834 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



APRIL 21, 1S9S. 



grown too warm the stems get weak 

 and flowers are pale. If it should be 

 desirable for some reason to keep the 

 plants in pots, repotting and an occa- 

 sional feeding must not be neglected; 

 otherwise there will be no trouble in 

 their successful cultivation; ordinary 

 common sense treatment is all they 

 require. 



In spring the old plants can be 

 planted out again, and will in a short 

 time bloom as freely as those left in 

 the border all winter. Well estab- 

 lished single crowns are perhaps pref- 

 erable to the clumps. We get better 

 and larger spikes from these and can 

 plant them closer in the bench, but 

 good results are also obtained from 

 carefully lifted old plants if their roots 

 are not mutilated in the operation. For 

 spring sales it makes a good salable 

 pot plant, and we have found uiat 

 there is a ready sale for all we have to 

 offer. We also have used some in ve- 

 randa boxes for the past few years 

 with entire satisfaction. Most people 

 who had them once are so delighted 

 with them that they ask us to 

 put more of these tall red lily of 

 the valley in their boxes another year. 

 As to the propagation of these plants, 

 there is no difficulty whatever; they 

 divide freely and single crowns plant- 

 ed in spring will have made five or 

 more side growths before fall. Most 

 of these growths having roots at- 

 tached to them may be again re- 

 moved if stock is still to be increased. 



Seed sowing is not always success- 

 ful. The seedlings come up all right, 

 but are liable to damping off in the 

 seedpans or boxes before they are 

 large enough to handle, yet under the 

 right conditions and with a little pre- 

 caution success may be insured. Sow 

 the seed thinly in shallow, well 

 drained pans filled with sandy soil; 

 cover the seeds slightly with clean 

 sand, keep in a shady place until all 

 are up; then remove to an airy posi- 

 tion and by degrees allow them more 

 light. Always guard against over- 

 watering and keep as cool as possible. 

 Do not attempt to force a quick 

 growth after the little plants are 

 pricked off in boxes; let them alone 

 until five or six new leaves are 

 formed; then pot off into thumb pots 

 and in n few days after they will be so 

 far established that we need have no 

 further fear of their damping. These 

 little plants will have to be planted 

 out some time during summer, select- 

 ing a favorable moist or cloudy day 

 for this performance. Some of them 

 at least will flower in the following 

 season, even if it be late in autumn, 

 for their growth is rather slow at first. 

 As to soil they are not fastidious ex- 

 actly, but stiff, moisture-retaining 

 ground should be avoided, while in 

 very dry situations their flowering pe- 

 riod is cut short. In a well drained, 

 sunny position, and in moderately en- 

 riched soil, they probably do better 

 than in shaded situations, but I have 

 seen good free blooming plants under 

 trees where we would not expect such 

 gratifying results. 



The plants are slow to grow in 

 height, but after being four or five 

 years in the same place the crowns 

 will have elongated six or more inches 

 above ground, which gives a neglected, 

 straggly appearance to the plant. Di- 

 viding and deeper planting is the only 

 remedy to rejuvenate the stock in all 

 such cases. A more vigorous growth 

 and larger spikes follow this change. 

 Whenever possible this operation 

 should be performed very early in 

 spring, so ns not to retard their free 

 flowering too much. Fall division is 



Violets in basket trimmed with blue ribbon. 

 Arranged by Thorley, New York. 



not to be recommended, especially 

 when we cannot do it early enough to 

 allow ample time for the formation of 

 plenty of new roots. 



A few years ago a pure white vari- 

 ety was introduced, identical with the 

 parent in every respect but in color. 

 While we have not had it long enough 

 to express an opinion of its merits, we 

 have confidence in its future, but one 

 year's favorable impression will not 

 warrant the expression of a final judg- 

 ment in this matter. The same holds 

 good with the lately introduced H. 

 sanguinea robusta, which may or may 

 not be an improvement on the older 

 variety. At the end of another season 

 we may perhaps be able to say some- 

 thing more definite in connection with 

 these plants. K. 



WATER LILIES FOR FLORISTS. 



Florists, to be successful in any par- 

 ticular branch or line of business in 

 this competitive age, must be, to use 

 a common expression, live, progressive 

 and aggressive men. Prices range low, 

 margins are small, growers holding 

 stock ever desirous of turning the 

 same into cash, yet reluctant to step 

 down in prices, knowing full well that 

 a step upward afterwards can only be 

 hoped for, seldom if ever realized. 



Growers of decorative plants for the 

 garden in general should lead in the 

 line of goods that are best adapted for 

 embellishment of the flower garden. 

 They should show what is best adapt- 

 ed for gardens and grounds of both the 

 mechanic, the farmer or the merchant 

 .millionaire. Florists are too conserv- 

 ative. It is the same line of goods of- 

 fered year after year, annuals, alter- 

 nanthera, coleus, cannas, geraniums, 

 etc, with a few novelties, occasion- 

 ally new varieties or names, but no 

 radical change or departure from the 

 style of "bedding." There are some 

 indications of a change, but in many 

 places scarcely perceptible, far from 

 becoming general, but a change there 

 will be, and a welcome one it will be 

 when time is fully ripe, and the florist 

 who is alive to the fact will benefit 

 by it. 



There is in some sections a very no- 

 ticeable increased demand for hardy 

 perennial plants. These are destined 

 to become the most popular flowers 

 for the masses of flower loving peo- 

 ple who can grow flowers, and among 

 them are classed hardy water-lilies 

 and other aquatic plants, sub-aquatics 

 and such as delight in a moist soil. 

 The florists' garden should be a model 

 one and should advertise his stock as 

 much as do the windows of a dry 

 goods or milliner's store. 



Aquatics are ever increasing in pop- 

 ularity, yet it is surprising to find 

 numbers of persons who have never 

 seen a colored water-lily or know 

 what a night blooming water-lily is. 

 Florists should be alive to the fact 

 that these are popular plants, the 

 coming plants of the future, and there 

 is money in it if handled judiciously, 

 either as plants or cut flowers, and 

 will lead to sales of other stock. A 

 few well grown plants are a great at- 

 traction, and will certainly pay well 

 for the investment. 



To commence with, a good plan is 

 to have a small artificial pond, about 

 ten or twelve feet in diameter; this 

 will suffice for three or four water- 

 lilies and some lotus, with a few minor 

 plants. The shape may be circular, 

 oval, oblong, or whatever may suggest 

 itself to the grower, according to loca- 

 tion and other circumstances. A back- 

 ground of flowering shrubs, ornament- 

 al grasses and hardy perennial plants 

 make a good setting to the pond, 

 where, if the latter is artificial, all 

 traces of masonry should be obliter- 

 ated. The depth of water to grow 

 most water-lilies in is an average of 

 twelve inches. A pond may be made 

 two feet deep. This will give ample 



