EVERLASTING FLOWERS 193 



No difficulty was experienced in crossing the 

 various species, and crossing was carried out in 

 the usual way, different pairs of species being 

 mated and then the hybrid forms in subse- 

 quent seasons remated, noting of course at all 

 stages which combinations seemed to produce 

 the best results. Complicated hybrids were 

 finally produced that combined the strains 

 of many species and the results were highly 

 interesting. 



In the course of a few years I had a strain of 

 crossbred crinums presenting most of the desir- 

 able qualities of the different species in combina- 

 tion. The new plants, in spite of the strains of 

 tropical species, are very hardy, withstanding the 

 coldest weather of this region without injury. 

 They have very large flowers, varying in color 

 from white and pink to rosy crimson. The petals 

 are broad, and the flowers in a large number of 

 cases are fragrant. 



The bulbs of some of these hybrids have taken 

 on extraordinary growth. At four years of age 

 some of them are from six to eight inches in 

 diameter, and twelve to eighteen inches in length, 

 weighing probably from ten to fifteen pounds, 

 or even more. More recently specimens have 

 appeared of even larger dimensions. Some of 

 these enormous bulbs seldom make offsets, others 



Vol. 7 Bur. G 



