The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-01
FLOWERS OF EASTER.

"a aa-
European Flower Gardens, Once ss,
preme, Now Rivaled in the Large
Cites of America.
Consider the lilies ce the :asa!!aa Tfe.
toll not. neither do they spin. but I ga,
unto 3cu that Solomon in all his gior.
was not arrayed like one of these"
So the Bible in precise and inspired Ian
guage tells US Of the flower which Il
synonymous with our ideas of Eastertid,
1.-The lovely blossom witch finds its wa,
at this season into all drawing rooms
churches and even into the humblest room.
where q token OF inspiration and a new
life are desired.
These lilies certainly deserve all tn.
praise they get. but the people who grow
them and buy them and care to lave the
about as a reminder of Easter and the
resurrection have to toll and spin q great
1 deal.
The demand for Easter lilies has grown
to such an extent that the propagation OF
these lovely spring flowers has become q
lucrative business to hundreds OF green
house men and growers. The lily bulb
fourishes best in Bermuda in narrow
patches often alongside Of the whole
some but unsmellable onion and the USE
ful 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.
The soil and climate OF Bermuda are
especially adapted to the growth Of the
lily. Our florists have had all kinds of
ideas of growing; this flower In California,
Georgia and Florida, but with no great
results as yet. TIL lily, like many other
of h most beautiful flowers. improves
on Its stem by age. Not until the second
year is 1t now thought advisable to ship
bulbs from Bermuda to the United
states. Many growers prefer to walt un-
III the fourth year, when the bulb is
hearty and strong enough to produce
beautiful lower even with careless
treatment. AS to the number of these
bulbs now produced In Bermuda and
shipped to the United States tor Easter
purposes. 1t is said that between 10, 900, 900
and 15,00o.0o 0 bulbs were sent here last
year.
Whether 1t has been possible to provide
such a large number 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 its value. The experience Of
growers has been that the practice Of cut
ing the lily flowers with long stems and
shipping them tends to weaker 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 |
dealers In the United States,
who had gone so far as to have an effort
made to introduce a resolution into con-
gress prohibiting the importation of lily
bulbs from Bermuda unless guaranteed
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 1t would be Impossible to ask for
redress. which would natural
y work its own course out in time.
The harrisii lilies continue to be the
sreatest favorttes this year. Their only
ival ~ the L. longi1orum, but the most
incere growers OF the lily in Bermuda
70 not give the preference to the latter
lower. Its cost Of production as COM
Jared with the harrisii has rather de-
erred growers from exporting 1t to this |
It may be taken for granted,
therefore,, that the great majority Of Eas-
er lilies shown n bought to be enjoyed
are Of the kind known as harrisii.
fiaster lilies, however, are not the only =
lowers OF Eastertide. A look through q
Professional or amateur greenhouse or
'ur lovely lower stalls for the last few :
weeks has revealed a great wealth of
.zaleas growing in profuston under the !
all and stately lily. The lily must reach .
certain height OF its W to become !
but the azalea spreads out its ,
vealth OF blossoms In a round and COM !
act form. So the clever grower entices ,
lis lilies up into the air while he per-
uades the azaleas to spread their beauty !
ut under their companions. These, !.
hough, are but few of the flowers used ,
a commemoration of the awakening of .
life and beauty after the dreary Pc ,
lod of Lent. But while Easter is symbol .
cal of everything that is white, pure and
resh. one cannot deny the fragrance and
eauty OF the rose. violet, hydrangea,
enesta and lilac. which are always .
Rowling their way to recognition. !
Such q multitude Of lovely flowers, kept ,
ack and withheld In the greenhouse for !.
eneral presentation at Easter time, has !
ow conN. xted our thorouRhfares Into !
irritable bowers Of blossoms. III flower J
ardens of Paris, London and Berlin nave
cen extolled as something quite beyond '
ne possibilities Of a newly settled coun- $
" like this. yet year by ear we nave
cen assimilating all the best ideav of !.
to be obtained In the world, !
nd our florists have been spreading their I
,vely wares before q pleased and de-; .
GIFTED public only too willing to buy.
The Day for Spring Rejoicinas. +
New York World: Easter the world
yer means. first Of all. the coming of {
ght and thA going Of darspa.a re- 4