788 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



MAY 24, 1900. 



comes in, and where extensive grounds 

 or a supply of cut flowars are required 

 this is the most desirable and useful 

 method of ornamentation. Annuals 

 are cheap, and very many of them 

 should be more extensively grown. A 

 succession of valuable flowf rs is mere- 

 ly a matter of a few dollars and some 

 care, but, as we have said before, im- 

 patience kills many good intents. We 

 all know the great value of such as 



new plants often renders deviations 

 necessary, though the general principle 

 remains, and whilst we believe in va- 

 riety of form we also appreciate va- 

 riety of color. Circumstances may al- 

 ter cases. In public parks and grounds 

 we say that every style of bedding 

 should be adopted, with a preference 

 for the massive and formal, because 

 such appeals best to the general 

 public. The poor people of the city 



Decoration of Monuirents. 



hollyhocks, delphiniums, antirrhin- 

 ums, penstemons, phlox, etc., but we 

 seldom think of them till we want to 

 see them in bloom; they appear tire- 

 some when in seedling form and even 

 the general growers of such stock fail 

 to supply the demand for extra large 

 plants. Of course, such class of plants 

 intended for early flowering should 

 be put out in the fall, but the most of 

 it is done late in spring, when it is 

 almost time for it to be in perfection. 

 The extreme in formal bedding w.is 

 never so very popular in this country, 

 but the modifications seem to have 

 come to stay. The introduction of 



will not travel far to look at green 

 lawns and trees; there is a mono.ony 

 of similarity in most landscapes an 1 

 exhausted energy cares not for mcio- 

 scopic studies. Who is justified or has 

 the right to assume the role of dc- 

 tator? Very few of our parks are man- 

 aged to suit the wishes of the great 

 majority; they are the spoils of ) o'i- 

 ticians and scientific fiends. "STcre 

 flowers, less crimes," would be a be'- 

 ter motto than "Keep off the grass ' 



That which tends to produce the 

 greatest amount of pleasure — the mng- 

 net which succeeds in drawing out the 

 very poorest from the lowest slums — 



is most commendable, and not the nar- 

 row^ ideals of the over-educated. Flow- 

 ers in the garden have a wonderful in- 

 tluence over all classes, and an abund- 

 ance of them should be in every avail- 

 able spot. There is formality in most 

 forms if you view them narrowly, and 

 it ill becomes the florist to decry de- 

 signs because they displease the un- 

 educated critic, as most of the ultra 

 ones in this sense are. We are too 

 sensitive and pay too much attention 

 to the opinions of novices. We must 

 have more confidence in ourselves and 

 assert the rights of the profession, and 

 in order to be right we must be con- 

 versant with all that is best in our 

 trade. 



We feel it is merely a waste of time 

 to write out lists of plants and turn 

 this paper into a sheet from a cata- 

 logue. If you have already got the 

 stock which you intend to plant, just 

 make the best of it. Break away from 

 the conventional if the matsrial will 

 allow, and if by the purchase of a few 

 plants you can change the effect, don't 

 begrudge the expense. If you have 

 yet to purchase your plants, mistakes 

 are inexcusable, for the market offers 

 an endless variety and you can rarely 

 do wrong where a knowledge of color 

 and plant is shown. Th?re are many 

 simple flowers which give more sat.s- 

 taction than many expensive ones. In 

 this class are Phlox Drummond.l, sin- 

 gle petunias, asters, stocks, verbenas, 

 etc. Geraniums of course will always 

 remain the leaders. There are many 

 fine new shades of color, and whiiSt 

 it is difficult to surpass some of the 

 old sorts, we shouid recognize the 

 color value in all flowers. 



Coleus are becoming an annual 

 spring deluge of color. Only a few 

 kinds find favor, because there is a 

 preference for color, in flowers to color 

 in foliage. In this respect alternan- 

 theras are losing popularity (they have 

 grown poorly with many this year). 

 Begonias of the Erfordii and Vernon 

 type have justly sprung into favor. 

 They make charming effects. A rib- 

 boning of alyssum enhances them. 

 Salvia Bon-fire is a fine thing for lines; 

 or masses, especially in part with yel- 

 low annual chrysanthemums. Rud- 

 beckia Golden Glow or any of the tall 

 or even small yellow flowers. Oeno- 

 thera Youngii or Frazerii makes an 

 excellent ribboning of yellow if pinned 

 down. Of recent years nasturt ums 

 have brought big pricts and their 

 value will be more pronounced where 

 and when used properly. Much trouble 

 and dissatisfaction is occasioned by 

 having soil too rich for many — nay. 

 most — kinds of flowering plants. 



In bedding plants it is not foliage 

 so much as bloom that is wanted. One 

 is, of course, necessary to the other, 

 but too rich a soil produces an un- 

 even proportion. There are very few 

 things grander than a bed of mixed 

 lilies; how few of them we see. Then 

 there are roses; why don't we have 

 finer rose gardens? Dahlias are jump- 



