790 



horticulture: 



December 14. 1907 



CHRISTMAS PLANT NOTES. 



For several years it has been ob- 

 served that at Christmas there was 

 a decided increase in the numbers of 

 those preferring plants rather than 

 flowers both when the ultimate object 

 was the making of a gift and the 

 brightening of their own dwellings by 

 the persons themselves. 



This increase in preference for 

 plants, though without doubt of great 

 value to the plant trade, has not 

 made any apparent difference in the 

 sale of flowers. The sale and use of 

 the latter has increased as much in 

 proportion as that of plants. 



Specimen foliage plants and single 

 flowering plants are still in greater 

 demand than made-up combina- 

 tions of one or both, and there is 

 without any question cause for thank- 

 fulness that such is still the case both 

 for the sake of .grower and buyer. 

 Made-up combinations when tastefully 

 done and not overdone are pretty 

 and effective, but in very rare cases 

 do buyers have the same real enjoy- 

 ment out of them as they would have 

 had from one or more well-grown 

 plants of specimen form. And again 

 it is doubtful if there is as much 

 profit in made-up affairs as there is 

 in plants that sell on their own indi- 

 vidual merits. 



Palms, ferns, Flcus elastiea and Ficus 

 pandurata, dracaenas, pandanuses, 

 crotons all in variety will be in de- 

 mand this year. Palms, especially 

 nice thrifty medium-sized kentias, are 

 never dead stock on hand so that 

 there is no risk of loss with them 

 no matter how taste runs. Phoenix 

 Roebelini is also a most likely subject 

 for attracting the attention of buyers. 

 Rubber plants can always be depend- 

 ed on to give an account of them- 

 selves. Ficus pandurata will find an 

 opportunity to test its popularity. 

 There is no doubt of its being ser- 

 viceable, but its ability to increase 

 its popularity tor Christmas decora- 

 tion has yet to be decided. 



Araucarias are charmingly effec- 

 tive Christmas plants and as a rule 

 there is less trouble disposing of them 

 at satisfactory prices than there is 

 with most other foliage plants. Pan- 

 danus Veitchii is a beautiful plant 

 when well grown. This plant is a 

 whole decoration for a table in itself 

 when well fisished with finely colored 

 foliage and when taste runs in the 

 direction of made-up arrangements 

 there is perhaps no other plant that 

 can hurriedly be made to do so much 

 effective service in the work of fill- 

 ing. Pandanus Veitchii made up along 

 with small colored dracaenas and 

 crotons with perhaps a few dwarter 

 foliage plants for finishing produce 

 excellent affects. Ferns of the many 

 nephrolepis varieties are of great 

 value for Christmas decoration. The 

 old Boston will never disappear from 

 view on these or other like occasions 

 for plant selection; its unsurpassed 

 graceful habit ensures for it popular- 

 ity for all time. The newer varieties, 

 such as elegantissima and Whitmanii, 

 are without doubt in distinctly deco- 



rative characteristics ahead of the old 

 one, but in length and grace of frond 

 they lack much of what the other 

 possesses. Both are steadily on the 

 increase in demand when plants are 

 wanted for decorative effect. Most 

 likely medium-sized plants will be 

 called for in larger numbers than 

 large plants. Nephrolepis Seottii has 

 a place of no secondary importance 

 among ferns. For fern dishes and 

 pans pteris in variety and Adiantum 

 cuneatum and regina should be on 

 hand ready tor use. It should never 

 be lost sight of that color is an abso- 

 lute necessity with the great majority 

 of Christmas buyers of plants and 

 that anything red has a decided ad- 

 vantage. That perhaps more than 

 anything else places dracaenas near 

 the front row of Christmas foliage 

 plants. Dracaena terminalis is still 

 the leader, not at all because of its 

 superiority to many others, but be- 

 cause as yet it is the only one grown 

 commercially in large numbers by rea- 

 son of its supposed merits of endur- 

 ance and easy culture. Dracaenas 

 Masangeana and amabilis, though 

 each distinct in habit and foliage 

 from the other, are suitable for Christ- 

 mas decoration, the former being par- 

 ticularly commendable because of its 

 luxuriant foliage and comparative 

 standing qualities. Aucubas and aspi- 

 distras should not be forgotten, be- 

 cause there are still many Christmas 

 buyers shrewd enough to purchase 

 these in preference to less serviceable 

 material. 



