The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-20
WASHINGTON. March 6. 1871:

WASHINGTON. March 6, 1912. :,
Comparatively few know of the m
teresting experiments that are being
carried on at the Bulb Garden near
the town of Bellingham, Washington,
under the direction of the Secretary
of Agriculture.
For years the United States has
been sending to Holland and Euro. |
pean countries many thousands c.
dollars annually for hyacinth, tulip,
narcissus and crocus bulbs. The pur-
chase of these bulbs had constantly
increased until the past year, when
over a million dollars worth were i'm.
ported.
In 1908 the Secretary of Agricul-
ture decided to establish on the
Pacific Coast a garden for the cul-
ture and propagation of Holland
bulbs, and point on the Puget
| Sound, near the town of Bellingham,
was selected as having suitable soil
and climate for this work A tract
of ten acts was leased through
the Bellingham Board of Trade al
the necessary buildings erected and
| turned over to the Department
| Agriculture for the purpose of demon
strating whether or not the Holland
bulbs could be grown successfully 'at
that point.
The Department commenced work
at once, and the same year planted
over 10000 bulbs. From that time
the work has gone on increasing un-
til the present year, when over S69,
600 bulbs were planted. The increase
in the number of bulbs raised has
been very gratifying; each bult
yielding the maximum number Of
young ones, which have proven equal
if not superior to the results obtain
ed in Holland.
It is believed that bulbs can be
grown on the Pacific Coast, and OF
quality that will compare favorabl1
with, and in many ways surpass, tn
I imported article, the cost of produc
ton and marketing being now thu
chief obstacles.
= An effort is being made to over
S come the differences between th
= high price of labor in America AM
the cheap labor of Europe by invent
/ ing appliances to lessen the ham
Z labor required in bulb production, an
the substitution of horse power 10
: many of the operations performed ell
L tirely by hand in Europe has redu'
IS ed the cost of production consider
d ably. In this way it is hoped tina
IL growers in the United States VII
= be able to compete successfully wit
II the European bulb growers.
A serious drawback to the pre-
u duction of Holland bulbs on the Coa'
e is the heavy expense of freight shi
ments across the continent but whe
L shipment can be made by water, &
! will be the case after the completio
of the Panama Ndldl, IL SAOuAu
possible to deliver such bulbs at Il
II mort of New York almost as cheap
t, as they can be brought from Europ
T. Furthermore, the demand for sue
bulbs for planting on the Pacll
Coast is rapidly increasing.
~ These experiments are solely Il
lis the purpose of showing prospect
III bulb growers what can be done
al growing these bulbs in the Unit
States. The Gardens are always OPP
to the public and when the bulbs a
in bloom thousands avail themselv
of the opportunity to visit the g
dens and enjoy the flowers. AT D
time it is a veritable little HollaI
Thousands upon thousands Of
acinths, tulips and narcissus in
- colors and nearly all in flower
- once can be seen.
Careful records are being kept a
much valuable information is bel