El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-14

l. NJ The number Of men, women
and children who derive keen
/ pleasure and delight in flower. grow
ing is multiplied every spring. The
number of public parks, school gar
dens and private gardens whose own
ers are generous enough to share their
floral treasures with those less fortu-
nate, was never so great as 1t present.
The interest thus called forth devel-
ops a constant demand for new flowers,
as well as a greater utilization of the
Old ones. so that flOriculturists are
continually kept busy to meet it.
The department of agriculture does
all in its power to further this inter
est 1t distributes flower seeds, bulbs
and plants, issues bulletins Of direction
Tor their cultivation, and also gives
frequent exhibitions Of floral beauties
These exhibitions sometimes are calcu-
lated to stimulate interest in some for
gotten plant, to demonstrate the value
! of new ones, or to simply give pleasure
to those who attend by visions of beau
" such as only those familiar with the
resources OF great green houses can
imagine.
AmaryIIis, a FavorIte.
This spring the department is inter
eSted IN demonstrating the beauties OF
the amaryll1S. an ola time favOrite in
the gardens Of our .grandmothers- but
little heard OF recently. The exhibition.
which was one Of the attractions OF
the national capital during Inaugural
uOn week and for some time after, in
Guided thousands OF plants whose gOr-
geOuS blossoms had a tropical luXuri-
aance and served TO demonstrate the
remarkable changes which the hybrid
florists have been able to accomplish
by cross fertilization The process of
cross fertilization is as simple as il is
effective. No doubt the idea of it as
demonstrated to the many visitors who
attended the exhibition, will have a
widespread development throughout
the country during the coming season
The amaryllis blossom lends itself
readily to the. process because Of its
size and simplicity. The florist desir-
ing to make a crOSS-b breed between two
plants viii select two as nearly perfect
In size and cOlOring as he can secure,
Orings.
Variegated Flowers.
For instance, he viii take a red
lowered and a white lowered amar-
yllis. When the flower first opens,
ne VIII remove the pOlen-b bearing an
theirs Of each. Then, with a soft cam
els hair brush he viii apply the pollen
from the antner of white flower 10
the stigma OF q red blossom and the
pollen from red blossom TO a white
one. The applied pollen Will pass
through the styles OF the flower down
into the ONary where II reaches the
seeds which already are formed II
nOurishes them quite as well as the
pollen from the anther of the flower
er fades these seeds rIpen and are
carefully gathered and planted The
results of Decentralization are seen
IN the wonderful striped and variegated
produced from the seeds which were
taken from plants producing flowers
OF single color
Brought Here by VOyasers.
The history of the amaryuis goes
back TO the earliest times when Yoy-
ayers TO unknown countries brought
back to the cenJers of civilization rare
tropical plants which the bOtanists OF
the period delighted to add to their
herbariums, while the expert gardeners
endcaVored to adapt them to their own
localities. The AmaryIidaceae family
is a large one, including more than 500
species, of which the HippeasIruns
are best known. This species includes
about so varieties most of which are
included under the common name
demonstrated now by the department
of agriculture really comes from the
lily Johnson, also known as the Bella
Donna lily. It first was produced by
a poor matchmaker named johnson, Of
Lancashire, England, who had a great
love for plants and by dint Of great
sacrifice secured a few plants Of the
He developed a variety which finally
was accepted by the English Botanical
society, so he did not lose his recOgni-
ton as did the less fortunate deVel-
oper of the American Beauty rose.
Blooms Once During Season.
The amaryllis as exhibited to the
thousands OF visitors to the govern
ment greenhouses at Washington will
plant, because IL blooms but once in
a season: however, that bloom lasts
so long under proper conditions and
is so magnificent in appearance il
and trouble After the Towering the
bulbs should be preserved unless it
IS desired to produce the next plants
directly from the seed.
The flowers sometimes measure eight /
or nine inches across and grow in
great clusters above a rich background
OF long bright green leaves Most of I
the varieties are considered scentless. !
a delicate perfume is notice
able from some OF them, especially just I
after they open. While the different !
species are to be found in many trop- /
-cal countries, the plant used BY John Z
son, which formed the beginning Of 4
the variety now being exploited by the !
department of agriculture. is said to 1
have been native to Brazil.
Easter Lilies.
Recently the efforts of the depart /
nent have been turned toward the de- /
'elOpmenI ana production Of some 1
more prolific and hardy species Of Fas-
ter lilies which wiE lend themselves /
readily to the resources of the amateur I
)r home florist. For this purpose, sew
eral hundred fine plants, grown in the !
government greenhouses near Wash
ngtOn- have been distributed among /
the different experiment stations Of i
The country, especially those in Cali
sOrnia. They will be utilized for ex-
detrimental efforts of reproduction and
t is hoped that the results of these
experiments, If successful. will be
made Of practical value to the country
within the next three years. In the
meantime the commercial florists must
still be given the Corner upOn the |
production of Easter lilies once sun
posed to be imported from Bermuda |
now grown each year to an |
Increasing degree in this country
Culture Of Roses.
The interest in rose culture is an /
)ealing to school children in a num- I
)er Of cities EGen the principles Of |
these fragrant beauties |
ire being studied BY the children of a !
number Of agricultural high schools !
md the production of two new roses is
,la1med by a school in a western town /
4 well known periodical published for !
Joys has been stimulating the interest !
n rose culture by offering prizes for I
he best results A boy of Is recently /
FOn a prize for an article giving a {
description or the manner Z
n which he grew roses from cuttings |
lie set cuttings Of fine hot house roses. I
,btained from bouquets sent to his I
lister. in wet sand in the cellar, where !
he proximity Of the furnace gave him {
he required temperature. He kept |
hem properly mOistened until the
cots formed, then set them in sepa-
q rofe in which they b10seOruad NTH