The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-30
FLOWERSOF EASTER
RAISING THEM CONSTITUTES M
PORTANT INDUSTRY OF
COUNTRY TODAY
BIG PROFITS AT EAsTERTIDE
Prominent Florist Tells Howe the
Different Varieties Are Raised,
and Explains Methods EN-
plOyed in Their Culture,


Special to The Globe
NEW YORK, March 29.-The story
CT the Bermuda lily has been so often
told that many forget the flowers
whose presence, though less conspic-
uous at Easter, is no less delightful.
Roses, YiOlets, azaleas, hyacinths,
tulips, jonquils, narcissi, and a host
Of other favorites go to make up the
lovely floral displays seen in our
churches at Eastertide.
The elaborate nurseries in which
these are raised for the New York
market are situated principally in
New Jersey suburbs, along the banks
CT the Hudson, and on Staten and
Long islands,
'Cut roses, for instance" said a
prominent florist, in discussing the
matter, nearly all come from Mad
lson, NewJersey, which is the largest
rose producing center in the country.
Most of the growers find 1T profit
able to make a specially of one par
ucular article, and one Of them has
quite an extensive farm devoted en-
tlrely to the cultivation Of the violet.
AZale2s come in shrub form from
Holland, and commence to flower here
naturally in the early fall. They are
forced in order to meet the necessities
OF the florists, and so may be found
in evid nee at Easter.
HyacInths, tulips, jOnquils and mar
cissi are all Holland bulbs, and inn
mense quantities Of them are inn
ported annually.
They are planted outdoors during
the fall and kept there until the
plant has partially developed Then
they are removed to the hot houses
and forced to blossom as the demand
for them arises.
When allowed to remain ont all
winter, as i'll the case Of those plant
ed in the public parks. the bulbs re-
main dormant until the first rays OF
the spring sun woo the green shoots
above the surface of the ground.
In the hot houses the plants are
usually kept in boxes, well covered
with earth, and at various tempera-
lures, 50 that there is always one crop
OF them in bloom, their DEVELOPMENT
Delng either stimulated or retarded
IS desired.
Inc cultivation Of the native grown
Easter lily commences i'll the fall
The Holland bulbs do not mature here
as well as those from Bermuda.
THE lily bulbs are very sensitive.
and require most careful treatment
Thousands Of them are wasted.
through being overlooked, while 9TH
ers are often produced at a time
when they are not needed
The lilac is now used largely IN
Easter decorations. Some varieties
utilized are the same as those which
bloom naturally in June
In order to secure the Towering
early enough for Easter. the lilac
plants are taken up from the garden
or field with a large clot of earth
around the roots. This operation III per
formed in the fan, before the fine.
hbrOus roots, which come with the
spring, have commenced to spread.
The shrub, therefore. suffers no shock
in being transplanted
THE lilac plant is, however. rather
whimsical, if such an expression NAV
be applied to the inanminate Unless
1t experiences its usual winter season
the native lilac will not bear any
blossoms The plants, with the large
clot Of earth around the roots ara
therefore left in the fields until such
time as it becomes necessary to take
them into the dollhouse and force them
for the Easter trade.
THE miniature or white lilac is or
French, or rather, Persian origin. and
Is forced to as great an extent as the
other foreign shrubs.
Hydrangeas are produced in the
same manner as lilacs, being given
their artificial period Of rest and then
gradually brought on to seasouabIe
towering. The hydrangea is a native
plant and is grown here entirely. al
though its original home is japan.
In the matter Of quantity roses
tower above all other flowers i'm the
Easter display millions Of them being
used at this season.
Owing to the moderation Of the
weather they are much cheaDer AFT
raster than at Christmas, less arti-
nclal heat and less care being required
to develop the blossoms.
The rose plants are pronaoatod
during the summer and blossonine-
commences in the fail The rose ~
one Of the most delicate Of aIJ fba
hurseryman's charges and has to be
watched continually, so that the tenn
Perature and other conditions are
favorable for its development.
ne question Of cutting the flowers
involves most delicate ODeratiou
Roses, for instance, are generally emf
very early In the morning or late fp
the afternoon, because they do nor de-
VeIop as satisfactorily during the dav
as through the night.
me cut flowers are placed In lars op
water and kept in a cool place until
S S tme as they are sent to the
consumer or the retail florist
Should this precaution NOT he talon
the bloom will not possess tI,e 1a-ti..-
quality which is desirable as ILL.,
water absorbed into the St.,
strengthens and sustains them for -
considerable period.
10 enable the flower e-rorra-g III
dispose OF their different grades ~
Prouucts the wholesale dealers ar fob-
pers become Indispensable.
!hese, IN turn, dispense ~ Aha
Horlsts the grades suited to THEN. o1asl,
VI custom and thus facilitate tie nro-
cess Of distribution.
In New York city the wholesale
newer market is situated in thu vfciu-
Ivy OF the leading florist shops. being
IN the neighbOrhoOd Of Broadway on
streets. Ii'II
Business commences here at the
hour OF early incoming trains and ex-
tehds from O'Clock until almost noon
The large traffic in cut flowers has
neceSsitated the use Of special wagons
Tor the purpose. at all seasons, by the
express companies on the various
railroads leading into New York
AT Easter time the number IF these
is vastly increased and the scenes at
the wholesalers, where flowers are put
up for shipment to all parts of the
country, IS a lively and interesting
one"