MARCH 24. I.v.iS. 



The Weekly Florists* Review. 



679 



A Field of Lilium Harrisii in Bermuda. 



made a trip there in November. 18S1. 

 One or two scattering lots had reached 

 this country previous to this, but to 

 Mr. Pierson belongs the credit of hav- 

 ing introduced the cultivation of 

 Lilium Harrisii comraercialiy in Ber- 

 muda. Up to that time no one had 

 discovered its value or its great possi- 

 bilities. It was grown only by the in- 

 habitants as other flowers were grown. 

 and was very popular in Bermuda, be- 

 ing used largely for the decoration of 

 their churches at Easter, it being in 

 full bloom in their gardens at that 

 time. No one had ever thought of its 

 value commercially, or that it would 

 become one of the main sources of 

 revenue to the islands. Mi'. Pierson's 

 attention was attracted to it in almost 

 an accidental way. One or two lots 

 had reached the United States prior to 

 this time. W. K. Harris, of Philadel- 

 phia, a few years previous, had re- 

 ceived from a friend in Florida a few 

 bulbs whicli had probably come from 

 Bermuda, and had undertaken the 

 culture of them in his greenhouses. 

 Mr. Joseph Kift had also obtained a 

 few barrels of these bulbs, direct from 

 Bermuda, in the summer of 1881, which 

 were distributed among a few of the 

 florists here for forcing purposes. 



During the fall of 1881 Mr. Pierson 

 received a bulb from a friend who was 

 living in Bermuda. He made a trip to 

 Bermuda in November of that year, 

 and it was due to this trip at this time 



that the cultivation of the B?rmuda 

 lily was begun in a commercial way 

 in Bermuda. Recognizing its great 

 value, and also the well-known fact 

 that the bulbs were produced in the 

 greatest perfection when grown in a 

 soil and climate particularly adapted 

 to their nature, Mr. Pierson made ar- 

 rangements at once to undertake their 

 cultivation in Bermuda, and entered 

 into a partnership agreement with 

 General Russell Hastings for the culti- 

 vation of Lilium Harrisii in Bermuda. 

 The first bulbs offered by them for sale 

 in this country was in the summer of 

 1883. The bulbs sold in those days 

 would not be handled now, being what 

 are now known as 4-5's. All the stock 

 that could be obtained from the dif- 

 ferent gardens was secured, and the 

 cultivation of the bulbs was at once 

 begun on a large scale. The trade was 

 quick to discern the value of this lily, 

 and the supply was never equal to the 

 demand, owing to which fact the bulbs 

 brought high prices, making their cul- 

 tivation a very profitable industry. 

 This prosperous condition of the Ber- 

 muda lily business continued until 

 about 1894 or 1895. when the output 

 largely exceeded the demand, in conse- 

 quence of which prices dropped below 

 a profitable point. In 1896 the number 

 of bulbs grown amounted to upwards 

 of 4,000.000. Since that time the culti- 

 vation of the lily has been very largely 

 curtailed and prices have advanced 



slightly each year. 



The Bermudians soon found out that 

 there was money in growing the bulbs, 

 and one after another of the farmers 

 there began the cultivation of the lily, 

 adding constantly to the supply, until 

 almost the whole island was one lily 

 field, and until this industry had be- 

 come one of the main sources of reve- 

 nue in the islands. 



Our illustration shows a field of 

 Lilium Harrisii growing in Bermuda. 



H. A. B. 



NOTES FROM HINSDALE. 



In addition to roses and carnations 

 Harrisii lilies are a great specialty 

 with Messrs. Bassett & Washburn at 

 Hinsdale, 111. They have been so 

 fortunate as to have hut little, if any, 

 trouble with the Harrisii disease as 

 yet. and their loss this season from the 

 disease will not exceed 5 per cent. 

 And they have taken no special pre- 

 cautions. They will cut about 25,000 

 blooms for Easter. They have found 

 a larger percentage of diseased bulbs^ 

 among their Japanese longiflorum 

 than among the Harrisii. They are 

 not at all satisfied with their experi- 

 ence with the Jap longiflorum, which 

 do not grow strong enough, and pro- 

 duce many less blooms to an equal 

 space. 



They have several lots of sweet peas, 

 coming on and one batch will evidently 

 be in good bloom for Easter. They are: 

 planted in solid center beds. 



