Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-24

preme in the lap of fashion and popu-
larity.
Bermuda is really the home of the
lily, and in no other country on the
face Of the globe can such lilies be
propagated SO early, rapidly and sue
cessfully. By methods of cultivation
and forcing, the growers can make the
lilies bloom as early as the first OF
December, but the main crop comes
along In February and early spring.
1nen the fields are abloum with the
fragrant MOWERS, and whole acres OF
White lilies will dot the landscape
The florists of the island grow lilies
the same as they grow potatoes. No
one there thinks of cultivating the
flowers for the beauty they exhibit,
nor for the sweet fragrance with
which they ladc the air. The cult
vators are practical farmers, the lily
crop is profitable one, and they
plant the bulbs in large fields the same
as they do their potatoes and onions.
The climate of Bermuda is a delight
full one. The island is never visited by
frosts or drouths, and it is like one
perpetual spring the year round. Gar
denerS can cultivate their fields any
month of the year, and crops are kept
maturing right along. The soil is Of
a reddish brown, but very productive
and fertile. Everything planted in it
will grow and yield good crops. Fruits
are grown there in considerable guam
tity, but for some reason they never
amount to very much, with the eXcep-
ton of the small bananas. Bermuda
is essentially a land Of three things
lilies, onions and potatoes. No other
combination of products could seem
more curious. The cultivatorS of the
soil are only florists by accident, and
very few of them know much about
scientific Horticulture. Their knowledge
of flowers generally begins and ends
with lily propagation. They grow
them for revenue only, and this is
probably the quickest way of saying
that they are we'll grown. There is,
however, more or less of mixture of
lilies in the fields, and many gardens
will have the longif1orum and Harisii
lilies growing side by side. This con-
fusion is the result OF ignorance or
carelessness and importing florists in
New York condemn it most emphatic
ally. 1t requires an expert eye to
separate the bulbs of the two vari-
quite a little expense.
The natives propagate the Bermuda
lilies by "shells,' or scales, as we
would call them, and these are sown
thickly in rows about a foot apart. If
the soil is rich, small bulbs will soon
spring up all around, and in many
instances small-sized Towering bulbs
will be produced in one season. 1t
requires two years growth to produce
the large Dubious lilies which we see
in market, and very many of the fin
est specimens are three years old.
These old bulbs produce immense lilies
that retail at several dollars a plant
in New York. The small bulbs are
taken up in the middle of July from
the bed, and the large ones are sent
kept for planting again about Octo-
Der 1. These bulbs are planted in
small beds about six inches apart
Narrow pathways run between the
beds, so that the gardeners can crawl
between the rows to cultivate them.
This work is done entirely by hand,
and great care is exercised not to in
jure the roots of the lilies. The bulbs
are shipped to New York in the vari-
Gus stages of their growth. Some are
very small, and others are nearly
ready to produce flowers. In New
York, florists grow the bulbs and raise
their own Bermuda lilies for the
easter trade in their greenhouses; but
the vast majority come direct from
Bermuda in March or April when the
buds are -half-matured A field of
Bermuda lilies is a most impressive
and beautiful sight, and the fragrance
rising from it scents the atmosphere
for long distances around.