Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1885 — The Chinese New Year Flower. [ARTICLE]

The Chinese New Year Flower.

The “water angel plant,” as the name is being interpreted, is thus called because of its manner of growth, its appearance, and its miraculous origin. In China it is found growing in running Water, which keeps the bulbs and the pebbles to which it attaches itself by its roots perfectly clean. When grown here a bowl is filled with clean pebbles, the bulb is placed upon them, and the dish fillM with pure water. This last must be changed every morning, as it is absolutely necessary to keep bulb and pebble free from slime and ‘ other impurities. The bulbs are thus planted about four weeks before the Chinese New Year, and given fresh air and tbmlight. Soon a multitude of white rootlets appear beneath the bulb, and find their way down among and around the pebbles, while a crown of lilv-like green leaves shoots from the top. One can almost see these grow, they stretch up so fast, and then come the buds on a stem, and in a little, almost transparent sheath at first, which opens finally and displays a cluster of blossoms something like the narcissus in shape and size, but pure waxy white, with a crown of gold, and very fragrant.

This event should occur at New Year’s, and then John is happy. He stands near the plant and watches it with loving eyes; he shows it to his acquaintances, and receives their congratulations, and often he cuts off the “ho-ee-far,” or blossom, and sends it as a choice gift to the friend he loves best.— Boston Globe.