June 22, 1918 



HORTICULTURE 



603 



Lilium Regale 



The illustration on cover page this week shows a pan 

 of L. regale (myriophyllum) discovered in China a few 

 years ago by E. H. Wilson. It is a vigorous grower and, 

 as can be seen by the photograph, the strong wiry stems 

 require no stalks to support them. The subject of the 

 photograph was one of a liatch brought along in a cool 

 greenhouse for house and piazza decoration, and for this 

 purpose it has a richness and beauty that can be matched 

 by very few flowering plants. 



On October 20th last the bulbs were placed in the 

 pans, six S-year-okl'bulbs and four 4-year-old bulbs in 

 each pan, in a mixture of two parts loam, one of leaf 

 soil and a liberal quantity of sand and light sprinkling 

 of bone meal. No manure was used for experience has 

 proved that this lily does better without it. The pans 

 were placed in a frame, well protected from severe 

 frost, and early in January were brought in and grown 



along in a temperature of from 50 to 56 degrees. On 

 May 1st half of the flowers were open and the plants 

 were ready for use. As soon as the buds show, liquid 

 manure applied once or twice a week will prove bene- 

 ficial. 



In order to test the forcing qualities of this lily one 

 hundred bulbs were potted singly in 5-inch pots, 

 l)rought in earlier and grown in a temperature averag- 

 ing 58 degrees at night. The first of these flowered 

 April 1st. This would indicate that this lily can be 

 relied upon to come in, in good condition for Easter, 

 (irowers of flowering plants for Easter are fortunate in 

 lia\-ing within their reach a lily of this quality, espe- 

 cially as owing to war conditions lily bulbs of other 

 varieties will be scarce. 



<-Ct<yU( (^ 



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South Lancaster, ^fa.ss. 



RESTRICTIONS ON BULB IMPORTS 



In response to a telegram just re- 

 ceived wherein I have been asked the 

 question, "Since the original bulb re- 

 striction embargo applies only to Ber- 

 muda, Japan and China, shall we as- 

 sume that French and Dutch restric- 

 tions remain as per former circular?" 



I immediately called on the United 

 States Shipping Board and they said 

 this order applies to all countries, 

 but may be modified to this extent. 

 That it a ship was at a foreign port 

 about to sail for the United States 

 and had available space, and could be 

 loaded without using labor or time 

 which might be used for war pur- 

 poses, then plants, bulbs and nursery 

 stock might be loaded, provided, how- 

 ever, that a permit was first obtained 

 from the Government from which the 

 ship was sailing and a permit from 

 the Bureau of Imports, War Trade 

 Board of Washington, D. C. 



Following is the official order re- 

 ceived this morning (June 12) from 

 the War Shipping Board. It seems to 

 be final shutting out all bulbs lor the 

 coming season at this time. 



June 11, 1!»1S. 



Dear Sir: Item No. 61 on List of Ile- 

 stricted Imports No. 1. prohibits the im- 

 portation after April 15, 1918, of Plants, 

 Trees, Slirulis and Vines. Bulbs are con- 

 sidered to be in this class. 



It is the Intention of the Government to 

 interfere as little as possible with the con- 

 duct of business, and it Is with great re- 

 gret that I write you that in time of war, 

 flowers, bulbs, etc., must give precedence 

 to what Is absolutely necessary for the 

 nialntename of our armies abroad. Every 

 cubic inch of space Is needed to carry 

 soldiers, munitions and food stuff.s for our 

 men and our Allies. Nothlui; recjulrlng 

 ships should be imported that does not 

 help win the war. 



As you have doubtless heard. Secretary 



Baker has stated that the number of men 

 sent from the United States to the battle- 

 front depends solely on our possessing 

 sufflcient shipping to maintain them abroad 

 The raid of U-Boats along our coast have 

 brought this subject home to all of us. 



A number of florists, importers and rep- 

 resentatives of the trade have visited us 

 here, and the whole subject has been most 

 carefully looked into, and it is with real 

 regret that it has been decided that bulbs 

 must be continued on the restricted list for 

 the time being. 



The importation of bulbs the last few 

 years would average about 5,000 cubic tons. 

