516 ANNTTAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FLORICULTURE. 



By Ejjwin Lonsdale, ClMinmin. 



Mr Chairman and Members of the Pennsylvania State Board of 



Agriculture: 



In the report of the Committee on Floriculture last year, mention 

 was made that two flowers had been revived that were popular 

 twenty-five and more years ago. The Richardia Aethiopica, com- 

 monly called the Calla or Lily of the Nile — though it does not belong 

 to the lily family, but is an Arum — and the Poinsettia Pulcherima, 

 and they are still holding their own during the present season, 

 And there is another old favorite coming to the fore, namely, the 

 Camellia Japonica, or, as it was called in the heyday of its popu- 

 larity, simply "Japonica," along in the late "sixties" and early 

 "seventies," is now called for principally on sentimental grounds on 

 account of bygone associations. Thousands of dollars' worth of 

 these plants were destroyed some years ago because the flowers 

 were a drug, and at the present time enough flowers cannot be 

 secured sometimes to fill orders. Camellia plants grow slowly, 

 Avhereas roses, for winter blooming, under present improved cul- 

 tural methods, may be grown to full maturity in less than one year. 



To go back for a moment to the Calla. Seed of it is now being 

 offered by enterprising seedsmen, and if it proves to grow as 

 quickly and produce flowers as freely as it is claimed for it, an over- 

 supply of Calla flowers may very soon be looked for. 



Carnations are steadily being improved by the raising of seedlings, 

 and an improvement in cultural methods is quite noticeable. At 

 one time, and not very long ago, carnations were planted in the 

 poorest greenhouses on the place; now the very best with all the 

 latest improvements in appliances are not a bit too good for them. 

 Prices for the very best were higher last Christmas than ever be- 

 fore. 



Among roses, the three old standbvs, namely: American Beauty, 

 cerise, The Bride, white, and The Bridesmaid, pink, are holding their 

 own against all comers. Meteor, crimson, is being displaced by 

 the newer Liberty, which produces a brighter colored and more 

 shapely flower, besides being more fragrant. Three new roses for 



