BLUE GLADIOLUS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 2

BLUE GLADIOLUS

THE HORTICULTURAL FREAK STRIVING AFTER THE DIFFICULT LONDON, Aug. 12. Every schoolboy knows about the black tulip, for Dumas novel, “La. Tulipe Noire.” is a favourite “set book” for examinations. The story is based on truth, and the quest for strange-coloured flowers seems still to attract. To-day what is called a “blue” gladiolus is on show at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gladiolus show. Although the gladiolus, whose native habitat is South Africa, tends to crimson in its hues, as becomes a native of a hot climate, the white gladiolus Watsonii can be seen growing wild on Table Mountain. But this blue gladiolus, technically termed the Blue Triumphator, is really a light lavender blue. It was grown at Noordwijk, in Holland, in that country famed for its bulbs, the beauty of which attracts tourists from every part of the world. The corms of this gladiolus cost a round £2O. But if the Dutch claimed some prizes. British growers got the gold vase for a new variety, the beautiful flame-red seedling called Captain G. M. Churcha, grown by Messrs. Qibson and Amos at Cranleigh. in Surrey. A corm of this will cost you more than the blue gladiolus—£2s. As the championship was won by a Scottish grower at Prestwick, the British growers triumphed to-day over the rest of the world. Why get excited about the blue gladiolus, or red delphinium, or green carnation? It is said that as much as £250 a seed is waiting for the man who can produce a real yellow sweet pea. “There is a curious fascination about the search for these freak plants,” said a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. “Horticultural experts generally arc not interested in them, hut a number of people devote their lives to such experiments. Apart from the initial novelty, it is very doubtful whether the public would really appreciate red delphiniums a'nd blue roses.”

It has been claimed that blue dahlias, blue roses and blue poppies have already been procured, but experts say that it is not a true blue, but a shade of mauve. All this desire to thwart Nature by changing the colour inherent in plants seems rather futile. In the same way the Chinese toiled for years to produce a perfectly white goldfish, and highly honoured the man who eventually did so. A white goldfish is not really pretty: it is rather a melancholy object- But it is difficult to produce a perfectly white goldfish. The motive seems inadequate, and even idiotic; but doubtless the desire to do difficult things is in itself valuable and respectable; this blind instinct is at tho very root of all progress.