No 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 517 



winter blooming- are so far in sight to be disseminated during the 

 present year, namely, the much advertised La Detroit, the color 

 of which is pink, and the crimson General Mc Arthur. This is said 

 to produce flowers very abundantly and with less heat than is re- 

 quired by other crimson roses. Uncle John is a sport from Golden 

 Gate. It has more pink coloring than has the variety from which it 

 is a sport. 



Violets have been in oversupply, especially during the holidays 

 just past, principally on account of growers holding them back in 

 llie hope of securing higher prices. Holding flowers back, on gen- 

 eral principles, is a mistake. There is a limit to the length of time 

 flowers may be held and yet give satisfaction. 



Palms for home adornment have not sold so freely during the 

 [)ast year as formerly, nor has the Rubber Plant, it having receded 

 somewhat from its one time great popularity, not that either Palms 

 or the Kubber Plants are less suitable than formerly, for there are 

 i;o plants better suited for the purpose indicated. The recent finan- 

 cial troubles are believed to be at the bottom of the lack of demand 

 in this branch of the trade. 



Planting hardy plants for permanent effect is decidedly on the 

 increase, especially' in the hardy flower garden. At one establish- 

 ment where five acres were devoted five years ago to the culti- 

 vation of the hardy perennial herbaceous flowering plants, thirty 

 acres are now in use for that purpose, showing more than anything 

 else could do how the demand for this class of flowering plants has 

 increased in so short a time. 



The old Peony has lately taken a jump into popularity, and it 

 deserves to do so. It is not at all particular as to soil. All that 

 it needs is an open situation where it can get lots of air and sun- 

 shine. It delights in a rich soil, though it will thrive under neglect 

 more than any other plant I know of. 



A National Peony Society has been organized and a Peony Com- 

 mittee has been appointed by the Society of American Florists 

 to look after its interests. The former organization has a trial 

 ground in Rochester, N. Y., and the latter in Fairmount Park, Phil- 

 adelphia. Much benefit to the Peony is likely to accrue between 

 the work of the two bodies in straightening out the nomenclature 

 of this somewhat neglected hardy flowering plant. To keep the 

 varieties true to name is not an easy task on account of the her- 

 baceous character of the plant as labels cannot very well be attached 

 thereto, and labels driven into the ground are easily misplaced by 

 the lifting process by frost and careless workmen. Unlike any 

 other flowers that I know of, some Peonies may be kept several 

 weeks in cold storage. To do this successfully, however, they must 

 be cut at a certain stage in the bud state, which can only be known 



