282 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



January 23, 1902. 



quently terminate the flowering of the 

 chain, or spray, upon which they are pro- 

 duced. Both seed pods are produced upon 

 one sub-lateral. The main growth of this 

 is young, and rises directly from the soil 

 in the pot. 



I introduced foreign pollen at once, but 

 I doubt if the flowers were not already 

 sufficiently self-fertilized by the abund- 

 ance of male flowers surrounding them. 

 I shall watch with interest the result of 

 the seedlings should I be fortunate 

 enough to raise them. John Doughty. 



New Haven, Conn. 



ANTIRRHINUMS. 



As a florist with limited room for 

 growdng cut flowers I have felt the need 

 of something that would make a fairly 

 good cut flower, that could be produced 

 at small expense, that could be bloomed 

 continuously during the season when cut 

 flowers are in demand, and would give 

 a reasonable quantity of flowers from a 

 moderate amount of bench room. You 

 will say this is asking a good deal from 

 one plant, but you know the small 

 grower needs a good deal in order to get 

 along and make both ends meet. 



I have found the antirrhinum very 



dwarfer varieties grown several in a 

 pan would be very handsome. ]My ex- 

 perience in growing the plant has not 

 been extensive, as my room is limited, 

 but I make the suggestion for what it 

 is worth and will be pleased to hear 

 from those who have had more experi- 

 ence in handling this plant. 



Nathan O. Caswell. 



SINGLE-FLOWERED TUBEROSES. 



I think it was in an article in your 

 paper recently some one was deploring 

 the scarcity of variety in flowers for 

 funeral work, especially in the summer 

 months after the carnations were all 

 pulled up to make room for the new 

 beds. Bride roses and white carnations, 

 the staples, grow monotonous if used in 

 many pieces all going to the same place. 



It seems to me that the single orange 

 flowered tuberose has every requisite for 

 a good summer funeral flower, also good 

 for all purposes, bridal and other bou- 

 quets. How many florists use them? 

 We could scarcely do without them and 

 every summer have a small field of tube- 

 roses at our command. To have filled or- 

 ders for fifteen or twenty pieces in one 

 day without them would have been an 



Residence of Mr, 'W. K. Partridge, the Florist, Lockland, Ohio. 



useful in meeting the requirements noted 

 and feel sure it would l>e found so bp' 

 others situated as I am. I have grown a 

 few for the last three years and find my 

 customers are generally very much 

 pleased with the flowers. If you have 

 never seen it gTO\™ under glass you 

 will be surprised at the fine appearance 

 of a vase of well grown blooms. You 

 can cut stems from IS to 36 inches long 

 surmounted by fine heads of flowers from 

 4 to 6 or even 7 to 8 inches long, and 

 if a good strain be selected the plants 

 will bloom continuously during the win- 

 ter and spring when flowers are in most 

 demand. 



So far I have found the white varie- 

 ties the most useful. The flowers are 

 truly fine in a bouquet, a vase, a casket 

 bunch or any similar work. 



I have also found them to be fine a.s 

 pot plants, and though I have never 

 grown anj- in pans I think some of the 



impossibility, no large city being very 

 near to draw supplies from. 



In cutting from the field we select 

 those that have opened most of their 

 buds, and we cut the whole stem. They 

 keep finely in water when so cut, even 

 in very hot weather equally as well as 

 carnations. For bunching with Aspara- 

 gus Sprengeri as a backgroimd they are 

 especially beautiful, they are so white, 

 waxy and light looking, with none of 

 the clumsy heaviness of the double tube- 

 rose. They are equally nice for all 

 kinds of design work, using the short 

 spray or the single flower. 



By cutting ofi' the crook at the bot- 

 tom single tuberoses are fine for string- 

 ing the harp or lyre; coming at a time 

 when hyacinths are an impossibility 

 they take their place and are much more 

 easily used. The flower should stand up 

 and the tube run down into the one 

 below. 



They do not wilt perceptibly. Their 

 fragrance is thrown off only at night, or 

 very late in the afternoon,; at other 

 times it is not noticeable, another favor- 

 able trait. The only trouble in pre- 

 paring to tie up is to thoroughly clean 

 the stems of the old flower and seed 

 pods by passing the fingers downward 

 over the stem until all are removed. 



By starting the bulbs in a warm 

 greenhouse single tuberoses can be 

 brought in bloom early in summer, as the 

 bulbs throw out flower stalks much 

 sooner than the double ones. Usually we 

 plant right in the field. In this locality 

 (Lawrence, Kan.) about the 10th of 

 May is about right. Should not be 

 planted out of doors anywhere until 

 warm weather is assured. All the at- 

 tention needful is hoeing and water if 

 very dry. They love water. Our sum- 

 mers here are so dry and hot the double 

 tuberose does not amoimt to anything, 

 will not open and are very unsatisfac- 

 tory. Not so with the single, they 

 will open well no matter how hot and 

 dry, but will not be so large nor fine as 

 when rains are frequent. 



Use all summer, then in the fall when 

 frost is imminent, take up all the bulbs 

 having flower buds started v.'ith as 

 much soil as convenient, and transfer 

 them to the greenhouse in any out of the 

 way corner where they can have suffi- 

 cient head room, give plenty of water 

 and you will be delighted with beautiful 

 sprays to use with your chrysanthe- 

 mums. 



One advantage in having a quantity 

 of bulbs is their not maturing and blos- 

 soming at one time, but are continuous 

 throughout the summer. I think if 

 florists who raise flowers for a local 

 trade once tried the single tuberose, they 

 would never be without it again, as it 

 can be used in such a variety of ways. 



To succeed with any flower one must 

 know the management and culture which 

 is very simple in tliis case. Bulbs blos- 

 som more than once and must be stored 

 in a warm place for the winter. Shelves 

 in the potting shed or near the heaters 

 make a good place, as there it is warm 

 and dry all the time. S. E. L. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



The Market. 



Old King Sol has dealt kindly by us 

 in this cold month of January, his 

 golden rays yielding golden crops to 

 many hard working florists. Never mind 

 if his warm face is hidden when these 

 lines appear, that is to be expected in 

 mid-winter. The good done by these 

 bright sunny days is far reaching; 

 blooms come in and buyers come out. 



Roses are more plentiful and they are 

 wanted. Special Beauties bring special 

 prices, $6 to $8 per doz. ; medium grades, 

 from $2 to $5; Brides and Maids, $10 

 to $12 per 100, a few $15; the lower 

 grades $4 to $8. Brides are being eagerly 

 sought. Rather unusual at midwinter. 

 The scarcity in roses greatly helps car- 

 nations, which are now selling much 

 better; $2 to $3 per 100 is the price for 

 good stock; extras. $4; ordinary grades, 

 $1.50. Violets have fallen a little, the 

 doubles bringing 75 cents to $1 per 100; 

 singles 40 to 60 cents per 100. They are 

 selling very much better at these fig- 

 ures than at the higher prices last 

 quoted. Jlignonette is selling well. 

 Freesia is becoming more plentiful; it is 

 in demand at $3, $^4 and $6 per 100. 



