Evening star., 1923-06-10
Father and Son Make Remarkable Records
AS Experts at Government Greenhouses

, basis from which many foods are ul-
timately obtained. You remember,
for instance. how you used to like
the honey that the bees collected
from the clover fields down. at the
farm; how, when you went to visit
the restful old place, heaps Of the
amber-colored honey would be put
on your griddle cakes and you
would be told: This is honey that
came from the clover field just beyond
the spring"
THERE is experimental work with
l. florists crops for which the fol-
lowing plants were grown: 3.203
roses, in thirteen varieties. and ninety
Seeding plants, all of which origi-
mated in these gardens; 3,725 carna-
tion plants. in fourteen varieties, and
$50 Seeding plants, all of which had
their origin in the gardens of Byrnes,
father and son: $500 chrysanthemum
plants, in S16 varieties, and sac seed
ling plants resulting from crosses
made last winter.
show that was opened to the public
last November, and scanning Of the
record Of the attendance discloses the
fact that the number of visitors was
6s,ls2. The amaryllis show that was
held this spring holds the record, for
from the morning Of March 10, tho
opening day, until the closing of the
/ nv 1,if ~ ne "a
those who viewed this wonderful COL
lection was 1888. There were 1.O75
plants on exhibition, all of them In
flower,
| The blooms OF both shows, after the
closing OF the doors on the final days,
were cut and distributed to the hos
pitals. SO that those who could not
visit the greenhouses might have an
! opportunity to view these beautiful
creations. It is the custom Of those
in charge to make this distribution
each year, and those who lead the
"shut-in life" look forward to the
shows that are held every spring and
fall with the keenest interest, for
they know that they will have an op-
81.
The blooms are treasured until It 10
necessary for them to be removed
from the sick rooms, and even then
the i'll ones spend hours discussing
the flowers that brought 10y 10 their
lives.
Plant-breeding work at the gardens
has been satisfactorily proceeding
ever since its inception, and many Of
the specimens have been viewed bv
experts who have travelled many miles
to see just what the government was
doing in this line OF work. There
have been horticulturists from for
etgn shores that have made long Jour
neys IN order that they might learn
or the progress that is being made.
The pathological results at the bu-
reau are showing the wisdom Of the
installation OF this very important
work, and those so far obtained
justify not only the continuance of
the work. but the expenditure Of ad-
ditional sums
During the past year there were
packed and forwarded for. congress
sional distribution 2s,30o ornamental
towering plants and a.400 ornamental
vines. and this distribution means
that in different sections Of tho coun-
try one may see parks. Fairgrounds
and other spots Of similar character
embellished with plants and vines
that were grown in Washington.
IN connection with ornamental
paintings there is a collection of
$4,000 standard sorts of tulip and mar
cissus bulbs. $500 pansy plants
which were planted in the autumn for
aisplay IN the early spring; a COL
lection of 10000 bedding plants In
twenty-six species and varieties, and
l'5oO tropical plants in forty-six
species and varietie. which were
planted insthe beds In the spring for
display In the summer and early fall,
'and a collection Of ninety young
evergreen trees which were planted
in the beds IN the grounds
AT various places we find expert
ments that show the effect Of acid
soils and then again we find alkaline
soils. for different plants must have
certain soils. What is Of benefit to
one may be fatal to another.
In many places you will see aluminium
tags FOR the plants and flowers that
are being watched have a close record
kept OF their growth, etc. The best
collection of crotons in the United
States is to be found in these houses.
There is also an excellent collection
| n
sonian Institution, and about 400 Of
them arc under the care Of Supt.
| Byrnes.
Your attention Is arrested as You
pass into the next greenhouse, for
here you see a man who lives among
and for his pets. They really are his
pets. for Manuel Fraile has been in
charge of this section of the work
twenty-seven years. In his. domain
I you see plants from all parts of the
| world. Here is the century plant
and while one hates to destroy. q
popular belief, 1t must be stated that
the old superstition about waiting
a hundred years for the century
| plant to bloom is a fake" pure and
simple, as there are numerous in
stances on record where the plants
have bloomed many times during the
| life OF the caretaker.
| One Of the most interesting Of the
display is the famous crown of
thorns," a plant that has been care
fully trained and cared for by Fraile.
1t came from Madagascar and is con-
sidered one of the finest specimens
extant.
In the houses devoted to roses, you
| find the famous Commonwealth. a.