August 28, 1902 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



445 



out for first quality. The crop the past season 

 \vas vory large. The violet center to-day is at 

 Rbinebeck. N. Y. One builder alone i;ot out 

 material for 75.000 square feet. The plants are 

 looking very well at present, imd the violet men 

 '■xpect a t.emendous crop for the coming yeav. 

 We have reached a higher standard now, and 

 the public is educated right up to the mark, 

 and will only buy the best; so if the small 

 grower will continue to produce inferior blooms^ 

 he will surely go to the wall. 



Through the efforts of the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington it is possible to-day 

 to grow violets in old houses year after year, 

 by using a remedy in hydrocyanic acid gas, that 

 destroys all insect life. Violets will not stand 

 tobacco in any form. With plenty of new sod 

 ' and your houses so, arranged that you can ven- 

 tilate from the outside, you ought to have no 

 trouble to get the quality. 



The American Rose Society held Its annual 

 «how at the Berkeley Lyceum, New York. U 

 was a creditable show, with a fair attendanct. 

 The society meets in Philadelphia nest year, 

 where its exhibition will also be held. 



The Horticultural Society of New York, in 

 conjunction with the New York Botanical Gar- 

 den, held an exhibition in the museum of thv 

 ararden in June last, where the $50 award of tit.- 

 society was made to Nophrolepis Piersoni, a 

 sport of the well-known Boston fern. 



The New York Committee of the Chrysan- 

 themum Society of America, met at its usual 

 stilted periods, and awarded certificates to the 

 following varieties: Chemo and John R. Weir. 

 Fewer varieties were exhibited before this com- 

 mittee the past chrysanthemum season than 

 heretofore. 



The New York Florists' Club will hold t. 

 grand exhibition of flowers, fruits, plants ano 

 vegetables in Madison Square Garden. October 

 .jO to November G. 1902. In connection with this 

 show the American Sculpture Society will make 

 a display of sculpture wo.K, the combination 

 ■creating an exhibition unexcelled in the 

 metropolis. 



The club now publishes in pamphlet form the 

 papers read before it during the year: exhibi 

 tions of Cowei's are also made mi»ntbly. The 

 attendance has bceu gratifying, and the asso- 

 <riation continues on a good working basis. 



A plant-breeding conference under the au'i- 

 pic, •> of the Horticultural Society of New Y'ork 

 will be held in Msinhattan in September next. 

 Prominent scientists and practical horticulturists 

 will read papers, and a most instructive pro- 

 gram has been prepared. 



The Brooklyn Horticultural Society was or- 

 ganized in Tune last, to carry on the work pre- 

 liaratory to the coming convention and meeting 

 of the American Carnation Society, which will 

 be held in Brooklyn in February nest. A 

 grand display of the divine tlower will be forth- 

 coming. The Horticultural Society will be a 

 permanent institution. 



The death roll includes the following names: 



Chas. H. Downie, prominent seedsman. 



.Tohn Fitzgerald, wholesale florist. New York 

 City. 



M. J. Lynch, of Poughkeepsie. violet grower, 



A. C. McConnell, retail florist. New Y'ork. 



Victor Dorval. salesman. 



The New York Cut Flower Exchange has 

 taken quarters in the Coogan Building, Sixth 

 aver.ue and Twenty-sixth street. The market 

 is now opened at 6 a. m. The East Thirty- 

 fourth street ma-'ket is still continued. Re- 

 spectfully submitted. 



ALFRED n. LANGJ.\HR. 

 State VicG-Presider.t for New Y'ork. East. 



New Jersey. 



To the President and Members of the S. A. F. 

 and O. H.: 



Lying as our state does in the direct line of 

 <?ommunication betwetn two great cities of 

 America, with four lines of railways crossing 

 the entire state, it finds a ready market for its 

 products in both. This has tended to make it 

 an important factor liorticulturally, lloricultural- 

 Iv and oommerciallj'. 



In the elevated and rocky districts comprising 

 the north and north middle countries known as 

 the Newark and Orange Mountains and the Pal- 

 isades of the Hudson, are found many of the 

 largest rose growing establishments in the coun- 

 try, while the broad sandy plains of the south- 

 ern part is favorable to the carnation and 

 srowing of nursery stock. We have three of 

 the largest orchid raisers in the country and 

 our three largest nurseries of trees and orna- 

 mental plants have a universal reputation. 

 While closely allied to its two near neighbors, 

 whose market is also ours, we yet have much 

 that is characteristic and individual. Our state 

 has furnished a president to the S. A. F. and 

 O. II. and helped to offieer both it and the Rose, 

 Carnation and Chrysanthemum societies. 



