Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-16
EASTER FLOWERS.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Each year the output of Easter flowers
increases in variety. beauty and COM
mercial value. According to careful! ec-
innate the Easter flower trade has in
creased at least hundred per cent in
the past ten years. With the greater de-
mand come many new varieties. even in
the stap.e flowers. Formerly Annuncia-
ton lilies were the typical Easter flow
ers, although a quarter of century
ago they were sufficiently rare to pro-
hibit them from being lavishly use1.
In the early eighties William Harris,
Philadelphia florist. began the impor-
tation Of the beautiful white lily Of the
Bermuda Islands for Easter decoration
At first the plants themselves were i'm
ported, then the cut stems cont tanning
the buds were carefully packed in cot
ton wool and shipped by cold storage
steamers to New York. 1t was several
years, however, before the bulbs brought
by Mr.. Harris were in general use. Like
all novelties, the demand for the Ber-
muda lily soon excelled the output.
The shtftiess natives in Bermuda. in
strongest bulbs for reproduction, sol 1
them to the American market. They
had no Idea of cultivating nouri ;hing
soil to keep up the strength of the
the Bermuda lilies were put upon the
American market they became so re-
duced on their native island. both as
to quality and quantity that the United
States bureau of agriculture sent a COM
mission to Bermuda to study their con-
ditions and requirements. AS result
of these Investigations the so-called Ber
muda lily is almost entirely an Ameri-
van product. 1t has to be very carefully
grown in glass-roofed houses and kept
OF ton, afI1rn "a
than that of Bermuda, which averages
about IS degrees.
Next to the lily in Easter significance
comes the daffodil. This beautiful golden
blossom with its
much used for dec
for Decorations. orations Though it
is easily grown and has been popular as
home garden flower for centuries. it
also Is extensively sold by florists. The
daffodils Of the amateur gardener are
largely dependent upon conditions of the
weather. The florist takes no chances.
for this flower 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 flow
ers for the Easter trade.
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 production Of a rose
grower in the District of Columbia, who
acquired a comfortable fortune from that
one flower. excels all others in demand.
The price keeps high for the hardy,
long stemmed variety, which now runs
from $40 to $50 per hundred at whole
sale. exceeding orchids, which may be
purchased at from $25 to $50 per hum
dred. The demand for orchids in Amer
lea 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
valuable 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 During the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries Europe was
wild over tulips. Fortunes were spent
for a single plant. The craze was strong
est In Holland, and the fercest rivalry
obtained between florists 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 ported plants
sold.