The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-11-30
Commercial Sub Culture Ia North Carolina
CIV. F. Massey, Horticulturist, Experiment
Station

Station
The ease with which Towering bulbs
OF all sorts are grown in North Caro-
lima satisfied me long ago that a profit
able industry could be built up here in
this line. Few people who are not
familiar with the IiOwer trade reaIlzs
the vast sums spent annually for bulbs
OF Hyaclnths, Tulips. Narcissus, Lilies
and the like. Hundreds of thousands of
/ dollars are annu lily sent abroad to
! Europe for thesr bulbs, all of which
can be as well. or better, grown in
| North Carolina.
| Mr.. c. I. Allen, = leading New York
! florist, seeing the superior quality OF
Lily and Hyacinth bulbs sent from
North Carolina, wrote an article in the
American Agrlculturlst a year or SO
ago, urging the commercial culture OF
bulbs in North Carolina. The writsy
@ iris has since tried to second w..
Alien III attracting attention To- the
capacity OF tue State IN this rt-.D-ct
and 1t Is likely that ere LONG men %
experience and means viii start this
business here. In he Eastern cart Of
the State lhe culture Of TuberOse bulbs
has for years been matter Of SONS
Importance, and the markets Of New
York and London are mainly supplied
with North Carolina Tuber0se bulbs
But the tuberose has lost its pODulari-
" with fashionable people ana the as
mand for the bulbs has decreased
But there are many other bulbs that
are used in increasing quantities an
nually that can be grown here as well
"a tn beroses. The best Lily soils in
the State are the black peaty lands OF
the immediate coast. These are also
the best Hyacinth lands. Narcissus,
Roman Hyacinths, and GladiOlus are
better for the upland districts. The
Gladiolus particularly is more adap-
ted to the upland soils. MIR. Allen
thinks that the Piedmont section is
best for all bulbs and l have no doubt
that good bulbs can be grown all over
the State. But an experience in hand
ling and cultivating these bulbs for
over thirty years makes me feel GER
tain that for Lilies and Dutch Hva-
cinths, at least, the black soils OF the
coast region are far superior to any
other in the State. They are in fact
the same character of soil as that Of
Holland in a climate incOmpara bly,
superior to that of Holland. If this
culture is once started il North Caro-
lima by men of experience there is no
doubt that good and profitable in
dustry will be added 20 the State, At
tenL1On Is being attracted to the State
by articles written by Mr. Allen and
myself. and lately large Dutch grow
ar OF bulbs at HARLEM in Holland,
wrote to Mr.. Allen for further informa-
ton, saying that he is thinking OF
transferring his business to this coun-
try. In speaking of soil needed, this
gentleman says Of Hyacinths. they
are planted in different grounds: one
year In sandy one, another in a black
humus ground Therefore it IS OF
great interest to choose a country .
where different grounds are to be
found. Also that the ground must be
situated so that it will not suffer from .
drought, nor where the bulbs will be .
drowned out" These conditions are
easily found in the coast country of .
North Carolina. We are strongly IN /
hopes that this gentleman NAV be in .
duced to come here and start this bust .
ness, which has been the source Of so
much wealth to Holland and for which
our soils and climate are far superior.
Since writing the foregoing Mr.. C. L.
Allen writes that a year or so ago he
imported 100000 Lily bulbs from
Franco, which came in such bad order
that they were unfit to sell. He sent
them To the neigh borhood OF Southern
zines and grew them there one season. /
he result, he states, was astounding.