Mav 



T.KIJ. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



1261 



Range No. 3 at the Establishment of Wietor Bros., at Rogers Park, Chicago. 



been expected from the liberal percen- 

 tage of nitrogen in the decayed leaves, 

 and the question of special interest is 

 the capacity of these fat pseudo-bulbs 

 .nnd ample leaves for resisting adverse 

 influences equal to those of plants 

 grown under the conditions that have 

 long obtained in orchid culture. As 

 yet verj- little evidence has been forth- 

 coming as to the desirability of adding 

 leaf-mold to the compost in which es- 

 tablished specimens of large size are 

 grown, whether as regards the growth 

 or the flowering. That leaf-mold is ad- 

 vantageous in promoting the growth of 

 young plants has been satisfactorily 

 shown, and judging from the evidence 

 forthcoming it would appear that it has 

 the disadvantages of promoting the pro- 

 duction of flowers wanting in staying 

 power, more particuarly when cut from 

 the plants. Orchids are now so largely 

 used in decorations on festive occasions 

 that a shortening of the period during 

 which they retain their freshness and 

 beauty is a serious disadvantage. There- 

 fore it is a point of some importance 

 to determine by practical tests whether 

 the staying power of the flowers of all 

 orchids is similarly aflfected, and in 

 the case of those that have their dura- 

 tion reduced the difference in the time 

 which the flowers of plants grown with 

 and without leaf-mold retain their fresh- 

 ness under precisely the same conditions. 

 Half-a-dozen tests of this kind would 

 be more conclusive than any number of 

 general statements, and we commend the 

 question to those who own or are in 

 charge of large collections. 



SOIL STERILIZATION. 



Messrs. A. F. Woods and R. E. B. Mc- 

 Kenney. of the Bureau of Plant Industry, 

 U. S. ' Department of Agriculture, have 

 devoted much attention to the subject of 

 soils, incidentally those employed in 

 greenhouses. Soil sterilization is rapidly 

 coming into favor for all extensive work 

 where the process is practicable. The 

 usual method for gi-eenhouse use is to 

 build a large bin. about four feet wide by 

 ten or fifteen feet long, and three feet 

 deep, running pipes through the bottom 

 of the bin, or through the bin a foot 



from the bottom, a foot apart lengthwise. 

 In a four-foot bin there would be three 

 pipes, with one-sixteenth inch holes 

 drilled in them on the under side, about 

 one foot apart. Fill the bin loosely with 

 soil; turn in steam df about eighty 

 pounds' pressure; put a few potatoes in 

 the top of the soil, an inch or so under 

 the surface, then cover the surface with 

 tight boards or cloth, in order to prevent 

 escape of the steam. Usually one or two 

 liours under good pressure, if the soil 

 is not too heavy, will cook the potatoes 

 in tlie top of tlie soil ; then one' may be 

 sure that the jiarasites and weed seeds 

 have been destroyed. If high-pressure 

 steam is used the soil will dry rapidly 

 after the steam is turned off, and can 

 be shoveled out of the bin without much 

 difficulty, especially if one side of the 

 bin is removable. 



In sterilizing soil without the use of 

 a bin, the same process is used. The 

 pipes are laid in the ground to be steri- 

 lized in a similar manner as in the bin. 

 If it is desired to sterilize a foot of soil, 

 the pipes should be placed under the soil 

 about a foot, with the drill holes on the 

 under side ; the surface should then be 

 covered with boards, or something to 

 prevent the escape of the steam, and the 

 soil should, of course, first be loosened, 

 so that the steam can circulate 

 through it. 



A few potatoes distributed over the 

 area will tell when the sterilization has 

 become complete. After the sterilization 

 the pipes can be removed. It is a good 

 plan before' sterilizing to mix in the 

 farmyard or stable manure that is to be 

 used, as this often contains numerous 

 weed seeds. If artificial manures are 

 used, of course it is not necessary to add 

 the'm first. 



Any small high-pressure boiler 'will 

 serve to make the steam. Some use a 

 small independent boiler for the pur- 

 pose, others attach the' apparatus to their 

 high-pressure boiler. A low-pressure 

 boiler is usually unsatisfactory, as it 

 takes a longer time to circulate the 

 steam, it leaves the soil wet and soggy, 

 and does not do the 'vvork very well. 



Ltxx, M.\ss. — Gibbs Bros, are build- 

 ing two new greenhouses, one .18x100 and 

 the other 25x120. 



BOSTON. 



The Market. 



Prices have remained quite firm dur- 

 ing the past week. The dark, damp 

 weatlier has materially shortened the out- 

 put, but there has been plenty to go 

 around. Prices on roses have re'mained 

 pretty much the same, best Beauties 

 bringing $30, -with Brides and Brides- 

 maids at from $6 to $10. Hybrids have 

 lieen more plentiful. Carnations con- 

 tinue of fine quality; a few fancies bring 

 $4, good stock $2 to $3 pel- 100 and or- 

 dinary grades $10 per 1,000. Violets 

 still come in but a few warm days will 

 finish them. Outdoor narcissi and tulips 

 are appearing, of good quality. Sweet 

 peas are plentiful and fine. Lily of the 

 valley continues abundant at from $2 

 to $3. 



Activity Outdoors. 



April has been doing herself proud of 

 late in the way of precipitation. For 

 the sixty hours ending April 29 at 8 

 a. m., the weather bureau reported 5.09 

 inches of rain. Tliese figures are official 

 and not open to dispute. This certainly 

 beats all records for a good many years 

 back. We do not hear of any serious 

 damage as a result of the heavy rain, ex- 

 cept the filling of some cellars, putting 

 out of a few boiler fires and the flooding 

 of low lands. 



Warmer weather succeeded the deluge 

 and the result on vegetation has been 

 almost electrical. The click of lawn 

 mowers is universal, daffodils and tulips 

 make our gardens gay and a few early 

 shrubs, which have escaped unscathed 

 from the winte'r's ordeal, are adding 

 some touches of color. 



A few carnation growers have started 

 to plant out their stock. Planting -will 

 not be general, however, for another 

 week, owing to the danger from late 

 spring frosts. Quite a numbef propose 

 trying indoor culture on a small scale. 



A good deal of tree planting was done 

 in this vicinity on Arbor day, April 30. 

 In the way of shade trees Norway and 

 sugar maples were most largely planted. 

 Some elms and lindens were also used. 

 The warfare on the gypsey moth was 



