November, 1909 
THE ALTERATION OF THE COLORS 
OF FLOWERS BY CULTIVATION 
By Prof. F. Hilderbrand 
le GENERAL, all the flowers of the same 
species, in the wild state, have the same 
color. For example, all plants of crow- 
foot or buttercup and dandelion have yellow 
flowers. In a few species, different colors are 
found. For example, the flowers of the milk- 
wort (Polygala vulgaris) may be blue, violet, 
red, or white. Much greater variation is shown 
by cultivated plants. In these the variation of 
color of the flowers appeared long ago, but in 
recent years many new colors have been pro- 
duced which had either not hitherto been ob- 
served, or which, if they did appear occasion- 
ally, were not selected for preservation and de- 
velopment. The floriculturists of the present 
day carefully observe and endeavor to fix 
every new shade, even, if it is not particularly 
beautiful, for the desideratum is novelty, and 
there is no telling what will please the popular 
taste. But in these attempts to obtain new 
colors in flowers, the propagator is entirely de- 
pendent upon the innate predisposition of the 
particular species with which he is working. 
He can by no means obtain every desired color. 
In the following sketch will be mentioned, 
first, a few cases of species in which a color 
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great many new colors and shades, but not all 
colors, have been obtained. Finally, a few 
other cases will be quoted in which the flowers 
of a species have shown little or no variation 
in color during many years of cultivation. 
A species of primrose (Primula acaulis) in 
the wld sitate always has lemon yellow flow- 
ers which vary only slightly in tint. Cultiva- 
tion has produced both lighter and darker 
shades, but, until recently, no color but yellow. 
Hence, it was the more surprising when, a few 
years ago, a pure blue variety was produced, 
which has since retained its general color, but 
has developed all shades, from the palest sky- 
blue to the deep blue of the corn-flower. The 
Chinese primrose (Primula sinensis), when 
cultivated in the garden, bore until recently 
only red and white flowers. In this species, 
also, other colors have lately been produced, 
not only violet but also blue, though not so 
pure a blue as that of the species first men- 
tioned. Another example is offered by the 
gladiolus, which formerly bore only white and 
red flowers but has recently developed a blue- 
flowering variety. A case of a somewhat dif- 
ferent character is presented by the asters, 
which have long shown a great variety of 
colors, but in which recently a great many 
new shades have been produced, including 
some which would not at one time have been 
considered beautiful, for example, copper- 
color. 
Very numerous, on the other hand, are the 
species which have long shown great variation 
in color and have recently developed many 
new shades, with the exception of blue. Espe- 
cially conspicuous in this connection is the 
dahlia, which is now found in every color ex- 
cept blue, although many propagators are mak- 
ing earnest efforts to produce a blue dahlia, 
which would bring great profit to its origina- 
tor. A blue carnation would be equally valu- 
able, but it has not yet been produced, al- 
though the colors of carnations have lately 
been enriched by many new shades. The new 
varieties of canna also show great diversity of 
color, including almost pure white and a beau- 
tiful light pink, but a blue canna has not yet 
appeared. In the begonia not only blue is 
lacking but also all shades from red to violet. 
Finally, we may mention the variety of poppy 
called the Shirley, which is greatly admired 
for its play of color. Here, however, the col- 
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