Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-15

capital during inaugural week and Tor
some time after. included thousands Oh
ATLANTIS whose gorgeous blossoms had a
iropical luxuriance and served to demon
strate the remarkable changes winch the
hybrid florists have been able to accom-
plish by cross fertilization. The process
of cross fertilization is as simple as IL Is
effective No doubt tin. idea of II as
demonstrated to the many VISITORS -~taG
attended the exhibition. will have a wide
spread development throughout the coun-
~ Gurinp the coming season The
amaryllis blossom lends itself readily TO
tine process because of it's size and sim
plieity.
The florist desiring to make cross
breed between two plants will select Two
as nearly perfect
Tlorict's Method in size and color
ing as he can Sc
of Mixing Colors. cure. Usually rep
resenting two distinct colorinSs- Fof-3A-
stance. he will take red-fioWered ana
white-fowered amaryiiis. When the ho" :
or first opens, he will remove the poiien-
bearing anthers of each. Then, Win a
soft camers hair brush. he will Apply
the pollen from the anther OF Whiee
flower to the stigma of red blossom and
the pollen from a red blosso1R to white
one The applied pollen Will pass fh1ousi
the STYLES of the flower down into~ehe
ovary. where it reaches the seeds, whlch
already are formed. 1t nourishes theh
quite as well as the poiien from me
anther of the flower to which they De
long When the flower fades, these seeds
ripen and are carefully gathered anu
planted. The results of cross fertillZatioi,
are seen in the wonderful striped anu
yariegated flowers which grow upon the
plants produced from the seeds which are
taken from plants producing flowers OF
single color.
The history of the amaryllis goes back
to the earliest times when voyagers 10
unknown countries brought back to the
centers of civilization rare tropical plants
which the botanists OF the period delight
ed to add 10 their herbariumS, while the
expert gardeners endeavored to ADAPT
them to theft own localities. The
amaryllidaceae family is a large one. in
Guiding more than five hundred species
of which the hippeastrums are best
known. This species includes about fifty
varieties, most of which are included un-
der the common name amaryllis, although
the amaryllis demonstrated now by the
Department of Agriculture really comes
from the lily Johnsoni, also known as the
Bella Donna lily. 1t first was produced
by poor matchmaker named johnson,
of Lancashire. England. who had a great
love for plants. and by dint Of great sac
rifice secured few plants of the amaril-
veloped variety which finally was ac-
cepted by the English Botanical Society,
so he did not lose his recognition, as did
the less fortunate developer of the
American beauty rose.
The amaryXs as exhibited to the thou
Amaryllis Repays w a h
for Time and Trouble. ns s.en !, !, WIN :
lasting value as garden plant; because
1t blooms but once in season.: however,
that bloom lasts SO long under proper
conditions and is SO magnificent IL APP
pearance, ii repays no small expenditure
of time and trouble. After the Towering
the. bulbs should be preserved, unless it
is desired to produce the next plants d.
rectly from the seed. The flowers some
times measure eight or nine inches across
and grow in great clusters above a rich
background of long. bright green leaves
Most of the varieties are considered
scentless. although a delicate perfume is
noticeable from some of them, especially
just after they open. While the different
species are to be found in many tropical
countries, the plant used by Johnson.
which formed the beginning of the va
riety now being exploited by the Depart
ment of Agriculture, is said to have Been
native to Brazil.
Recently the efforts of the department
have been turned toward the develop
ment and production of some more pro-
life and hardy species OF Easter lilies
which will lend themselves readily to the
resources OF the amateur or home florist
For this purpose several hundred fine
pants. raised in the government green
houses near Washington. have been dis
tributed among the different experiment
stations OF the country, especially those
in California. They will he utilized for
experimental efforts Of reproductions and
II is hoped that the results of these ex-
periments. il successful will be made OF
practical value TO the country within the
next three years. In the nh4antime the
commercial florists must still be given
the corner" upon the production of Eas-
ter lilies once supposed to be imported
from Bermuda. although now raised each
year 10 an increasing degree in this
country.
The interest in rose culture is appealing
to school children in number of cities.
Even I h G
Rose Culture principles Of
Appeals to Children. cross ,ns , S . :
fragrant beauties are being studied by the
children of number of agricultural
high schools and the production of two
new roses is claimed by a school in a
western town. A well known periodical
published for boys has been stimulating
the interest in rose culture by Offering
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