The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07
WHERE THE TCBEROSES GROW.
Millions OF Bulbs Raised in One County OF
North CarOllns.

Most of the tuberoses now blooming in
the open about New York and in the fore
ing houses of florists come from a COM
| paratively small area in Duplin county,
n. c. Here group Of nursery men produce
annually many million bulbs of the tube
rose for sale in this country and for ex-
portation to Europe.
The bulbs flourish there wonderfully
in light sandy soil. with porous clay
| subsoil, which seems to provide exactly
the right conditions for them. The young
bulbs are Get out in the spring to be de-
veloped for the next years Towering.
| The crop, which must be richly manured
and frequently cultivated. natures in
| August, and lis gathered from six to nine
| weeks later The tops are then cut OF at
the ground, and the bulbs are ploughed out
much as II they were potatoes. They are
| gathered by colored women, who shake
them free Of earth and remove the young
bulbs to serve to start the next years crop.
| The most careful growers have the bulbs
punched in tens by little negroes and hung
up indoors to dry. Sometimes artificial
| heat is used to hasten the drying The
curing process occupies from one to two
months.
The bulbs are not ready for market until
December. They are then packed in paper
lined barrels, holding from, 600 or 800 to
| $40, ana IN THESE packages tnoy are bnlpp0Q
| to various parts OF the world.
New York is the port from which most of
the bulbs are shipped to Europe. and ex-
porters here sometimes send away as many
as 10000 bulbs in q season. The price
which has greatly fallen within the last ten
years, varies from his to 81 q thousand.
Mammoth bulbs are from six to eight
inches in circumference. After that come
No. bulbs, which are at least four inches
in circumference. and No. 2, which are at
least three inches in circumference. The
small bulbs produce satisfactory flowers in
the South, but the larger bulbs are better
for forcing in the North.
Europe, which takes more delight In the
tuberose than America and demands the
flower the year round. imports bulbs from
The South African bulbs reach the Euro.
pean markets some months ahead of ours
and are Immediately forced for early flow.
ering.
Ours, which arrive in December and Jan.
iary, are retarded by being kept at a low
temperature, in order that they may furnish
summer and autumn flowers. 1t is really
difficult to make the American tuberose,
flower in winter or early spring,
The tuberose growers OF North Caroitns
to obtaining new varieties, and they have
attained wide reputation for their bulbs
They produce dwarf tuberoses Of pearly
tint that have a great reputation, double
| flowers, tuberoses with varie gated leaves
the orange fowered tuberose. the blossom
of which resembles that OF the orange, ar
albino and others.
Curiously enough both the popular name
and the botanical name OF the tuberos,
have been the subject OF much discussion
IIinreus named these flowers polianthes
but in an early work OF his the name wa,
by mistake spelled poyar,thes, which wa
naturally taken to mean smany-fiowered. !"
It is now believed that he intended shin.
ing flo wered," though some botanists thinl
he had in mind "tlie city flower
The popular name is sometimes called
stuberose, and sometimes "tuberose.
The latter Is the correct name. and thu
plant was 20 called to distinguish It from
the tuberous hvacinth. II ia properly
speaking not dubious, but a tuherou'
nlant.