For her private estates and the skill of her 

 private gardeners she has always been cele- 

 brated, and her parks, though recent, will be 

 visited for the great beauty of their natural 

 scenery and remarkable extent of view. One 

 of these parks it is said, overlooks one-quar- 

 ter of the population of our country and the 

 prospect is limited only by human power of 

 vision. 



During the past year the output of roses 

 sent from some of its rose-houses to the New 

 York market has doubled. The flowers consist 

 of the usual varieties. Its yield of carnations 



and chrysanthemums has grown and its trade 

 from latest reports is steadily increasing. An 

 advance is cl-iimed in improved cultivation of 

 the orchid so as to control the season of bloom, 

 and orders are reported from outside the state 

 as far as Ne»v Orleans and Chicago, one wed- 

 ding bouquet last winter returning the grower 

 the sum of fifty dollare. During the past rainy 

 season the growth of labiata has been consid- 

 erably retarded. 



The inlluences which have helped this increase 

 of prosperity ore due to the superior organiza- 

 tion of the commission trade assisting the ship- 

 ments from one market to another, and render- 

 ing prices of staples less variable; to the flor;il 

 press in an increased opportunity of reaching 

 distant points; to the growing love of flowers in 

 those communities where so-called nature study 

 forms part of the school curriculum; the activity 

 of our experimental station in the use of bulle- 

 tins and public addresses given by its staff, and 

 the increased attention ».f current periodical lit- 

 oratun- to flower cultivation In the house. One 

 indication of this is the appearance of plant 

 runni and conservatory in the new houses now 



C. C. Poll worth, Vice-President Elect, 

 Society American Florists. 



1 uilding even at the seashore, w here the use of 

 the liunsG is for but a p<irtion of the year. 



n^e increase of local trade can be clearly 

 traced in neighborhoods where there are active 

 horticultural s-ocieties and clubs whose ad- 

 dresses and exhibitions are frequently societv 

 features, and very largely to the influence of our 

 public parks, particularly in Essex, Passaic. 

 Hudscn and Monmouth counties, though in the 

 first the matter has been overdone and is suf- 

 fering a reaction at the present time. Any ef- 

 fort made to further the work along these lines 

 by the S. A. F. and O. H. must tend to ma- 

 terially benefit, individually, and our standing, 

 horticulturally. 



While there has been a decided falling off in 

 the small grower (that is. under 1.000 square 

 feet of glass), except where saved by a local 

 trade, and also a few florists, this has been 

 compensated by the increase in glass area by 

 larger concerns. The incorporation of one stock 

 company with a capital of .$S5.0iio is to be 

 looted, as also the phenomenal growth of some 

 of our youngest houses in the trade, notably 

 in decorative plants. There is no reason why 

 with four of the largest houses, three in the 

 eastern and one in the western part of the 

 state, that New Jersey should not largely in- 

 fluence the market in the coming year. 



An Increased demand for young apple and pear 

 trees for fall planting is reported even to the 

 extent of exhausting the stock of firsts, and a 

 decided increase in herbaceous plants and hardy 

 annuals, particularly the Japanese iris. There 

 are still three active Japanese firms in our state, 

 l.ut the business in Japanese freak products 

 has lost Its grip and now the sales are assisted 

 by the "Japanese ball game." with plants as 

 prizes. Introductions of Japanese products of 

 merit by our own trade are meeting, with fair 

 sales. 



While we have no public botanical garden, 

 and have received only the most meager state 

 .encouragement, the appropriation voted for our 

 State Horticultural Societies* display at Buf- 

 falo, being ridiculously inadequate, yet our 

 Agricultural Experimental station during the 

 I'ast year has prosecuted its investigations still 

 further into plant diseases and has furnished 

 bulletin and address whenever applied for. One 

 house will be devoted to remedies for mildew 

 this coming season, and much space to the 



crossing of ornamental plants. Much of the en- 

 ergy disphiyed being due to the activity of an 

 able superintendent. Attention of legislatures 

 should be brought to the importance of our hor- 

 ticultural and floricultural interests to the state, 

 and copies of our proceedings should be placed 

 so as to be accessible to them. 



Both of our private and cftmmereial houses 

 have been schools in the past and have fur- 

 nished growers all over the country. At the 

 present time in one of the largest rose-house.s 

 are young men "doing time" from New York. 

