SUi- 12. 19II-). 



The Weekly Florists'" Review. 



)3n 



Decorations for the Reception Given by Mr. and Mrs. J. F. WUcox at Their New Home in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 



The Liberty rose in its prime blends 

 beautifully with the soft yellow of the 

 Perle rose or Xarcissus incomparabilis, 

 but should never be placed near yellow 

 after it has begun to fade and develop 

 the purple. It is always best in com- 

 bining two colors to select one strong 

 color and one delicate color, for in- 

 stance, in the combination mentioned 

 above of the Liberty and Perle rose, 

 where the red is strong and the yellow 

 soft. It would be poor taste to use as 

 strong a yellow as is found in the Narcis- 

 sus Yon Sion. Kaiserin or Bride roses 

 with the Von Sions is an excellent com- 

 bination. 



After having practiced this color an- 

 alysis a few times you will naturally fall 

 into the habit of trying to detect the 

 component colors of the flowers whi(^ 

 you handle day by day. Your eye will 

 train itself correctly, eoniliinations will 

 suggest themselves to you and you will be 

 able to test them by the above principle. 

 Gertrude Bl.ur. 



THE WILCOX DECORATIONS. 



J. F. Wilcox, of Council Blufis. la., 

 built a new home last summer, adjoin- 

 ing his greenliouses, and to open it to 

 their friends in that city llr. and Mrs. 

 Wilcox •;ave a large reception. To show 

 his very many friends in the trade how 

 comfortable Mr. Wilcox is domiciled we 

 present in this issue four views, from 

 photographs, three of which show the 

 rooms as decorated for the formal re- 

 ception. 



Every room in the house was embel- 

 lished with plants and cut flowers, even 

 to the dancing, billiard and card rooms 

 on the upper floor. In the reception 

 hall were groups of palms and festoons 



of asparagus, while Bride and Meteor 

 roses were used above the doorways and 

 about the console. In the dining room 

 were palms, white chrysanthemums and 

 poinsettias. A canopy of green and red 

 flowers made a corner for the punch 

 bowl. Lawson carnations were used in 

 the library and Beauty roses in the 

 music room. Tlie dining room was cur- 

 tained from the hall by portieres of 

 asparagus. There was a handsome cut 

 glass vase of Beauties on the table and 

 other roses on the sideboard. On the 

 upper flcKus the decorations were equally 

 elaborate, a dirterent flower being used 

 in each room. La France roses in one. 

 Meteor in another. Liberty in a third, 

 Beauties in a fourth, and so on. Plants 

 were largely used in the billiard and 

 ball rooms. Each of the ladies assisting 

 Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox in receiring either 

 carried Beauties or wore corsages of vio- 

 lets. 



ROSES. 



Planting the Young Stock. 



With the benches filled with soil and 

 the planting plans complete, the first 

 l)roceeding should be to determine the 

 distance between the plants, and the ar- 

 rangement of the same. The most com- 

 mon method, and I think the best, is to 

 run the lines diagonally across the bench. 

 This is termed ' ' staggering ' ' and, while 

 admitting a freer circulation of air 

 among the foliage than if the lines are 

 run at right angles to the bench, it also 

 facilitates syringing, staking and tying. 



-The usual distance between plants of 

 such varieties as Bride and Bridesmaid 

 is fifteen inches each way, allowing a 

 root area of 22.5 inches, which in good 

 soils is little enough. I am aware that 



many good growers prefer giving them 

 less, but after many years experiment- 

 ing in many different classes of soil I 

 find this to be the most profitable when 

 quality and quantity are considered. Ivo- 

 ry and Golden Gate succeed best when 

 given even more space than this. Beauties 

 should have at least 324 inches of root 

 area. 



Previous to turning the plants out of 

 the pots they should be well watered, 

 so that they may withstand the drying 

 heat to which they will be exposed dur- 

 ing the process of planting. Turn the 

 plants carefully out of the pots, disturb- 

 ing the balls as little as possible, even 

 the removal of the drainage having a 

 bad effect and should be avoided. The 

 ball should be placed in the bench just 

 about as deep as will afford a slight 

 covering and no more. A slight depres- 

 sion should be left around the ball to 

 receive the water and keep it from 

 spreading. 



As soon after planting as possible the 

 plants should be watered, giving each in- 

 dividual plant a thorough soaking. This 

 individual watering should be continued 

 during the first ten or fifteen days, syr- 

 inging twice daily during bright sun- 

 shine, by which time root action will be 

 commenced and weeds will be plentiful. 

 The surface should then be ruffled and 

 the whole surface given a good water- 

 ing. 



Free ventilation and persistent cultiva- 

 tion must now be practiced, as this is 

 the very foundation of success. Weeds 

 are u.sually looked upon as a pest because 

 work is required to remove them. I look 

 upon them as a blessing in disguise, for 

 were it not for weeds manv rose benches 

 would get but scant attention in culti- 

 vation. 



