596 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



APRIL 12, 1900. 



room be careful of the general effect, 

 don't kill the heauty of some gem of 

 a picture, vase or tapestry by plat-ing 

 near it loud crepe papers, ribbons or 

 jarring colors in flowers, even. .Just 

 show that a florist can be an aiti.'-t, and 

 in the respecting and appreciating of 

 other arts, make your own more beau- 

 tiful by proper application. A spray of 

 roses might be permissible over one 

 corner or at the bottom of some fine 

 picture or statue, a bunch or garland 



cleanliness lend charms to man and 

 his works. They are badly needed. 



There will be an immense quantity 

 of pansies planted out this spring. The 

 window-box, vase and outdoor orna- 

 mentations are becoming immeasur- 

 ably popular in New York. A great 

 many are being put out already and 

 you can do a great deal to encourage 

 this line of work. Get them out as 

 soon as you can, people like to have 

 them in for Easter. Mix the colors 



An Irish Harp. 



of common greens never — that would 

 be desecration, an evidence of ignor- 

 ance, and it is the knowledge of what 

 is proper that will always keep suc- 

 cessful decorators in the minority. 



People may buy their flowers and 

 plants from fakirs or "cheap .Johns," 

 but when they want particular work 

 done they generally go to the florist 

 with a reputation. It is not wise to 

 be cheap if they come to you; the qual- 

 ity of your work makes them pay for 

 it, for cheapness is not always appre- 

 ciated. 



There Is one important thing to re- 

 member. When you send men to dec- 

 orate a house don't let them go and 

 take possession of the place, and act 

 as if they owned it. A florist should 

 never assume the demeanor of a 

 "tough." Politeness, carefulness and 



well or group them. Ivy properly 

 planted in boxes or vases now will 

 serve for summer filling, also. 



IVERA. 



AN IRISH HARP. 



The harp design shown was made 

 by the writer recently in a gi-eat 

 hurry. The frame was as near as we 

 could get to the facsimile of an an- 

 cient Irish harp, but it is faulty; the 

 top beam is a little too short and the 

 frontal bar does not curve enough, 

 yet it is better than any we have seen 

 illustrated. Floral harps as a rule are 

 too much like a triangle; there is no 

 shape to them. 



The real Irish harp is a very beauti- 

 ful design when properly made. The 

 strings should be of gold and silver 

 twisted tinsel braid; if not, then of 



yellow chenille. Purple should never 

 be used. The design shown was yel- 

 low chenille twisted around the wires 

 and the inner frame was of yellow 

 roses (Perle des Jardins). The outer 

 part was of Bride roses and a few gar- 

 denias. A small silk Irish flag with a 

 cluster of forget-me-nots was at- 

 tached to the center of the strings. 



The design was made by request of 

 the Irish Society of New York to be 

 sent to a prominent member's funeral. 

 For Irish societies or patriotic indi- 

 viduals it is a most appi'opriate de- 

 sign, but be careful to get it correct. 

 There are several varieties of harps, 

 but only one suitable In this case. 

 Made up in strong colors, it is also 

 appropriate for festive occasions. 

 People are particular about their na- 

 tional emblems, and it's easy to be 

 right. IVERA. 



EEL- WORMS IN ROSES. 



I mail you a diseased rose plant un- 

 der separate cover. I have lost one 

 bench from this cause. The roses 

 seemed to be in a healthy condition, 

 but inside of one week they would 

 shed their foliage: this would start in 

 the middle of the bench and continue 

 the entire length of the bench, while 

 some few plants on the outer edges of 

 the bench escaped. 



The Boil at the time was on the dry 

 side. I know I have some spider, but 

 don't think that it is the cause. Can 

 vou tell me the trouble and the cause 

 of it? L. C. 



The rose plant has been examined 

 and the roots are found to be galled, 

 and nematodes in all stages of develop- 

 ment are in abundance. This is cause 

 enough for the sickness of the whole 

 plant. The premature falling of the 

 leaves is due in part to the insects that 

 are sapping their vitality. Such plants 

 are beyond curer and should be burned 

 root and branch. 



BYRON D. HALSTED. 



CYCAS REVOLUTA. 



A subscriber asks for some points 

 on starting these important plants. 

 The dormant stems when first re- 

 ceived are destitute of roots. They 

 should be put into pots very little 

 larger than the diameter of the stem. 

 Drain the pots, using a turfy loam, 

 with a fifth or so of well rotted ma- 

 nure. Pot firmly and plunge the pots 

 in some material where the tempera- 

 ture is 7.5 to 80 degrees. The tempera- 

 ture of the house should not be below 

 65 degrees at any time, but it is the 

 bottom heat, to produce root action, 

 that is the essential part of the op- 

 eration. 



'When they have made a growth of 

 leaves and you are sure that they have 

 made roots, the bottom beat can be 

 dispensed with, but for the first year 

 they should have a warm, shaded 

 bench. When first potted they want 

 a good watering, but till growth starts 

 and they make roots they will not 



