Daily camera., 1899-07-07
THE BERMUDA LILY.
How the Flowers Are TRANSPORTED
for Easter.
Great CnFe Is Exercised to Preserve
Them from Injury in TrAn-
sit - Grown for the
nulbs,

The majority of people who see the
magnificent display of Easter lilies in
our churches" said a large importer of
these flowers recently, do not realize
what an immense task it is to get the
blossoms to their destination at the
right time and in the proper condition.
We who have spent years in the bust
ness know how difficult it is to meet
with even fair share of success, and so
we are not disappointed at failures that
would dishearten a man who did not
understand the methods employed in
their growth and transportation. In the
first place, lilies are grown in Bermuda,
not for the purpose of exporting them
to the United States, but to supply
the demands for bulbs for American
florists.
in Bermuda the flowers are checked
to strengthen the bulbs, or, if permitted
to bloom, are thrown away by the mil
lions. When an American florist pro-
cures bulbs from Bermuda in quanti-
ties he grows them to blossom at the
right season without regard for the
Bermuda crop, and sells them at prices
| ranging from 25 cents to two dollars
per blossom, according to the trade to
which he caters.
"The idea of importing these buds for
sale was first suggested to florists by
the number of them that came through
the express offices, sent by tourists to
friends at home, and, though more were
spoiled in transportation than came
through in good condition, the cost of
each flower was, in the end, less than
that quoted on the market. With the
proper knowledge Of the peculiarities of
the plants, there was no reason why
their importation should not be made
paying business. and it was accord
ingly tried.
I'm gaining the necessary knowledge
some money has been lost. Experience
had to teach when to select, where
to select and whom to trust. The
mistake that was first made was
that of taking buds from growers
and allowing the local express rep
resentatives to attend to all the de-
tails. The result was that some of the
goods reached us in good condition, but
more did not, and we saw that the
only safe plan was to arrange with some
responsible grower and to fix upon a
certain remuneration, the growers to be
| held accountable for the condition of
the goods as they left his hands.
"One great difficulty is this: Easter
may fall any time between the close of
March and the 25th of April, and there
is danger that the season in Bermuda
may be too early or too late to permit of
| the best buds being shipped. This year,
notwithstanding the fact that Easter is
! early, our firm received assurances
| from its correspondents that the buds
would be in first-class condition.
1.-THE economic advantage of importa-
| ton is that, while lilies grown here cost
about 25 cents flower and upward, the
buds imported can be had for about
| six cents flower. The difference in
price, of course, stimulates the de-
| mand.
'The buds are packed in boxes con-
| tanning from so to 70 each, the aver
age being about go. Some years the
| price, delivered here, has been $3.50 to
$3.50 box. This year the price was
about 1925 a box, owing, as l have
| explained, to the fact that the grow
| er is brought into the transaction, and
| is compelled to give his guarantee.
''The buds are green when packed
There is stem left on each, perhaps
| is to 90 inches long. Perfect buds should
| have no white on them at all when they
leave Bermuda. Each one is wrapped
in soft paper, and all are packed in
box of moss, SO made that the air may
reach the contents. By the time they
reach here they should have some whit
| ish-yellow indications. If the leaves
are yellow and the end of the stalk dead,
the bud is hopelessly ruined, and all
| effort on it is wasted.
"The way to develop the buds is to
place the ends of the stems in clear,
| fresh water, the temperature of which
will govern the rapidity OF develop
| ment. Lukewarm water will bring
them out at once, if the room be also
warm Water at about 40 degrees, a
cool room and not too much light will
| bring them out in about five days. The
| buds will stand the cold adj right, but
heat from stove or steam pipe ruins
them. m."-Philadelphia Press.