The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-14

Annatsux Russinm Gardner clAims eAa
Honor of Proaaslng This 1fresk
A black rose has hitherto been e.
teemed almost as impossible as q swan
of that color was to the ancient Ro-
mans. But the horticulturist VIII mol
accept q denial even from Nature her
self. According to the Gardeners
Chronicle. the honor of producing the
long-sought variety Of rose has been
won by NJ. Fetison, an amateur grow
er of Voronezh, in Russia. How he has
brought about the result we are moi
informed, and the details Of his proc
ess, II authenticated, will, no doubt, De
interesting. The colors Of flowers seem
to depend on more than one cause. II
we put aside those which are partly
colored, we find that some plants are
not by any means constant in theiT
tints. That is true of some species OF
roses. We do not refer to albinism.
or the occurrence of white flowers on
plant belonging to a species in which
they are usually colored, but to varia-
tion in the tint of blossoms on diff
ferent individuals. The coioration is
due to the more or less fluid material
contained in superficial cells on the
external part. The exact nature OF
that material is not easily determined
and it is, no doubt, of highly COM
pick character-possibly a hydro-car-
bon of some form. with minute traces
of mineral substances. The great va
riety in tints arises, to great extent
from blending-or, in other words, Ma
ture's color box, could we see it, would
be found to contain but few paints
DR.. Clifton Sorby, some years ago
examined the coloring matter OF q
number OF chrysanthemums blossom
ing in the public gardens at Sheffield
with the result, we believe. that all
their various tints were attributed tc
the diverse blending of two elementary
coloring substances. In some kinds OF
plants certain colors are either natural
or are very easily obtained; in others
they are almost hopeless. Indeed, somt
botanists have arranged flowers in two
series-yellow marking the one and
blue the other. Thus in plants which
are assigned to the yellow series, such
as the tulip, the dahlia and the rose.
blue is either almost abnormal or un-
known; while the change in the oppo'
site direction is equally difficult. Oc-
casionally, however, Nature flouts this
classification, as when yellow and blue
occur in the same blossom, or a single
genus-like the gentian-includes both
blue and yellow towering species. That
the coloring matter is easily affected
by some external impressions is OBJ
vious from the changes which result
from any bruising of the petals. But
more than this, sunlight produces an
effect in certain cases. According to
the late Prof. Balfour, the flowers OF
the common pink phlox early in the
morning have a lightish blue color
which alters as the sun advances and
becomes bright pink. A species OF
evening primrose has white flowers
which change to red. Hibiscus vari-
abilis has flowers, white in the morn
ing, pink at noon, and bright red al
sunset.
Other plants have a different color
in the bud before it expands from what
it assumes in the open flower. In 9TH
ers, again, the color of the blossom is
changed as the plant becomes older
But effects may be produced by ex.
ternal agencies other than light. MIN
icry, possibly protective. has beer
sometimes detected. DR.. A. r. Wallace
tells US that spurges growing in deserts
often closely resemble cactl, and that
seaside plants and high Alpine plants
of different orders are often curiously
alike. Two cases, however, are still
more remarkable. DR.. Burchell fount
a mesembryanthemum in South Africs
colored like the pebbles among whicl
it grew, and Mansel Weale observed an
other plant in the same country which
exhibited similar power of imitation
In some casees, also, the color of tn,
flowers is affected by the character o
the soil. The ordinary hydrangea ma!
be changed from pink and rose colore,
to rather leaden blue by being plant
ed certain kinds OF loan and peat,
earth. 1t is popularity asserted tha
mixture of SCOT in the soil will sufficr
to produce the effect. Alum, according
to others. brings about the same result
We suspect that NJ. Fetisoff's blacl
rose, if it has been produced, is the out
come of culture in highly medicatet
soils, for a true black is a color whicl
seldom IL ever occurs in nature.