BLUE ROSES AT LAST.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 22, 8 January 1907, Page 2

BLUE ROSES AT LAST.

AFTER YEARS OF EXPERIMENT AMERICAN FLORICULTURISTS SCORE A TRIUMPH. Blue roses will probably be worn in London during the coming season. After long and costly experiments, the flower has at last been produced in America, and, although the secret of obtaining the colour has not been divulged, everyone will know how to grow blue roses within a few months. A leading horticulturist told a London pressman that the desired tint is given to the blooms by the sole aid of chemistry,. The many experiments made have jbostlv, and he added that, unless sobjMpitfe much cheaper has been used By tne American experts, the blue rose will pnly be obtainable by wealthy people.

With the use of various acids almost any flower can be changed in colour, although the best results would be obtained from white flowers Having no colour, they would more readily adopt any tint. From the experiments already made it has been found that muriatic acid turned roses red, potash changed them to green, while alum imparted a lilac colour. The American style is said to be the use of an inexpensive powder, which is sprinkled round the soil of the plant after being dissolved in water.