El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-15
FLOWERS FOR
THE EASTER
SEASON
The Typical Easter Flowers
Were Formerly Annuncia-
tion Lilies.
BERMUDA LILY NOW
AN AMERICAN PLANT

New OK, y J., April 1J--EdcE
year the output of Easter flowers in
creases in variety. beauty and
commercial value. According TO care
ful estimate the Easter flower trade
| has increased at least 100 percent in
the past 10 years. With the greater
demand come many new varieties even
I II the staple flowers Formerly An
nurciation lilies were the typical Easter
I flowers. although 4 quarter Of a cen
fury ago they we're sufficiently rare
20 prohibit them from being lavish1y
used
In the earl- eighties William Harris.
a Philadelphia florist. began the i'm
portation &C the beautiful white lily
of the Bermuda islands for Easter
decoration. At first the plants them
selves were imported. then the cut
stems containing the buds were care
+ fully packed IN cotton wool and ship
ped by cold storage steamers to New
/ York. 1t WIS several years, however
; before che bulbs brought by Mr. Har-
ris were in general use. Like all
novelties, the demand for the Ber-
muda lily soon excelled the output.
Exhaust Native supply.
The shiftless natives IN Bermuda in
stead of thrifty reserving their best
and strongest bulbs for reproduction
sold them to the American market.
They had no idea OF cuitivating
nourishing soil to keep up the strength
of the flowers Within 10 years of the
time the Bermuda lilies were put upon
the American market. they become so
reduced on their native island both as
30 quality and quantity. that the
United States bureau Of agriculture
sent a commission to Bermuda to study
their conditions and requirements. As
-,
socalled Bermuda lily<is almost entire
ly an American product. 1t has TO be
very carefully grown in glass rooted
houses and kept at an even tempera-
ture a little lower than that of Ber-
muda. which averages about IS de-
grees.
Next to the lily in Easter signifi-
canoe comes the daffodil. This beauti-
full golden blossom with its waxy pc
tails is much used for decorations.
Though il is easily grown and mas
been popular as a home garden flower
for centuries. it also is extensively sold
by florists. The daffodils Of the anna
teur gardener are largely dependent
upon conditions OF the weather The
florist takes no chances, for this flow
er plays an important part in the
Easter trade and outside of all the
large cities great fields may be found
containing millions of these yellow
flowers for the Easter trade.
Roses Still Popular.
In the cut flower trade. roses come
first in popularity at Easter as well as
other times. The American Beauty
rose, which by the way was the pro-
duction Of a rose grower in the Dis
trict Of Columbia who acquired a COM
Portable fortune from that one flower,
L. oil IN
keeps high for the hardy, long stem
med variety which now runs from $40
TO $50 per 100 at wholesale, exceeding
orchids which may be purchased at
from SIS to $50 per 100 The demand
for orchids in America has grown
tremendously during the past five
years, but the supply has increased
proportionately so that they are lower
rather than higher in price excepting
for the few rare varieties only valu-
able to the collectors.
1t is peculiar how certain flowers
have sprung into prominence for
period and then suddenly fallen from
favor and are no more heard Of Dur
lug the 18th and 18th century Europe
YVES wild over tulips. Fortunes were
spent for single plant. The craze
was strongest in Holland and the
1iercest rivalry obtained between flor
lists IN propagating new varieties.
More than one man was robbed and
murdered for his tulip bulbs which
often were worth many times their
weight in gold. Now tulips have fallen
into mediocrity. They are chiefly used
for outside ornamental bedding. No
one takes any decided interest in
them and they are as cheap as any
potted plants sold.
Sweet Peas Gain Favor.
Sweet peas are rapidly gaining in
favor for cutting purposes, not only /
in America but in Europe. This spring
season. the United States agricultural
distributed seven and one
half tons of sweet pea seed, chiefly
to private growers. This of course !
would represent but a fraction of the
quantity raised by the florists for
their own use. In England the inter /
est in sweet pea growing is now at
it's height One Of the London news J
papers is offering prizes amounting to /
$50, 900 for sweet peas grown by anna /
teurs. The American Sweet Pea So /
ciety is one of the most active floral |
clubs Of the country. Among its eff I
forts this year will be the production !
of a sun-proof. crimson blossom Of 1
goodly size. There have been some /
experiments in producing double sweet |
lar favor. The single flower in its
form, with a greater variety |
OF brilliant shades and an increase in I
size, especially in white and light col
ered flowers, seems the greatest re-
1uirement of the trade.
Violets of course are ever in favor
1t may interest the reader to know
that the California violet is no longer
sold to any great extent It is re-
placed in the trade b. the variety
known as the Princess of Wales
Next to the rose in favor for all
the-year-round sales comes the carfa-
ton with its rich perfume. The Car
nation Society of America has done !
much to improve this magnificent !
flower. which through its influence
has had increased popularity in Lon
Ion. One Of the greatest drawbacks
in the production of large carnations |
especially those forced in the hot
houses, is the tendency of the calyx !
o split down one side and thus ruin
the flower. Only the ingenuity of a /
ankee could overcome this difficulty /
~ the invention OF an artificial caIyx