KAISING FLOWERS ON A CITY LOT. 127 



braska won the cup in 1909, Iowa won it in 1910, and Nebraska regained 

 it in 1911. Next year another trophy will be awarded to the team most 

 proficient in judging from a box or barrel pack. This will be an induce- 

 ment to the agricultural colleges to offer courses in judging apples in the 

 box and barrel pack. 



As to the exhibits at the congress, the Western Fruit Grower states 

 that the quality of fruit was better than in previous years. North Caro- 

 lina had a fine display on which they won first prize, while Colorado won 

 second prize on their display. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman: Are there any remarks? 



Member: Gentlemen, I think this is a very creditable report for the 

 boys to bring back. I am glad to see them interested in the w'ork. 



The Chairman: The next paper on this morning's program is by 

 Mr. W. J. Courtright, of Fi'emont. Mr. Courtright is not here, but he has 

 sent his paper and the secretary will read it to you. 



RAISING FLOWERS ON A CITY LOT. 

 W. J. Courtright, Fremont. 



Before presenting my paper, it may be well to introduce myself in 

 order that you may the better judge what credence to give to what I pre- 

 sent to you. My age, 49; residence, Fremont, Nebraska; regular occu- 

 pation, attorney-at-law; fad, garden flowers; length of experience in rais- 

 ing them, five years. In this short time I have progressed from the pro- 

 moter of a flower garden to tne owner of a garden of flowers. The chief 

 attribute of a flower garden is anticipation. A garden of flowers means 

 anticipation in winter, and realization in spring, summer, and autumn. I 

 understand it is because, in so short a time, I have made good, that I am 

 asked to prepare this paper, and to tell you what I raise and how and 

 why. 



I have a plan of my owti, chosen because of conditions. Being cen- 

 trally located in the city, with the bare ground worth at the rate of sev- 

 eral thousand dollars an acre, and only a small amount of it, I have de- 

 voted the rear third, every foot of it, to flowers. Eh'erj'thing is in a mass. 

 In winter I draw my ground plans all to a scale. In many cases I raise 

 two crops in a year on the same ground. For instance, tulips and hya- 

 cinths, which bloom early and then die to the ground, may be followed 

 by aster, salvia, snapdragon, verbena or petunia, and the annual poppy 

 may be followed by petunia or verbena. In the choice of flowers I have 

 certain standards. I want the largest amount of bloom per day per 

 square foot. Notice this language. I say the largest amount of bloom 

 per day per square foot. Hence I discard all biennials, because a plant 

 that grows one year blooms the next, then dies, is 50 per cent loss to me. 

 The flower of only a short blooming period I discard unless I can bloom 