 While this may not seem very great for 

 an industry that concerns so many people, 

 it is well to realize that this amount of 

 shipping would carry over 278,000 bushels 

 of wheat, or maintain 4.000 American sol- 

 diers in Europe for one year. 



The wir forces sacriflces on all of us. 

 Not only is .vour business going to be se- 

 riously interfered with, but everyone who 

 has the least refinement is attracted by 

 flowers, and in that way, every inhabitant 

 of the Uniteil States will be affected to a 

 certain extent. 



While no promise can be made, nor an.v 



.issurance given as to the future, it may be 



that the situation can be changed later on. 



Very truly vours. 



(Signed) THOMAS W. SLOCUM, 



nivisiou of Planning and Statistics. 



We hope to have the final order of 



the Fuel Administration in a few 



(iays. Wm. F. GtDE. 



The following official letter will also 

 be of interest: 



June 14, nils. 

 Ml. W. K. (iud.': 



Dear Sir: Koliowing up our letter of 



.Tune 11, in regard to the restriction against 



the importation of bulbs, plants, trees. 



shrubs and vines. It should be added that 



these comniodities can be luiporled when 



coming .MS a return cargo from Europe and 



then only when ready at a convenient port 



and when loaded without delav. Under 



these conditions, you will apply for licenses 



to the liureau of Imports. War Trade 



Board, who will issue same in due course. 



Vi'ry truly yours, 



(Signed) T!iom.\s M. SM)CcrM, 



Division of Planning and Statistics. 



In connection with the foregoing 

 we herewith print the following letter 



of protest sent by the New York Flor- 

 ists' Club to the Federal Horticultural 



Board. 



New York. June 17, 1918. 

 Federal Horticultural Board, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Washington, D. C. 



Gentlemen : The New York Florists' 

 Club, which was organized in 1887 and in- 

 corporated under the laws of the State of 

 New Y'ork, on January 19, 1.891, and which 

 has today a total membership of 478 per- 

 sons engaged in the horticultural trade, 

 comprising the largest growers of plants 

 and cut flowers in the states of New York. 

 New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, 

 at its meeting held on the 10th Inst., re- 

 solved to protest against the proposed re- 

 strictions or prohil)itions with respect to 

 the importation of plants, as set forth in 

 your communication of May 8, 1918, so far 

 as tliey appl.v to importation from Belgium, 

 France. England, also Holland, on the 

 ground that same are inimical to the 

 .American florists' trade and would con- 

 stitute an unnecessary unfriendly act 

 tow.-irds our allies. Belgium. France and 

 England, also Holland, a friendly nation. 



Such quarantine would prevent these 

 countries from resuming active business re- 

 lations with us, at the end of the war. in 

 tlu'ir horticultural spechhlth^s. 'riie florists 

 of this (Minntry have been important buyers 

 of their florists' plants, especially of poor 

 Idecding Helgium. which counts its horti- 

 ctillural products among its important in- 

 dustries. Such proi)osed action would tend 

 to interfere with a return export trade, 

 turning such commerce in favor of other 

 in-.Klucing competitive nations. 



I'.y reason of the rigid inspection to 

 which inipiirtations are now subjected, and 

 the presctit requirements of the law, any 

 further restrictions or pr(diibitions are not 

 only entir<'ly unnei'cssary and inopportune, 

 but .are a serious menace to tlie florists' 

 trade of this country and the hortictiltural 

 trade of our .\llies. particularly In view of 

 the fact that the territory of our Allies, and 

 Ilidl.ind. from which the bulk of the flor- 

 ists' plants are shiitped, are well explored, 

 and their insect pests and plant dlseaees 

 ;ire well known. 



'I'hi' New York Florists' Club, therefore, 

 asks your Honorable Board not to take any 

 action whatsoever on the proposed re- 

 strictions. 



Uespectfully submitted, 



Cii.VRLES SciiENCK, President of N. 



V. Florists' Club; Winfbei) Rolkeb, 



FiiAXK R. P1ER.S0N, Wm. H. S»niRECHT, 



.In., Patuick O'Mara, Committee. 



