The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-08-20
South Carolina Poppics for a New
York Memorial Day.
(By Julia Lester Dillon, Sumter
S. c.

| (By Julia Lester Dillon, Sumter.
S. c.
The soil in the park is a very
light sandy loan with q clay sub
soil about three feet underneath.
The sand is so porous that no wa
ter is held in it. In the spring Of
1920, shrubbery beds were pre-
pared by digging down to this clay
subsoil and removing much of the
top sand Then a layer of stable
manure, mostly fresh because that
was all that was available, was
placed in the trench and the sandy
topsoil was replaced. This made
as nearly ideal q shrubbery foun-
dation as was possible under the
circumstances.
In November the only prepara-
ton for the Poppy seed was to
clear away all grass and weeds and
rake the ground\ smooth. This
was done in the foreground OF an
evergreen shrubbery border and
the seed of mixed Shirley Poppies
sown broadcast on November 10,
the bed about three feet wide.
They We're then left absolutely
alone all winter; they were not
even weeGAd or thinned out. 9th
er work on the street trees kept
the men busy and it was not until
came back. Then the Poppy buds
were beginning TO open. Weeds
were pulled out Of the border but
no thinning was done. On April
9 a. lawn party was given in the
park in order that the women
might see and enjoy the Popples.
Never were any flowers more
enjoyed by whole town than
were those from the $50 feet of
border and from one-half ounce
of seed. They were cut daily by
hundreds. Little children, old
men, pretty girls. studry boys,
charming women and negro work
men came to the Memorial Park
for Poppies. No one was turned
away empty handed.
The flowers went to the schools,
they frightened countless homes,
they graced receptions, they We're
placed on the affairs Of the
churches, they softened the harsh
ness of new-made graves, and
they gave pleasure to numberless
visitors.
Many boxes of buds were sem 70
Augusta with no other preparation
for shipment than wrapping IN
waXed paper Immediately after cut
ting. One friend wrote, when
the box Of Poppy buds came on
Sunday, they wefe mystery. On
Monday. the opening calyXcs and
unfolding petals were an ecstasy.
On Tuesday they are the glory Of
the whole house. I thank you for
remembering me in so colorful
way" One box sent. on Monday
furnished decorations for party
on Friday and were the wonder and
admiration Of all the guests.
On June 3 the plants were pull
ed UP and thrown out having Civ
en- eight consecutive weeks Of
beauty.
The seed being of mixed colors
it was impossible to say what
ratio Of blossoms were red; from
one-third to one-half possibly
would be the right proportion
but they were all Of such dainty,
exquisite coloring and the texture
was so fine that they were like but
terfies or fairy flowers in the gar
den as we'll as in the rooms.
Readers of the Exchange have
read that a poorly packed ship
ment Of the buds reached the Of
| flee Of The Florists Exchange on
Thursday night after being on the
way since Monday On Friday,
May 81. 5S5 buds were cut and
sent to New York florists. hoping
there would be some scarlet ones
for Memorial Day, May 80.
They were cut with long stems.
dipped in boiling water, securely
wrapped In bundles OF twenty-five,
and should have been in New York
Saturday night Instead, the flor
ist wrote, "Poppies received at 3
a. m. Monday in perfect condition.
Sened bill for any and all expense.
Think of it, the American Le-
gion flowers, grown in a Memorial
Park in Sumter, S.. c., helped to
make the New York Legionnaires
glad on Memorial Day. lnciden-
tally it proved that Poppies grown
in the south, blossoming for weeks
before the Goth Of May can be
sent to the Northern florists for the
occasion.
Will someone say where seed of
scarlet Shirley Poppies may be Sc
cured? Another year when Me-
mortal Day orders come. it must
not be necessary to mark the box,
"Colors not guaranteed"
We would like to have red ones
enough for all planted in masses
by themselves. and also the love
ly delicate shades for other uses
oD1 ot hor borders