232 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



quantity consumed in the three cities. It is as- 

 serted that one firm of growers in New York 

 cleared over twelve thousand dollars in one sea- 

 son in Jacqueminot roses alone. 



Of course this was an exceptional case, and 

 the growers sometimes lose heavily. For in- 

 stance, one firm down East undertook to grow 

 Marechal on a grand scale, and the result was a 

 break in the market, and a twenty five dollar 

 bud sold for three dollars a hundred, productive 

 figure being about five dollars at that. time. 



In carnation blooms the quantity consumed 

 is still more enormous. One commission dealer 

 last winter passed through his hands an average 

 of fiftj' thousand a montli between November 

 and April, and then complained that he had not 

 enough to supply the demand. He sold nearly 

 thirty thousand to one firm in one month, and 

 he was informed that that was two thousand a 

 day less than his customer used, or ninety thous- 

 and that month consumed by one firm. There 

 are probably from ten to thirty thousand carna- 

 tion blooms used in Philadelphia daily, and 

 sometimes more. 



A few 3'ears ago Lj'copodium was used almost 

 entirely for filling bouquets. Now it is almost 

 altogether discarded, and smilax has taken its 

 place. So enormous is the consumption of this 

 plant, that there are growers of it entirely. One 

 man in Philadelphia who raises it in connection 

 with one or two other flowers, has cut, to date 

 nearly ten thousand strings, and this is a mere 

 drop in the bucket to the amount grown. 



For the Grant procession in one of our West- 

 ern cities, over five hundred strings were used 

 to decorate the hose carriages of the fire depart- 

 ment. 



Lily of the Valley plays an important part in 

 the trade, one gentleman in Newport having 

 several houses of it, and is so skilful in blooming 

 it, that he is enabled to have it the whole twelve 

 months of the year. One firm in Philadelphia 

 also possess the secret Of necessity the quan- 

 tity consumed of this flower is much less than 

 that of some of the other leading things. Still 

 thousands of dollars annually pass into the 

 hands of the growers of this gem among flowers. 



Of the cities in the Union, New York and 

 Boston each consume the greatest amount, 

 Philadelphia next, among the Eastern cities, and 

 Chicago and Cincinnati of the Western ones. 

 The two latter, and in fact most of the cities and 

 towns, north, south and west of New York and 

 Boston, draw their heaviest supplies from the 



two last mentioned cities and from Philadelphia. 

 The trade is still in its infancy, and before many 

 years it is safe to say that the cut flower business 

 will be one of the most important of the trades 

 that supply the luxuries of life. 



CARNATIONS. 



BY E. FRYER, DELAWARE, OHIO. 



The variety called Peter Henderson, sent out 

 by Nanz & Neuner, a few years since, I have 

 found to be the best white I have yet grown for 

 winter bloom. It is a stronger grower and better 

 bloomer than Degraw, and is the nearest to a 

 pure white we have yet found, its only drawback 

 being that it runs up high like La Purite, requir- 

 ing much head room. Snowden, sent out by 

 P. Henderson, is a true dwarf, pure white, and 

 if it proves a good winter bloomer, will probably 

 supersede all other whites, the flower being of 

 fair size and very fragrant. 



Bock's Seedling, Charles Sumner — I have grown 

 the past winter. The flower is of enormous size, 

 almost as large as a rose, but they invariably 

 burst before opening, and are a dull, unattractive 

 color. 



Waverley I have also grown last winter. A 

 splendid variety, rich crimson scarlet; the color 

 was in no way exaggerated, as represented in the 

 MoNTHiA" a year ago; produces a fair average num- 

 ber of flowers to the plant ; flowers selling readily 

 at ten cents each. I think this is the most useful 

 varietj' of its color to the commercial florist. 

 While I appreciate every new variety of merit, 

 I still cling to the old carmine. La Purite, which 

 for quantity of bloom, size of flower and general 

 good qualities, I think has not been beat by any 

 of the newer varieties for winter bloom. I do 

 not find it subject to the disease that many com- 

 plain of, yet don't take any special pains with it. 

 I grow them in half rotted turf or sod, cut from 

 strong, loamy, meadow land, with a good addi- 

 tion of well-rotted manure on the benches, as 

 near the glass as the growth of the plants will 

 admit. Florists would benefit each other by 

 comparing notes on this useful class of plants. 



EARTHEN FLOWER POTS. 



BY ROBERT TROTTER, WILMINGTON, DEL. 



Seeing in the Gardener's Monthly of June 

 an inquiry as how to make earthen flower pots, 

 I have made and grown bedding plants in them 

 for the last seven years, and have been very 

 successful. I make three or four-inch pots — any 



