Page 10 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2021

THIS BUSINESS OF OURS (Continued)

As you may know my grandfather,

Ernest Hemming, hybridized Hibiscus
Hibiscus Annie J Hemming cuttings taken June 23, 2021
In March a wind storm tore the very old covering off our Annie J. Hemming and we have
propagation house. Larry managed to find some poly that
would fit. But a busy spring kept us from getting around always propagated it by division, a
to putting the new one up until it was less than a week method that is a bit slow to reach
from the time we normally start propagation. Our business
would go broke if we didn’t propagate as many liners as large quantities.
legally and logistically as possible. I’m sure it’s the same
for many large and small nurseries. Buying all or most of Crape Myrtles with a striking dark red leaved variety
your non patented liners would be cost prohibitive. In any named Black Diamond Best Red and Black Diamond
case, Larry found some poly that would fit. Both of us hate White. Reading the tag gave the usual blather about its
high places. To get the old piece off we rented a lift that “wonderfulness” and included that it was trademarked.
was battery powered and easy to use. The controls used But nowhere did it have a patent number or that a
pictures to show what each did plus the speed it did it. A patent was applied for. This seemed strange in this day
turtle for slow and a rabbit for fast. Larry said he wanted an and age. That night a computer search showed why.
extra slow picture showing a 3-legged turtle. The plants were hybridized by Dr Pounders at Mississippi

Trying an idea, we pulled the new poly cross wise over State University and released to the trade to propagate
the house still folded. Then unfolded it and got it squared and sell. Ebony Crape myrtles and Black Diamond Crape
and in position. This worked well because that house is as myrtles are the same clones under different names. Black
wide as it is long. Then it was up the ladders to install the Diamond Pure White is ‘Ebony & Ivory’. BD Best Red is
wire lock to hold it all down. Tall houses are needed but ‘Ebony Flame’. BD Blush is ‘Ebony Glow’. BD Crimson Red is
we hate covering them. One of our employees said that ‘Ebony Fire’. BD Red Hot is ‘Ebony Embers’.
heights didn’t bother her. Well next time it’s her turn; at 77 I The Ebony names are the officially registered cultivar
have become allergic to ladders. names and anyone is allowed to propagate and sell

When a new to us plant comes in, I always read any plants under the Ebony names without paying any fees
and all tags on it. Earlier in the spring we got in some or worrying about other trademarks. The practice of
10 SUMMER 2021 • Free State News