Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27

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Buying bulbs. anyway. IL somewhat
like purchasing "a pig in a poke" or
taking a part in any one Of . nupber
of hazardous games OF chance. u Is
months before one knows how these bulbs
will turn out and 1t IL no unusual ex-
perience OF those engaged IN the business
to find that all their work and trouble
have been OF no avail. Accordingly in
the little kingdom OF the lilies there are
many crippies, frail, hunchhacksd. dis
eased plants. contradicting every idea
and ideal conveyed by the phrase ''as
graceful a. . lily-
The bulbs OF some OF the most perfect
Easter lilies are imported from Japan.
the Island Of Formosa and Azores Islands
in the north Atlantic ocean or the coast
of Portugal. Experienoe has taught
much cheaper-on account OF the increased
cost of iab0r-and much mora satisfactory
to buy the imported bulbs rather than
to attempt to raise them themselves. Az
care before the lilies are in q saIable con-
dition. During their development It In
necessary to shift them from tine 20
time. From a four-inch pot they are
put into ,six-inch pot. from which they
later graduate TO an eight or ten inch pot.
One of the most popular Easter spe-
cialties is the Lilium lonsifiorumharrisii.
Another of the most successful lilies Is
the red-stemmed siganteum, the bulb
of which comes from Japan. Then there
is the wen known Gala lily ana the
interesting feature in the culture Of lilies
is that the grower by the regulation OF
heat can control the development Of the
bud and blossom. This year 1t has been
necessary. as mentioned before. to slb-
ject the lily to harder forcing than usual.
How long should an average pot of
lilies last?'' wholesale grower was asked.
Ask me something easy!" he laughed.
How long should they last? Well, two
or three weeks, at least, although, OF
course. that depends upon the treatment
they are given and the temperature Of the
room in which they are kept. A broken
stalk Of lilies put into vase of water
will often live longer than when kept. in
the pot. Why? Well, nature is very
wonderful-frequentiy person gives the
ported lily too much or too little water.
But when kept in vase OF water. 1t
knows just the amount of water neces-
sary for it TO take up for its own needs"
las a market for ENTHUSIASTICALLY
Easter fiowers-I would say that Wash
ington is second to none in the United
States. said florist who has been In
business here for many years As the
outskirts of Washington are generously
dotted with greenhouses, conservatories
and nurseries. there are almost enough
flowers grown within reach OF the District
for the fact that the flowers purchased in
Washington are noticeably fresh and last
ing. Chicago is the great outside vest
ern market; and l Baltimorei ;, pniladssphl.
markets. Choice roses are grown on the
= beautiful and picturesque Hudson river.
= many of which find their way into Wash
: ington.''
The typical Easter rose is the cream
rose, but quantities Of other roses are
sold, including the American beauty.
; which sells at this time for about SIS q
l Dozen
r To certain extent a. cold. gloomy
Easter does in a way curtail the sale or
5 all Easter flowers and cuts on slight
proportion of the florists revenues. But
there is always a big demand, despite
!, any unfavorable conditions.
-
feature of the Easter trade Is the
large number Of wreaths which are sold
as a tribute to memory. Many of these
wreaths, pillows and other beautiful
funeral pieces are made up of the fresh
ly cut flowers at their best, their life
time is of but short duration. So a large
percentage of the flowers used in the task
of making up such designs are made of
wax-waxen roses that are the work OF
an artist both in form and coloring
There are also a number OF linen flowers
that are made waterproof and enduring
by being dipped into a solution of wax.
This style of flower. which has so re-
placed the old-fashioned immortelle, origi-
mated in Paris, from which city a great
many are shipped to America.
Cold storage eggs and cold storage
chickens are well known quantities. But
there is another phase of the cold stor-
age question not SO well knowu-coid
storage flowers. While one may not
relish the idea of knowingly partaking
OF cold storage eggs or cold storage
fowl. even the most fastidious could And
no 1ault with cold storage flowers
what exquisite lilies of the valley
exclaimed the writer recently standing
~ -, Wen known flower store on F street.
me cluster of blossoms in question
was deiic1ously fragrant-the leaves were
beautiful green and the flowers a rich
creamy white.
been in cold storage fourteen months"
said the owner Of the store with pardon
able pride.
Gold storage for fourteen months. But
freshly cut fowers"'
Not whit. Why, I would guarantee
10 PACK this spray and deliver it safely in
London-say-and the person who onenad
the box would find the flowers as fresh
ana sweet as they are now
inns year the stores are showing some
exceptionally beautiful rhododendronx
winch are also an example of the truth
lhdt cold storage does not hurt flowers
June is the month of the year when. in
the eastern states. the rhododendron is
at ITS greatest beauty. But now, thanks
10 colo storage. one can have Then,
throughout all the seasons. Holland and
beigium are great producers of the rho
dOdendron. o iho-
Flowers are one Of the divine links that
Dlnd earth to heaven. There Is some.
unlng about them which makes a stron,.
appeal to the sentiments. A Washinxton
man. who knows every phase OF tfe
flower question, says: my experience
has proven that in the culture and saIe
OF MOWERS one comes into touch with
every emotion of human life and into
contact with even the remotest corners
of the earth. Especially at Easter n ont.
impressed with the sacred place they
hold in the world Of affairs and men,"
Recently man. prominent In both Of
fetal and business circles, visited one OF
the big greenhouses In the outskirts OF
the city. 1t was a beautiful Sunday aft
ernoon. With mingled expressions of de-
light he viewed row after row Of pottod
plants, rose bushes. ferns and palms, and
he stood with barred head before q pro-
fusion of sweet peas. For a few mo-
ments he remained in absolute silence
Then. turning to the owner Of the vast
display, he said:
THANK you for bringing me here and
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