Excerpts from Southern Florist and Nurseryman, a trade journal, December 18, 1942, by 
Dorothy C. Sorrells i 
Hybridizing Exploits of Texas Breeder 
SPOTLIGHT ON DAYLILIES 
Development in Last 50 Years is Outlined 
Streamlined after 400 years, the Daylily takes 
the spotlight in horticultural interests. Plant 
breeders have produced hybrids with giant blossoms 
of brilliant shades and midget flowers of exquisite 
texture and the coloring of tropical blooms. Ignored 
and despised for centuries because of its unat- 
tractive color pattern, the Daylily has at last emerged 
from an ugly duckling into a swan of the flower 
world. H. M. Russell of Spring, Texas, has been 
hybridizing Daylilies for 21 years, devoting the last 
nine years exclusively to this genus. 
Daylilies grow in sun or partial shade; in acid or 
lime soil. The chief requirement is good drainage. 
Resistance to disease and fungi is very high. Ac- 
cording to Mr. Russell, not so much as 5 cents has 
ever been spent on his farms for insecticides. Day- 
lilies may be planted successfully any day of the 
year. 
Hybridizing must extend over a long period. 
Final results may or may not show the desired 
color, texture or other qualities the breeder is 

striving to produce. Ninety-eight percent of the 
products of hybridizing must be discarded, 
Selection is based first on color, then on profuse 
blooming qualities. 
A further test eliminates blossoms lacking dura- 
bility. Final selection is based upon height and 
behavior of blooming. Behavior of blooming refers 
to the flowering habits of the plant; preference is 
given the plant which sheds old blossoms in such 
a way as to leave a clean flower stem. 
Having achieved the desired results in one hybrid, 
about seven years are required to produce a hundred 
plants from it. 
To the plant breeder the most interesting part 
of hybridizing is the experience of taking colors from 
one variety and placing them in other hybrids. 
Russell has produced solid colors of brilliant shades 
and bicolors of striking contrasts. Giant blossoms 
measuring 8 and 9 inches across have been produced 
in countless color combinatious. 

RUSSELL GARDENS, SPRING, TEXAS 
eRINTED 
IN 4 
Uus.& 