 Illinois. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Michi- 

 gan, while many very interesting papers cover- 

 ing a wide range of subjects have been given 

 before our own societies, and also given by Jer- 

 seymen before societies in other states, and duly 

 noticed by the floral press, yet only one pub 

 lished book in the past year is to be reported 

 by a Jersevman, notably. "Live Covers for Coun- 

 try Homes," by Prof. P.yron D. Halsted. 



Many prizes have been taken during the past 

 yeai-.' among others for merit may be mentioned 

 John N. May. J. R. Mitchell. Robert Simpson. 

 E. Waller. H. C. Steinhoff. Dale Estate and 

 Peter Duff. 



Among those who have introduced new floweis 

 are John N. May of Summit, rose Mrs, Oliver 

 Ames, and J. H. Horsburgh, of Eliazbeth. a new 

 geranium. J. P. Cleary. Inventions have been 

 made by Theron Parker of HaT-rison. of a glaz- 

 ing point, a tomato support and a folding trellis. 



A few have passed away, but since the death 

 of William McMillan, none have been followed 

 with more respect to the grave than Thomas 

 Young. Sr., in May last, at the age of S-t 

 ,11 cars. 



The donation of land by private citiKens foi* 

 p'nblic parks should be tnentioned. While many 

 have taken place prior, yet during the past 

 month. Mr. C. W. Anderson of Upper Montclair 

 has donated a strip of probably twenty acres 

 to the township. 



On the whole the business of the past year 

 marks an advance in glass surface and an in- 

 crease in production with steady prices. It is 

 impossible to discriminate by name any flower, 

 so much dei)cnding upon the skill of the g -ower. 

 Mid any healthy plant of acknowledged merit 

 will bear continuously and brings a price. Ed- 

 iicational influences are at work, not alone as 

 pjirt of school and high school curriculum for 

 children, but our societies are doing much by 

 furnishing speakers, our agricultural station by 

 bulletins and speakers, our own society by its 

 report so widely distributed and noticed, and by 

 an intelligent end ever practical floral press. 

 This with the objective tciiphing of our public 

 parks and private estates is over and over ad- 

 vancing the imiKtrtf.nee and excellence of tb.* 

 craft we love so well. 



Material assistance is recognized to Messrs. 

 W. J. Stewart. Alexander Wallace, Patrick 

 O'Mara. Prof. Byron D. Halsr- d. the Universal 

 Horticultural Establishment and Chestnut Hill 

 Nursery. 



.rOSFPH B. DAVIS. 

 State Vice-President for New Jersey. 



"West Virginia. 



To the President and Members ..f the S. A. F. 

 and O. H. : 



T have ibe honor as -well fs the pleasure of 

 making the first report from our small but 

 prosperous mountain state. This state has 

 passed through one <if the most prosperous years 

 in thr, history of horticulture; all florists se^in 

 to be well satisfied with the business done the 

 past ye:U'. 



Bedding plants were sold out cleaner than ever 

 before; cannas are taking a leading part in 

 bedding plants: prices have been satisfactory. 

 In cut flowes this state has never been able to 

 suppl.v the demand and a great many are shipped 

 here from adjoining states. In cut flowers car- 

 nations take the lead and bring good prices; 

 during holidays good carnations bring as high 

 as .$2.00 to $2.50 per dozen, the average price 

 during the winter being 75c. to .$1.00 per dozen. 

 There was a big demand for cut flowers until 

 late in the spring. Easter trade was very 

 good; there wr.s a great demand for potted 

 plants and everything in that line was sold out. 



There has been a great deal of glass added 

 by several firms this season, one firm alone add- 

 ing about 10.000 feet of glass. 



Chrysanthemums are looking well. There 

 seems to be a better sale for them in the last 

 few years than there has been. Carnations are 

 doing fiu^: the season here, it seems, has been 

 just right with a good rain about once a week. 



There has been hail all over this section this 

 summer, but the florists have been lucky 

 enough not to be damaged much by it. Brother 

 florists, "better lock your stable before the 

 horse is stolen." 



Would like to mention that this state shows 

 good opportunity to some enterprising young 

 men who would like to start into business for 

 tliemselves. as this state is growing very rap- 

 idly and many small towns could and would sup- 

 port a florist, for each new greenhouse In a new 

 town creates a demand for more flowers. 



It is very hard to get new members for the 

 S. ,\. F.. but I think we have some of them 

 !-tirred up and by keeping at them may yet 

 succeed in lining them up and bring them into 

 the society that they may be benefited by our 

 organization. 



G. OBERMEYER. 

 State Vice-President for West Virginia. 



