432 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



feet square, made of cape flowers, with the colors the same as on the 

 standard maps, its corners festooned with roses. Electric lights, of the 

 incandescent kind, were so arranged as to give the affair a magnificent 

 appearance. It was in the form of a picture and hung on the south 

 wall of the banquet hall. On the opposite, wall was arranged an im- 

 mense shield six feet square, around which were the flags of sixteen 

 nations, all made of cape flowers. Three large pieces were on the table. 



The most elaborate was the center-piece, a huge bank of "Ameri- 

 •can beauties" roses — not over-plentiful in the market now. However, 

 1,000 of them were used to form the bank. Electric light was intro- 

 duced beneath the structure. On the west end of the table was a de- 

 sign representing an ocean steamer, the hull of which was of ivory, with 

 port-boles through which a flood of electric light poured. The spars, 

 rigging, smoke-stacks, etc., were of smilax and roses. At the east end 

 was a miniature train of cars made of smilax festooned with roses. 



The twenty-three windows in the room were banked with roses and 

 ferns, and in front of each mirror was a Grecian urn filled with La* 

 France roses. Each table also contained a huge basket of flowers. 



The cost of the splendid display was in the neighborhood of $1,500. 

 Prairie Farmer. 



THE BEST SIX ROSES. 



In reply to W. C, page 231, the selection must of course depend 

 somewhat upon circumstances. If they are wanted for local trade in a 

 small town where cheap flowers only are wanted, then I would advise 

 the following : Bon Silene, Marquis de Vivens, Papa Gontier, jSTiphe- 

 tos, Pearle des Jardins and Souvenir de Wootton. But if the flowers 

 are wanted to compete for good prices, or in other words, if really 

 choice flowers are wanted, then I would say : The Bride, C. Mermet, 

 Mme. Hoste, W. F. Bennett, Mme. Watteville and Duchess of Albany, 

 to which should be added for a place of any size, La France, Mme. 

 Cusin and Sunset. This will give the grower a good variety of colors, 

 and all are good roses. 



There appears to be some difficulty with some growers in getting 

 some of the above varieties in the best condition. Papa Gontier, 

 to get it fine, should be grown in a somewhat cooler temperature 

 than most of the others ; Bennett on the other hand will do better in a 

 slightly warmer temperature. Mme. Cusin and Mme. de Watteville 

 should remain on the bushes till nearly wide open; then cut and placed 

 in water in a cool' cellar for a few hours they are very beautiful, and 

 always meet with ready sale. Bennett also should be allowed to open 

 wide before it is cut, particularly in cold weather J. If. May. 



