EMPIRE BULBS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 11

EMPIRE BULBS.

THE STRIKING ADVANTAGES OF A NEW ENTERPRISE. (From The Garden, December 4, 1926). Brief reference has already appeared in print concerning “Empire bulbs,” which have on various recent occasions figured both in the “dry bulb” and the flowering state in Mr Amos Perry’s exhibits at the Royal 'Horticultural Society and elsewhere. The time is opportune for something more than casual mention of the fact that liliums and other choice subjects are flowering from bulbs received from far-off New Zealand, for the experiments thus far conducted have shown results which not only justify an immediate extension of operations on the lines of Empire trading in bulbs, but have already revealed possibilities of extending the flowering season of some of our choicest and most desirable bulbous flowers to an extent of far-reaching importance to British horticulture.

An excellent example is afforded by that most serviceable and beautiful flower Lilium Regale, which, happily, is one possessed of a constitution and good nature which enables the inexperienced amateur, as well as the expert, to grow it with success.

A consignment of Lilium Regale from New Zealand reached Mr Perry’s nursery in June. The bulbs were in excellent condition and were immediately planted in the open. Although these bulbs were quite dormant in June, when our established bulbs were in full growth, and even in bud. the warm condition of the soil and atmosphere started them so rapidly into growth that by the latter end of September and early days of October the plants carried a brave display of fine trumpet flowers. It is. a matter of real importance that the opening up of this new source of supply of bulbs thus enables us to prolong the season of the lily, and adds to the variety and charm of our flower borders right through autumn’s waning days. Another excellent lilium which has always been classed among the difficult gems of this glorious family, L. Wallichianum superbum. arrived in May, and this also has grown with quite unaccustomed vigour and flowered at the beginning of ’October. The crux of the matter is this—bulbs from our customary sources of supply have reached us in midwinter. They required immediate planting, but our soil at that season is at its coldest temperature and our weather at its worst. Prolonged storage weakens vitality, and winter planting involves hardship upon the bulbs and even serious risk of loss through decay The Mav arrival of the New Zealand bulbs finds our soil in most favourable condition, and atmospheric conditions fast approaching the ideal; hence rapid unchecked growth, and successful flowering just when we are glad of variation from perennial asters and chrysanthemums. Australia, too. is taking a part 1 in the Empire production of bulbs, and Mr Perry has flowered a series of watsonias, the beauty of which excels any preconceived notion of this chaste flower. Wateonia Ardernei and W. rosea are both lovely flowers, but in the series referred to there are superb varieties which embrace buff, apricot and flesh pink, real salmon and the ehade we have of late grown accustomed to term “prawn red.” These varieties, all form one source in Australia, bear the familiar names of Australian towns, and a trio of the best are Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

There is a wonderful future for these flowers when they become known and reasonably plentiful. It need only be remarked that in addition to glorifying the garden in autumn these Empire bulbs will provide new material with which to embellish conservatories and greenhouses even until Christmas, and the commercial producer of. choice cut flowers will surely find great utility in these subjects, which, with a little qxercise of skill, he will be able to bring into service at a time of short supplies without the necessity of a deal of artificial heat