THE FASCINATING ART OF FORCING FREESIAS 



E. L. D. SEYMOUR 



A Perfectly Practical House Plant for Winter Flowers. Alluring Variety of Colors to be Had in 

 this Charming "Cape Bulb" Now Being Supplied from a New Industry Developed on the Pacific Coast 



ality. 



With wide-expanding, 

 light yellow flower; 

 typical of the newer 

 hybrid strain of 

 Freesia 



LIKE to think 

 of Freesias as 



flowers with a 

 dual person- 

 don't mean 

 by that a Jekyll-and- 

 Hyde combination of 

 good and evil, or a Janus- 

 like, doublefaced hypoc- 

 risy, but rather the ability 

 to interest and appeal with equal 

 force to both expert gardener and 

 novice. 



That the Freesia has interested, 

 not to say confused, the systema- 

 tic botanist is clearly indicated 

 by the history of its nomencla- 

 ture. It has been known at vari- 

 ous times as Gladiolus refractus, 

 Tritonia refracta, Freesia odorata 



(which was ultimately retained as a varietal cognomen) 

 and Freesia refracta by which title it is now accepted in the 

 best horticultural circles. Similarly there have been segre- 

 gated and individually labeled at various times F. Arm- 

 strongii, F. aurea, and F. Leichtinii, although it is now 

 generally accepted that these are but variously colored forms 

 of F. refracta, the type, which hailed from southern Africa 

 early in the 19th Century. At any rate, from the manv 

 possible combinations of these four forms come the varied 

 hybrids that are winning such deserved present popularity. 



It is because of the rich opportunities offered in this hy- 

 bridizing field, because of the ease with which new varieties 

 — subjects for selective breeding — can be produced from seed, 

 and because of certain engaging difficulties encountered in the 

 seemingly simple task of developing and retaining a pure white 

 sort, that the Freesia appeals to the advanced gardener. It is 

 because of the ease with which the bulbs can be forced and 

 brought into bloom in the house, and the unique attractiveness 

 of the variously tinted flowers, that it can be equally appreciated 

 and enjoyed by the veriest tyro. 



While the cut-flower buying public, through the medium of 

 the florist, has come to be best acquainted with the solid white 

 form — which, in spite of its name sometimes shows an irresistible 

 tendency to hark back to an atavistic shading of yellow — there 

 are available for house culture a host of more recently im- 

 proved varieties in a bewildering range of clear yellows, oranges, 

 pinks, mauves, blues, and reds. Even a tendency in the last 

 three shades to "throw back" to a striped or "broken" appear- 

 ance, although an unmitigated fault in the eye of the expert 

 variety producer, simply adds interest and excitement for the 

 amateur. Leaving the creation of new forms and the improve- 

 ment of old ones to the advanced plantsmen, there remains for us 

 now the simple but fascinating game of forcing Freesias at home. 



There is the disadvantage that the Freesia is not included 

 among the bulbs that may be imported in quantity under the 

 regulations of Quarantine 37; a short time before that edict 

 went into effect, the great bulk of the commercial supply came 

 from Europe — about ten per cent, of it from Holland and the 

 rest from France. But large-scale production in California has 

 been found quite practical and thence are coming, in increasing 

 numbers, high class bulbs that will enable us to keep this dainty 

 flower with us. 



Toward the end of summer the Freesia forcer's season 

 begins with the delivery of the bulbs. Since there is only 

 a moderately plentiful supply of American bulbs 

 on hand at any time, the gardener must place 

 his order as early as possible. As to quality 

 and the variety and richness of 

 the colors offered, each year seems 

 to bring noticeable improvement. 

 For the person who finds greatest 

 delight in mixtures, obviously 

 nothing else will do; however, it 

 will be generally conceded that 

 there is a better chance of max- 

 imum satisfaction and interest in 

 growing a selection of the named 

 varieties that recent years have brought 

 into being. Of the pure whites, Purity 

 and the newer Fischeri are probably 

 supreme; Katherine Watkins, noteworthy for its splendid 

 salmon yellow even if its flowers range a trifle smaller 

 than those of other sorts, is becoming a standard; Califor- 

 nia, a strikingly clear yellow; and Tremont, of a strong 

 bronze-yellow shade, are both novelties worthy of investi- 

 gation; and there remain others ranging through the more 

 bizarre colorings. 



A word of suggestion here, as to what constitutes a 

 "good" bulb. Freesia corms in any case are smaller than 

 the more familiar Tulips, Narcissus, and Crocus; but even 

 more than in the case of those plants is it true that in 

 general "the heavier the bulb, the stronger and finer the 

 flower." In other words, the experienced Freesia grower 

 is likely to give first choice to the small, solid, kernel-like 

 corms instead of the large, fat ones (especially if the latter 

 show any sign of softness). 



When the bulbs arrive, it is best to plant them promptly. 

 Freesias are regular hogs for room. A general rule is six bulbs to 

 a five-inch pot, twelve to a ten-inch pot, and correspondingly 

 open spacing if a flat or bulb pan is used. Probably a good share 

 of the Freesia failures have been the result of over crowding. 



A characteristic of the Freesia is the almost human tendency 

 of an occasional bulb to "go on strike." Though planted with all 

 care, and given the best of attention it may, nevertheless, refuse 

 to grow the first season. Let alone, however, it will start into 

 vigorous action the following fall. Such behavior is at times 

 annoying, but this chance of a few delayed blooms in a lot of 

 bulbs is one of the prices of Freesia growing. 



GIVEN the bulbs planted about their own depth in a pot 

 in an average good soil, the next requirement is a cool, 

 moist, dim place where they can develop roots. Perhaps the 

 least bothersome way to provide this is to plunge the pots 

 in the botton of a trench say a foot deep dug in some out of the 

 way corner. Be sure there is good drainage, so that the soil in 

 the pots cannot possibly become water soaked, then fill in the 

 trench with straw, leaves or other coarse litter. Here the 

 bulbs can safely and advantageously remain until late fall or 

 even early winter when the ground begins to freeze; the mulch 

 will protect the Freesias and the longer they are given to develop 

 a husky system of feeding roots, the better. This means from 

 approximately six weeks as a minimum to two months or more 

 if conditions permit. The deeper they are plunged, the cooler, 

 more uniform and more satisfactory the rooting conditions. 



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