The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-04-01
0WE OF EASTER.

European Flower Gardens, Once Su,
prcmc, Now Rivaled in the Large
Cities Of America.
"CoEsider the lilies OF the field. They
toll not, neither do they spin, butt say
unto you tina Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these"
So the Bible in precise and inspired Ian
| gupge tells us of the flower which Is
synonymous with our ideas OF Eastertide
the lovely blossom Witch finds its way
at this season into all drawing rooms,
where q token OF inspiration and a new
life are desired.
: These lilies certainly deserve all the
praise they get. but the people who grow
them and buy them and care to have them
about as a reminder Of Easter and the
deal.
The demand for Easter lilies has grown
to such an extent that the propagation OF
these lovely spring flowers has become a
lucrative business to hundreds Of green
house men and growers. The lily bulb
flotlrishes best in Bermuda in narrow
patches often alongside Of the whole
full but homely potato. The bulbs are
shipped to all the large cities in great
quantities during the autumn and winter
and placed in greenhouses to be developed
into the lovely plant which has become.
symbolical Of Easter.
h soil and climate of Bermuda are
especially adapted to the growth of the
lily. Our florists a had all kinds of
ideas OF growing this flower in California,
Georgia and Florida, but with no great
results as yet. The lily. like many other
of the most beautiful flowers, improves
on its stem by age. Not until the Second
year is it now thought advisable to ship
bulbs from Bermuda to the United
States. Many growers prefer to wait I'M
til the fourth year. when the bulb is
hearty and strong enough to produce
beautiful flowers even with careless
treatment. AS to the number of these
bulbs now produced In and
shipped to the United States for Easter
purposes. 1t is said that between 10000. 600
and Ii, 100000 bulbs were sent here last
year.
Whether 1t has been possible to provide
such a large numbe of bulbs this season
depends entirely upon the condition of
lily fields in Bermuda during the last
year. The Florists club OF New York
has over and over again asserted that
cutting the leaf bearing stem impairs the
vigor of the flower bearing bulb and thus
lessons it's value. The experience of
growers has been that the practice Of cut
ting the lily flowers with long stems and
shipping them tends to weaken the bulb.
Flowers thus cut are of no substantial
value or Beauty for more than a day or
two, and the bulb is ruined. Last year a
combination Of Bermuda lily growers was
formed for the purpose OF preventing this
threatened destruction OF the lily trade
which met with unqualified approval of
reputable dealers in the United States,
who had gone so far as to have an effort
i noa1a IN Introduce a resolution {ntp po,.
gress prohibiting the Importation of lily
bulbs from Bermuda unless guaranteed
to be in a perfectly healthy condition.
The committee of the Florist club, to
which this matter was referred, expressed
an opinion at the time. after consultation
with all the lily growers in this country,
that it would he impossible to ask for
government redress. which would natural
ly work Its own course out in time.
The harrlsil lilies continue to be the
greatest favor1tes this year. Their only
rival is the L. longilorum, but the most
do not give the preference to the latter
flower. It's cost of production as COM
pared with the harrisii. has rather de-
tered growers from exporting 1t to this
country. It may be taken for granted,
therefore, that the great majority of Eas-
ter lilies shown and bought to be enjoyed
today are OF the kind known as harrisii.
SASSS 4AASS 0.S W. NAS SHHJ
flowers of Easter.ide. A look through a
professional or amateur greenhouse or
| our lovely flower stalls for the last fey
weeks has revealed a great wealth Of
azaleas growing in profusion under the
tall and stately lily. The lily must reach
g. certain height of ITS own to become
beautiful, but the azalea spreads out its
| wealth of blossoms IN a round and COM
pact form. So the clever grower entices
his lilies up, into the air while he per-
suades the azaleas to spread their beauty
out under their companions. These.
though. are but few of the flowers used
in commemoration of the awakening OF
new life and beauty after the ireary pc
riod of Lent. But while Easter is symbol
ical of everything that is white, pure and
fresh, one cannot deny the fragrance and
beauty of the rose. violet, hydrangea,
genesta and lilac, which are always
crowding their way to recognition.
Such a multitude of lovely flowers, kept
| back and withheld in the greenhouse for
| general presentation at Easter time, has
now converted our thorouehfares into
veritable bowers Of blossoms. The flower
gardens of Paris, London and Berlin rave
been eXtolled as something quite beyond
the possibilities Of a newly settled coun-
TRY like this, yet year by year we nave
been assimilating all the best ideau OF
Horticulture to be obtained In the world,
and our florists I'VE been spreading their
lovely wares before a pleased and de-
lighted public only too willing to buy.
The Day for Spring Rejoicings.
New York World: Easter the world
| over means first Of all the coming of