The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14

wAsn ths Viewers pao NJ. Cepasn VIII nashs
H1auT Uaes eC the Piant.

Nearly three months ago q century plant in
tho greenhouse Of J. Condor. on Fort Hamilton
Parkway, near Greenwood Cemetery, sent forth
q flower shoot The plant, with many Others Of
its kind which Mr.. Condor had received from
Mexico, had been lying INTENDED in q corner Of
the greenhouse, and when one of the employees
told the proprietor that II was behaving In an
unusual manner Mr.. Condor supposed at first
that 1t was merely developing a now leaf shoot.
After three days, during which time the pale
green point had assembled one foot, he changed
his mind, and had the century plant moved out
into n sunny spot. 1t was carefully tended
and watched, for the blossoming OF one OF these
plants il 80 rare in this climate that the occa-
sions on which 1t has happened in this State
within fifteen years can DO counted on ones
fingers.
Now the plant 10 in full bloom. 1t has
reached a height Of twenty-five feet, and fifteen
feet up the nrst branch appears. There are
twelve other branches above this. Each branch
II decorated with corn-colored flowers hanging
In clusters like tho familiar bcgonia rubra
These flowers are moro curious than beautiful,
their pale hue uniting them for an
flower. For q month the flowers remain; then
they fall, and whore thoy alight hundreds Of lit
tie century plants will spring up. With tho
falling OF the flowers and the consequent propa-
CATION OF the species. the plant. which has lived
purposes 'e SIes. f Fir p.fhf rs yoiH .ave ss t sMei END en nas
mously, then they wither away. and almost be-
speen se eses stsy .S ssns' tSS snr,s bn All R ESSs sem ,hSis
OF the mother plant is the round. spike-like
stem. haTSensd to a stony s9nsistsnsy: 4,
throw open his greenhouse to the public.
In Mexico, where this species Of century plant
edna-thc plant is put to many uses. and Mr..
Condor intends. as an experiment, to get all
cans use II for the three primal necessities of
iife-food. drink, and shelter. AS, Mr.. Condor
has roofs on all his buildings, he doesn't know
matching. though they form an excellent
thatch, impcryious to rain; From the leaves
he will experiment at making a flour much
into the ts'' mo ore f teS1a'S Sino P%ssaSi o. both f''s ot
and aid largely in keeping the population down,
both by doing their own killing and inspiring
their the viz yiGt inns, to murder. ,, The , 9wnGr 81 this
product. Besides this he will use as soap a sort
OF waxy substance which cSudes from the leaves.
ice from this extraordinary plant by splitting
the leaves lensthwise and laying, them fiat in
that thin strips Of ice form on it. Finally he
will split the stony stem down the centre and
have The very best razor ,strop known to man.
fury. plants said Mr.. Condor yesterday, FOR
this is the second ono that has bloomed in my
greenhouses. The other was in 1892. and people
came from all over the country to see II. That
one grew so that l had to knock the roof out, Of
the greenhouse to give 1t room. How old this
plant Is / have no means OF knowing 1t has
been here for several years. slowed away under
a bench most Of the time. In Mexico these plants
five years of growth, while other specimens Will
require seventy. or eighty years. have q mum.
i Se5 iI S'h FOR 's sny Of p tSem to ao1 spro 1t. 4 as s # nG IS
very rarely that one Of these plants blooms in
this climate. and two in a lifetime is as much
good fortune as any horticulturist has a right
to expect"