MAGIC ROSE FLOWERING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 17, 1 March 1918, Page 2

MAGIC ROSE FLOWERING.

A CURIOUS GARDEN EFFECT EXPLAINED.

A few years ago some of the leading English horticulturists were very much perplexed by certain experiments conducted by a French exhibitor. The demonstrations were conducted in a very open manner, everyone was allowed to examine freely, and it was agreed that there was nothing of the on”vary conjuring trick about the plan. This is what tne observers saw. A plant, perhaps a geranium or a rose bush, was brought forward in a large deep box of soil. Sometimes the plant was just gro wing in the open border. Although the specimen was full of buds there were no expanded blooms to be seen. The demonstrator informed the onlookers that in about ten minutes he would have the plant covered with widely opened flowers. The procedure started with the watering of the soil over the roots. As soon as the ground was moist the whole plant was at once covered with a glass shade. At the' end of ten minutes the shade was removed, and the audience was amazed to see that the specimen was covered with blooms fully open. Everybody was asked to come forward and look at the plant closely, and also to gather the flowers. These were, of course, closely examined, and the most severe critic was bound to admit that there was nothing faked about the blooms. The manner in which this instantaneous blooming of plants was brought about is thus explained by a "Scientific American” authority. In the first case care was taken to secure specimens in which the buds were as far developed as possible. without having actually started to expand. Shortly before the time when it was intended to give the exhibition a shallow trench was dug out all round the plant. This was not quite deep enough to expose the main roots. Then all around this trench small lumps of quicklime were placed, with care not to put them actually in contact, with the roots. When the quicklime was in position the soil was filled into the trench, and all was now ready for the experiment. Sometimes it was declared that the liquid used was a magical concoction ; as a matter of fact it was plain water. After a thorough soaking of the soil the moisture quickly penetrates to the quicklime, and there is a great generation of beat. A certain amount of vapour arises, and this is kept round the plant by the glass shade. The heat in the soil and this warm vapour have an extraordinarily stimulating effect upon the plant, with the result that the flower beds arc forced open. I’he opening is quite genuine, so that the blossoms

will stand the closest examination. The idea is an extension of a plan commonly followed by florists when it is desired to induce flowers to open fully, of placing the stalks for five minutes or so in almost boiV.ng water. This has an amazing effect, for in a very short while the buds, previously tightly closed, are fully open. In the same way wild flowers which have wilted after picking may frequently be revived.