest plart, as it sprouts
the tiny pots known as f'thumb pots"
worth from 81 to 81; while later, whe
its popularity is ON the wane, the sam
in Pl'liU ISUC"Co ""iSiJ ii'0 VI 'en NeAU''