The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-27
THE ORRIS PLANT
new IN VIRGINIA

CONTINUED From First Page)
adaptabiiity to soil and climate and
for productive capacity. Crops have
been cured and marketed each year,
the flowers cut and shipped, expert
ments made with fertilizers and the
method Of drying and curing improved.
Easily Made In Virginia.
Among the many good points may be
mentioned the following: 1t is hardy,
thriving in the open field without any
| protection in winter in any part OF
Virginia.; the plant Is not injured by
bugs, moles or mice. 1t has no fungus
enemies; drought will not Kill 1t; 1t
will succeed on soil too poor to pro-
duce the standard crops with success
stock will not eat it; no shade, poles,
lattice or other help Is required to
made is succeed; 1t can be largely
raised by persons of the household not
suited to heavier labor.
The plants require no care beyond
that of an ordinary root a me , ron
comes. and the tops are often green
throughout the entire winter. Women
are fond OF it. A field In bloom gives
off a delightful fragrance. piece
Of the dried root In bureau drawer
or closet gives it an exquisite per-
fume. The beauty of the plant, espe-
cially when in bloom, gives 1T a fasci.
mating attraction for persons of taste
and refinement.
The Money In 1t.
The orris plant possesses three
sources of income for the grower. An
acre is capable of producing 1000
pounds Of dried root. 5000 dozen
howers, 10000 small roots suitable for
planting after those for drying have
been gathered. The value Of these
products under proper conditions may
exceed $4,000 each two years. These
figures express the possibilities of orris
culture in Virginia, but the flowers. of
course. would not be OF value to
who has no facilities for shipping them,
but they add beauty to the surround
ings on the farm that Is very attrac-
tive.
dividing the roots. They increase
rapidly. Two hundred and fifty plants
will increase into enough to plant an
acre in three years.
- Gitchell Talks.
In talking Of the matter NJ. Gitchell
said:
when made my first report on the
orris plant in 1905 was asked to give
my opinion whether or not the supply
Of dried orris root and roots for plant
Ing would not soon oyerstoclS the mar
ket repliedit would not. My opinion
has not changed. The demand for
American grown root will continue to
Increase and the consumption of for
eign- grown root will decrease for the
reasons stated herein and for the adj
dltional reasons that so long as wealth
continues to increase fastidious tastes
will Increase the demands for the
fancy products into which orris enters
and because new uses are being found
for orris.
1.-THE attempt to dlsplace orris with
powdered lockwood has failed, and
nothing has been discovered to take
its place. There is now brisk de-
mand for high class orris and the pro-
ducts into which 1t enters and for the
plants, both for pleasure and profit,
for fields, gardens and landscape work.
The future Is bright and full of promise
because the importing price for crude
.orris has doubled In six years, and Is
still advancing. and we have proven
that Virginia-grown orrs is intrinsi-
cally worth 30 per cent, more In per-
centage OF perfume that 1t carries, than
the foreign product.
Hose Who contemplate the future
of the industry will be interested In
thu question OF the .nrics OF the future