The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-26
E. C. HILL KNOWN
TO few WHO LAUD
HIS NEWEST ROSE.
interviewing Five Years
Ago Responsible for His Re-
markable Rose Premier.

If one were to use the term ''wiz-
ard in referring to Z. G. Hill, OF this
city. veteran grower Of roses, he would
reply very promptly that he had no
right to such distinguishing title. In
fact he has been so modest in exploit
ing himself in his many years as an
originator and grower of Towering
plants that few of the millions who
have marveled at his productions know
little or nothing of him. But rose
growers, those in this country and in
every part OF Europe, who pretend to
keep pace with the developments in
the world Of flowers, know a great
deal about Mr.. Hill, his methods and
his wonderful success as producer
OF new varieties Of roses.
The bringing out" of a new seed
ling rose is not the work of a few
days or few months, but matter
OF years The crossing Of two dis
tinctive varieties of roses-that is the
Introduction of the pollen from the
bloom of one variety to the bloom of
another-is the fundamental prin-
ciple employed, and then comes the
period Of watchful waiting. Five years
ago. In the greenhouses Of Mr.. Hill in
Richmond, approximately 200 rose
plants were treated to this inter
breeding process. A myriad Of rose
blooms issued forth-roses Of every
conceivable shade and hue and Of
every size and form
Four Deemed Worth While
But in all this profusion Of bloom
there were just four roses which Mr..
Hill deemed worth while One Of
these is the new production Of 1919,
Rose Premier, which has commanded
the attention of every grower in this
country and abroad. At it's birth five
years ago Rose Premier had the ear
marks Of a wonderful. as well as
beautiful rose. But the single pla Mt
that then existed could not foretell
the future that was in store. The
growth Of new plants by the grating
process, and the growing of the new
rose under every condition. adverse
as well as favorable. in order to try
it OUT, was a matter of years.
And Rose Premier came out of the
ordeal the wonderful, magnificent and
hardy seeding that was hoped for 1t
by its producer. Its origin Is a cross
between Ophelia and Russell, two
roses of great renown. 1t possesses
the stiff, thornless stem and quick,
free growth of Ophelia. with ample
foliage approaching the American
Beauty in arrangement. The flowers
are of the Russell type and hold a
clear, pure shade of rose pink through
out the year, lighter in summer, deep
colored in cooler weather. Like
Ophelia. Rose Premier is delightfully."-
ragrant.
Called Distinct Addition.
Last year when visiting rose grow
ers to Mr.. Hills greenhouses were per-
mitted for the first time to see Rose
Premier in bloom, it made an immed-
late impression and has been declared
by all growers to be an absolutely dis
tinct addition to American varieties.
In 1918 Mr.. Hills beautiful Columbia,
also a pink rose of great beauty, re-
ceived high honors everywhere shown,
and, while it is too early to give in
formation, there still is another new
seeding rose that will have its com
ing OUT next year from the green
houses of Mr.. Hill
To Mr.. Hills knowledge of the sci
ence of rose growing, as we'll as TO his
wonderful patience and his love of his
profession, which makes him as en-
thusiastic a worker with flowers at
the age Of seventy-two as many men
half his age, is attributed his success.
He has found time during his busy
life to make many journeys to rose
gardens in all parts of Europe and a
year or two before the world war was
invited by the city of Paris to act as
one of the judges at the flower show
held in the municipal gardens
Decorated by the French.
1t was on this occasion that he re-
ceived a gold medal from the munich
pal government of Paris for his Rhea
Reid, one of his famous rose produc
tions. and it was also at this time that
the French government bestowed a
decoration for his work in Horticulture.
But Mr.. Hill bore these great honors
with such modesty that had not press
dispatches told the story friends at
home might never have known of it.
No other man in this country or in
Europe has done so much toward the
production of new and distinctive va