The Weekly Florists' Review. 



DECEMBER 1, 184S. 



quantity Is a benefit to all concerned. 

 Not only is the flower larger and bet- 

 ter when the stem has been kept clear 

 of other buds and lateral growths but 

 the stem is undoubtedly stiffer and 

 straighter. 



Varieties differ largely in their 

 stems. Daybreak is one that pays well 

 to keep clear of all superfluous buds, 

 but none more so than the much grown 

 Scott. Not only will this latter va- 

 riety smother itself with buds if al- 

 lowed, but its good stem is often spoil- 

 ed by allowing the lateral growths to 

 remain on. The side growths are oft- 

 en so strong that they take prece- 

 dence in growth over the stem, start- 

 ing it off at an angle. The next growth 

 above sends it back at another angle, 

 and so on and with an IS-inch stem you 

 have many kinks and bends and a 

 crooked, weak affair. Every variety 

 has its own peculiarity, but it is safe 

 to say that all are greatly benefited by 

 disbudding, which should be done just 

 as early as the little buds can be de- 

 tected. The cost is nothing because 

 every dollar properly laid out in this 

 direction will bring in return five dol- 

 lars, whether you be grower or both 

 grower and retailer. 



While on the subject of carnations, 

 visiting our large local growers, W. J. 

 Palmer & Son, of Lancaster, N. Y.. a 

 few days ago, one cannot but be 

 amazed at the quality of his Day- 

 breaks, not only regarding the health 

 and vigor of his plants, but stem and 

 size of flower, and one other quality— 

 a leading quality in Daybreak— the un- 

 rivalled tint of color. The modest 

 senior member of the firm says that 

 there is nothing in it, ONLY a stiff 

 soil and never let them be over 45 de- 

 grees at night. Some carnation grow- 

 ers might say to this, "that is not high 

 enough to be profitable." The perfect 

 field of bloom out and opening and to 

 come would be a most conclusive an- 

 swer to that. 



Tulips. 



The tulip season will soon be here 

 and many will want a few for Christ- 

 mas or at least for New Year's. Un- 

 less you boxed some very early and 

 they are well rooted, I would not ad- 

 vise any attempt at forcing for such 

 an early date. They never would be 

 missed and we can do without tulips 

 till end of January, when they and 

 the daffies can be had to perfection. 

 If you do force any for the holidays, 

 there is none better than La Reine, 

 Vermillion Brilliant, Chrysolora or 

 Yellow Prince for yellow and Proser- 

 pine. Putting the flats on hot-water 

 pipes won't do, for it burns the roots. 

 A box should be built over the pipes 

 with boards on which to place the flats 

 so that the violent heat of the pipes 

 does not come in direct contact with 

 the roots, but the atmosphere must be 

 quite 80 degrees or you won't get the 

 flowers out. 



A heavy cloth or board shutter 

 should be above the tulips some 2 feet 

 and light excluded; the object of this 

 Is to draw up the stem, for unless you 



have a stem of 8 or 9 inches you had 

 better not have tulips at all. An inch 

 of sphagnum placed among the growths 

 is a great aid for it helps to modify the 

 extreme and unnatural heat. A co- 

 pious watering twice a day is neces- 

 sary. When the flowers are about de- 

 veloped they should be removed to a 

 cooler house and given daylight. Al- 

 low three weeks for the forcing of the 

 first batch. WILLIAM SCOTT. 



COLD STORAGE VALLEY. 



1 wish to find out something abouc 

 keeping lily of the valley pips so that 

 I can force them into flower in June 

 ana again in September. Must they 

 be kept frozen solid, being too far 

 west to be able to purchase cold stor- 

 age valley? Bought some from cold 

 storage once in the fall and it was 

 nearly in bloom on arrival; next loi 

 was frozen solid, ami when thawed 

 out would not grow, but simply rot- 

 ted. MANAGER. 



It is true that in the journey of a 

 few days during the months of June 

 or September the valley would make 

 so much growth that it would be 

 ruined almost before you could get it 

 unpacked. The large growers, who 

 put in several thousand pips in a 

 batch, have no trouble; they have 

 their own cold storage and keep it 

 stored away in original cases. 



A small grower, say one who forces 

 500 or 1,000 a week, must do differ- 

 ently. When receiving the supply 

 they can be unpacked and put away 

 in boxes holding 500 to each box. 

