The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-28

children are idiots! So with flow
ers. Take the crossing of the yellow
chrysanthemums; it produces a snow
white flower and vice versa-two
whites make a vivid yellow. The first
years offspring shows only a few good
points You see we judge chrysanthe-
| NUNS as We do horse, 100 points
being the standard. This means sub
stance. foliage, stem, color, texture and
| formation of bloom"
Then 1t takes years to perfect
them?" I suggested.
''Oh yes" said Mr.. Scales, 'and it takes
constant care, vigilance and eternal
patience to be successful in cultivating
| flowers"
Would you call it a genius for raising
| flowers-talent, education, or what?"
asked.
1T is an inexplicable term.'' said Mr.
| Scales. ITS something that is born In a
person. Why, flowers are just human be-
ings In a different form. They get so they
| know the hand that rocks the cradle. You
must treat them kindly as you would a
child; love them, doctor them, feed them.
cover them up when they are cold, give
them air and sunshine when they are
tired and worn out, and their nerves are
on edge-in other words, they must be
| cared for just like a little baby. And
above all, the person who does this must
| love them as parent loves child
Have you always loved flowers?"
asked, as this clever man spoke in such
affectionate terms of his companions.
AT 10 years of age, over in my ma
tive country, England Mr.. Scales an
swered, Il showed my first inclination to-
ward the florists trade. l was often
whipped for staying away from school,
just to attend to some sick little flower
that l found by the wayside. Later, l
served long apprenticeship, and then
became affiliated with the Royal Nur-
series at Kew, the largest botanical gar
dens in the world. After that, for nine
years l was with the Royal Nurseries
of Dickson & Sons, at Belfast and Man.
chester. Then l came to this country. ]
landed in Nashville the day before Christ
mas, and my friends all wondered why I
chose the southland for my profession. ]
told them IL was because / saw the
chance for beautiful flowers to be raised
here. The next autumn I made the first
exhibit ever given from the south. at
Chicago during the Worlds Fair and got
seven first prizes and two seconds
Altogether / have received over 400 prizes
and in my bachelor days / used to give
them sometimes to my young lady friends.
I was SO proud l wanted them displayed
in different homes"
1.-THE Japanese Mr. Scales continued.
"are responsible really for the great
vogue of the chrysanthemums. Way
back. they were called 'Chryso, (golden)
and .Antono' foliage). The Japs started
| them on their ascent in the flower king
| dom, and the English and Americans
have done the rest by hybridizing Fif-
| teen years ago the chrysanthemum was
very imperfect, and in fact even now,
| they have not reached the stage they will
| in the future
Look at this" said Mr.. Scales as he
| held up to view a gorgeous lavender
| tinted chrysanthemum. This Is the near
| est to blue, that has ever been done in
| the chrysanthemum line. 1t is the Helen
| Frick And here's the Yellow Eaton-a
| sport from the Timothy Eaton And the
| lovely white is Lynwood Hall, while the
| Harvard Is the nearest we've ever been
| able to come to a vivid crimson"
| "That red one is a first cousin once re-
moved to the Dahlia," suggested
mo, 1t belongs to the Marguerite FAM
| ily," said Mr.. Scales
Following the chrysanthemums, Mr.
Scales has the other flower houses filled
with winter flowers, that come in rapid
| succession, including the most beautiful
| Christmas flowers of all kinds, potted
plants and cut flowers, and right or
| through in consecutive order they may
be had, all winter long.
I'VE can grow as fine flowers righ
here and we do grow them" said Mr.
| Scales, as I was leaving, 'as can be
grown in this country. Anything that
! will grow anywhere else can be grown
herel'