Ili;iM;\tiiKi! 24. lOnn 



The Weekly Florists^ Review, 



219 



CARNATION NOTES-WEST. 



Seasonable Treatment. 



By the time tliese notes reach yon tli(> 

 Christmas rush will be over and yonr at- 

 tention will be tnrned toward getting 

 things back to normal conditions again. 

 Whether this will prove a diffienlt task or 

 not will depend altogether on how con- 

 siderate yon were of your plants this 

 week and last. If you used good .iudg- 

 mcnt and did not allow greed to get the 

 upper hand, you will not find it such a 

 big job, but how many there are who can- 

 not see past the extra dollars they could 

 make by taxing their plants a little heav- 

 ier. Every year we see much poor, soft, 

 weak-stemmed stuff sent in by growers 

 of this class, and isn 't it strange that 

 (hey can't understand why their stock 

 does not grade up later on with that of 

 the wiser grower who does not let his 

 greed run away with him at such times 

 of temptation? At the time of this writ- 

 ing reports are not very flattering in 

 regard to the cut of carnations in this sec- 

 tion, and I expect to hear of the usual 

 amount of kicking about soft stutf after 

 Christmas. 



When I started this letter I did not 

 mean to preach about this over-forcing, 

 but I feel that until it is stopped or at 

 least materially checked, too much can- 

 not be said against it. What I started 

 to write about was how to get back to 

 the normal temperature, etc. Immedi- 

 ately after Christmas you should begin to 

 lower the temperature as gradually as 

 you raised it. More direct harm will re- 

 sult fropi a sudden large drop in the 

 temperature than could possibly result 

 from an equally sudden rise. You know 

 how a variable temjjerature will cause 

 many varieties to burst many of the 

 calyxes, and then just think how harm- 

 ful a drop of 10 degrees must be to 

 plants that have been working at a high 

 tension for a couple of weeks. While the 

 growth would not show the effects of 

 such a drop, in the shape of mildew ''r 

 <lropping leaves like some other plants, 

 It surely could not do the plants any 

 good. It would certainly cause a severe 

 check to the growth and the next crop of 

 blooms would likely show it. 



1 said begin to reduce the tempera- 

 ture right after Christmas. Often you 

 will want a good cut right after the 

 I 'iLristmas rush is over and the tempta- 

 lion is great to run at the high tempera- 

 ture over New Year 's day. Don 't do 

 it. Your plants won 't stand such a long 

 period of overwork. By January 1 you 

 ought to be back to normal conditions 

 again. If your plants seem a trifle soft 

 a ilose of wood ashes or air-slaked lime 

 will do them good. Plenty of ventila- 

 tion will also help them materially, but 

 avoid extreme changes. 



Here's hoping that you will have fa- 

 vorable weather, a largo cut and sale for 

 all you can cut at good figures, and as 

 a result a Merry Christmas. 



A. F. J. Bauk. 



CARNATION NOTES— EAST. 



Treatment After Christmas. 



When these notes appear the Christ- 

 mas strain will be over, at least on the 

 l)lants, and while recovering from your 

 pei-sonal extra exertions do not forget 

 that your stock must be gotten into nor- 

 mal condition. I am supposing that 

 you raised the temperature somewhat 

 to increase the cut, but even if it was 



from the eyes on the branches from 

 which the blooms were cut and let the 

 growth be well under way before fer- 

 tilizers of any kind are applied. 



Hard firing presents the liability of red 

 sjiider and aphides ai)pearing, so while 

 tlio visible supply of blooms is small take 

 advantage of the opportunity to syringe 

 thoroughly, choosing the first bright day. 

 Also give the houses a liVicral dose of 

 tobacco smoke. 



We are now past the time of decrease 

 Ili length of day, but as the sun begins 

 its return journey cold weather may bo 

 expected and with all the strain of 

 Christmas the plants are yet to experi- 

 ence much forcing. In view of this 

 no detail, however small, can be omit- 

 ted, if for no other reason than the 

 fact that during the next two months 

 the bulk of propagation takes place and 



.GREETING. 



Decemhek, J903 



TO THE READERS OF THE TRADE PAPERS AND MEMBERS OF 

 THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS AND ORNAMENTAL 

 HORTICULTURISTS : 



I take great pleasure in wishing each and every one a Happy and 

 Most Prosperous New Year. 



I view with regret the result attained in the profession during the 

 year 1903, especially the latter half, as not being up to expectations, due 

 to various causes. 



It is my earnest desire that all of you will use every effort to make 

 the year 1904 a banner year in producing good stock and realizing good 

 and satisfactory prices for the same. 



As the President of the Society of American Florists and Orna- 

 mental Horticulturists it is my duty to earnestly request all readers of 

 this greeting, especially non members of our Society, to pause and reflect 

 on the importance of becoming mf mbers of the same. It is an impor- 

 tant matter, one of national importance and most worthy of your 

 consideration. 



Please send in your membership dues to our secretary at once. 

 Nothing would please me more than a hearty and speedy response 



In conclusion let us hope to meet all old faces and as many new as 

 the old ones can induce to come to our convention at St. Louis. 



With kind wishes, believe me, 



Yours sincerely, 



President-Elect S. of A. F. and O. H. 



not necessary or for any reason you did 

 not, the chances are that an increased 

 amount of bloom was taken off at tliis 

 time. This means the removal of consid- 

 erable wood from the plants, and can 

 be said to give the plants more or less 

 of a check, such as wtndd occur when 

 any jdant has been lait back. This check 

 will be slight if extra care is taken in 

 watering to give no more than is neces- 

 .sary, the object being to run the soil a 

 trifle on the dry side for a week or ten 

 days, while the balance between top and 

 roots is being restored. 



For the same reason, it is best to 

 delay feeding or top dressing until such 

 time as there is evidence of new growth 



it goes without saying that good health 

 in the plants is needed then, if ever. 



Indianapolis and Richmond Gem. 



It seems proper to mention in pass- 

 ing, the condition of these two sorts at 

 this time, as it may be interesting to 

 know that the plants are a mass of buds 

 and I am conservative in estimating a 

 cut of three to five blooms per plant 

 from each variety this week. Indianapo- 

 lis has improved greatly the past month 

 in color, form, length of stem and size. 

 A bench of Richmond Gem would be 

 very desirable just now, in view of the 

 heavy demand for red. 



Geo. S. O.sbokn. 