 Earth or moss should be around each 

 bundle of twenty-five, and a covering 

 of two inches of moss or earth. The 

 boxes can be placed outside and cov- 

 ered with litter to prevent too great 

 and sudden changes of freezing and 

 thawing. They can in fact receive 

 just the same treatment as those you 

 intend to bring In at intervals during 

 the winter. Before there is any 

 chance of the pips being started into 

 growth by the increasing warmth of 

 spring those boxes destined for your 

 summer use should be removed to 

 cold storage, which is now to be 

 found in every city and at a cheaper 

 cost than you could supply yourself, 

 unless you are in a big way. From 

 25 to 30 degrees is a good temperature 

 for storage. W. S. 



THE EXHIBITIONS. 



NEW CARNATIONS. 



Messrs. F. Calvert & Son, Lake For- 

 est, 111., have been growing quite a 

 number of seedling carnations. We 

 were recently shown blooms of a doz- 

 en of these and they contained sev- 

 eral that we feel sure will be heard 

 from later. One Is an absolutely pure 

 yellow of a pleasing shade and of good 

 form. There is not the least suspicion 

 of any other color. Another might be 

 described as a Mrs. Bradt with a yel- 

 low ground instead of white. A fine- 

 ly fringed pink sort is very fragrant 

 and has so far been a remarkably free 

 bloomer. 



MONTREAL. 



The chrysanthemum show, under the 

 auspices of the Gardeners' and Flor- 

 ists' Club, opened in the halls of the 

 Frazer Institute on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 

 under circumstances which would have 

 made it a splendid success had it not 

 been tor the apathy displa.yed by the 

 members and others who should have 

 been the exhibitors. The weather was 

 all that could be desired, more like 

 early September than November. The 

 interest taken in the show by the pub- 

 lic was in advance of former years. 

 The papers did all they conscientiously 

 could, but the prize list showed plainly 

 enough that whatever the quality of 

 the exhibits might be, they were most 

 sadly deficient in quantity. Despite 

 the fact that the hall employed was 

 not half the size of that of former 

 years it was all the committee could 

 do to hunt up enough decorative stuff 

 on the morning of the show to fairly 

 fill the hall. I don't know if the 

 florists or gardeners have not the stuff, 

 if they are too busy to make an ex- 

 hibit or what it is. I know your cor- 

 respondent would rather have a couple 

 of teeth drawn than go through that 

 morning again. 



One of the things we seem to be suf- 

 fering from is natural gas escaping in 

 the wrong direction. A few of our 

 florists and gardeners did nobly, both 

 by exhibits and interest, to help along 

 tile show; the big majority took no 

 interest in the matter at all. Some 

 came along criticising what they 

 had 3eeu until one felt sick of the 

 whole thing. We are willing to be ac- 

 commodating and if the prize list 

 doesn't meet the wishes of all now is 

 the time to say so and we will do what 

 we can to make it such. If they will 

 only say what they do want they will 

 get a chance to try their hand. We 

 don't care if it is a head of cabbage 

 or a 10-acre lot of anthuriums. 



The competition for the Strathcona 

 cup tthis year reduced from 24 to 12 

 blooms, distinct varieties) was be- 

 tween W. J. Wilshire, gardener to R. 

 B. Angus; T. McHugh, gardener at the 

 Forest and Stream Club, and Geo. Pas- 

 coe, gardener to M. R. Reford. The 

 cup was awarded to Mr. Wilshire with 

 a magnificent lot, consisting of Madam 

 Carnot (awarded prize as the best 

 bloom in the show). Mrs. H. Weeks, 

 Col. W. B. Smith, The Bannington, G. 

 Wedding. Inter Oceau, H. Robinson, 

 H. Hurrel, Mrs. W. C. Egan, Morel, G. 

 H. Morgan, M. B. Hendre; T. McHugh. 

 2 points behind with Minerva, Good 

 Gracious, Mayflower, Shenandoah. 

 Frank ?Iardy, M. Ed. Andre, Mrs. 

 Weeks, Col. Smith, Morel, W. C. Egan. 

 H. Robinson, Golden Wedding. Geo. 

 Pascoe's was also a fine lot. 



In the competition for the Club's 

 Challenge cup, reduced from 12 to 6 

 plants in 10-inch pots, Geo. Pascoe 

 was first with Perrin, Yellow Queen. 

 Whllldin, Ivory, Chllds, and Morel. 



