The Washington times., 1902-09-07
A BLUE ROSE.
Wonderful Flower Has Been Received in
London From Here.

|
| The announcement was made fe,
| days ago in a London paper that per
feet blue rose had been received from
America at Kew Gardens. There wa
nothing in the short notice. aside from
the mention that the rose was consider
ed botanical curiosity, to indicate tha
the flower, perfect blue, marks al
epoch in rose culture.
Among the faddists in the growing o.
the rose it has been for ages the sought.
for color. Not that there would be any
particularly large money reward, but
there seems to be some allurement In
the hope that their name may go down
in botanical history trailing after q
Latin prefix as the grower of per
feet blue
In other countries and in bygone
years things we're different as to the
monetary rewards for successful grow
ing of floral monstrosities. This was
notably the case in the Netherlands
during the early part of the seventeenth
century The country went mad over
the tulip. and large bonuses in cash
were offered for a production Of perfect
peciaIly true black. And one instance
is recorded where $4,000 forms were
paid for single plant.
While the growing of these floral
freaks has always been matter of
much interest to botanists. 1t has been
a luxury with which the commercial
florist. no matter how enthusiastic.
could not afford to toy. He is mostly
concerned in the successful raising of
varieties for which there is well
known public demand. Thus experiment
tation has become a monopoly enjoyed
by private botanical students and those
at the head of botanical gardens and the
attached to private. es-
tates.
And like the preliminary work on in
in other lines, the expert
mental botanist surrounds his work with
a shroud of secrecy, seemingly fearful
Of the loss of his idol or that someone
may steal the secret of its rearing.
Thus, while the announcement states
hat the rose came from this side, its
existence in this country was not sus
oected by any ,of the experts in rose cul-
ure interviewed.
The cultivation of the blue rose has
ong been considered an impossibility.
"A seeker after blue roses is an Old
phrase signifying the unattainable. But
such wonderful things have been done
With the rose in the way OF cultivation,
beauty. and fragrance, that
I is net surprising that ambitious rose
ulturists should strive for this high
,oal
One head gardener. in speaking of the |
natter. said that it did not surprise hin |
hat the blue rose had been grown at
asst. There have. according to him. |
lways been some few enthusiasts work
ng to that end. Probably their pa
ience had at last been rewarded
For you must understand he contin..
ed, that the perfection of such rose
ieans much-the work of lifetime.
wen the attempted cultivation of such
monstrosity presupposes premiership
! the ranks of notanists II involves an
ge of personal experience and a knowl-
ige of the continued experiences of 9TH
rs along the same line.
Years and years of individual expert
tent. grating, budding. and rebuilding.
tossing and ,recrossing with endless
l>-eties all the while keeping minute
cords OF the habits of the plant in its
ferent .stages. its varying color, this
me nearer approach to the cherished
ue, and then again a casting off; at ,
mes in the seventh heaven of esctasy
Ter some slight indication of advance
ent toward the goal, only to be cast
to the nethermost depths of despond-
ICY by the cOntrariness of the next
'oss. New York Tribune. Ii