ETHER FOR FLOWERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10638, 14 April 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

ETHER FOR FLOWERS.

DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE LILY

The remarkable discovery has been made by the Horticultural Department of Cornell University fhat by drugging plants with ether their rate of growth can be increased lo an astonishing extent, writes the Express Ncav York correspondent. Both flowers and vegetables Avhen put in airtight dens_and fed on ether for 24 or 36 hours, _util they become permeated ;_itii Tlie fumes, mature in. about half the time it takes them to develop naturally. . Stately Easter lilies treated for 24 hours have put forth magnificent blooms, with the help of warm acetylene light at nigltt, and narcissus plant? have doubled the size of their flowers after a day and ahalf in the den. \j Professor Craig, head of the department, declares that drugging will work a revolution in the methods of forcing flowers and vegetables. "Lilacs, for instance, will be in bloom at leaset ten days soouer under this, treatment than when they develop naturally or .by the ordinary 'means of forcing, as Avill also azaleas and rhododendrons," he states.

"When putting the roots into tlie ether the greatest care' should be taken not to leave them in the stimulating atmosphere more than thirty-six or forty-eight hours, or tho drug Avill have the opposite effect, and instead of being forced l to mature they Avill die as soon as reinoved."-