In flowering plants nothing old or 

 new, common or uncommon in point 

 of beauty and charming brilliancy ex- 

 cels or perhaps equals Lon-aine be- 

 gonia. Cyclamens are too well known 

 as staple articles to need any helping 

 remark. Azaleas are likewise well 

 able to attend to their own soliciting. 

 Lilies, all that will be in evidence as 

 fit for use, will surely go without any 

 trouble. Berried plants, such as 

 Jerusalem cherries and ardisias are 

 always favorites at this festival. 

 Poinsettias, either in pans all to them- 

 selves or when tastefully combined 

 with other plants in the formation of 

 enticing arrangements, sell readily. 

 These plants are also extremely ef- 

 fective for a window decoration. 

 Every plant intended for sale should 

 be clean and in shape days before it is 

 likely to be sold. All baskets, ham- 

 pers and the like should be filled be- 

 fore. Everything and everywhere 

 should have the appearance of cheer- 

 fulness and prosperity. Good nature, 

 good service and cheerful giving will 

 all help to make a Merry Christmas. 



»>»^^m^mmp>mmm0>p>Pt»>»>»i»>p,p»s»i9i»ii 



iimm 



Wholesale Plant Grower, 



College Point, - New York, 



Price List of Foliage, Flowering 

 and Decorative Plants sent free on 

 application. 



f<«W<«W««W(«WW(«W<«WWW<«IC<aW^ 



PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS 

 CATCH UP 



WATCH! PROSPERITY! LOOKI 



Waiting Means Suicide 

 NOTE OUR BARGAINS WE OFFER NOW 



WE HAVE ARAUCARIAS 

 TO BEAT THE BAND 



ARAUCARIA ROBUSTA. COMPACTA and 



GLAUCA, a house full of the finest in the land; 6 and 

 7-in. pots, 4, 5 and 6 years old, 3, 4 and 5 tiers, 17 to 

 30 inches in height, the same in width, $1,50, $1.75, 

 $2.00, $2.50 to $3.00 each. 



ARAUCARIA EXCELSA, 3 years old, 5'^ to 5H 

 in. pots, ID, 12 and 14 inches high, 3 tiers, 50c, each. 



3 years old, 55^ in. pots, 15 to 17 inches high, 3 and 4 

 tiers, 60c. 4 years old, 6 in. pots, 20 to 22 inches high, 



4 and 5 tiers, 75c. 5 years old, 6 in. pots, 22 to 26 

 inches high, 5 tiers, $1.00. Specimen sizes, $1.25 to 

 $1.50. Newly imported, nice little plants, 5 in, pots, 2 

 to 3 tiers, 40c. 



KENTIA BFLMOREANA and FORSTERI- 



ANA, 6 in. pots, 25 inches high, 5 leaves, $1.00, 



4 in., 18 to 23 inches high, 35c. 

 KENTIA BELMOREANA, s'A in. pots, very 



bushy, 75c. 5 to 5'^ in. pots. 50 and 60c. ^ 1^ 



LATANIA BOKBONICA. 4 in-, strong, 25c. ^ ' 

 ADIANTUM HYBRIDUM. 6 in.. 40 to 50c. ^" 

 ARECA LUTESCENS, made up 3 plants in a 4 



in. pot, t8 to 22 inches high, 20c. 

 FICUS ELASTICA. Belgian and home-grown, 



strong, fine plants, 5^4, 6 and 7 in. pots, 250., 35c., 



50c., 7'^c. 



ASPARAGUS PLUMOSUS NANA COM- 



PACTA, ^ in., 7c., 4 in.. loc. 



PRIMULA OBCONICA. best new strain, 4 in. in 

 bloom, 15c,; coming into bud, loc. 5J4 in. pots, in 

 bloom, $2.50 per doz.; coming into bud, $; per doz. 1 



CHINESE PRIMROSES, finest improved strain, 

 S% in. pots, in bloom, $2.50 per doz. 



BEGONIA GLOIRE DE LORRAINE. In bloom 

 and biul, 6 in., 50c., j'^c. $1 each; 4 in. 35c.; 3 in. 25c. 



BEGONIA FLAMBEAU. sJ4 in, 25c. _j; 



BEGONIA NEW IMPROVED ERFORDII, 4 in. 

 20c.; =; in. pots, a^c. «rf M 



DRACAENA BRUANTI, from Belgium, full of 

 leaves. '■ 111.. 4-1^. 



NEPHROLEPIS WHITMANII. 6 in., 50c. 

 $1 e;ich, 7 in., as big as a bushel basket, $1.25 

 each. 



NEPHROLEPIS BOSTON!. 8 in., as big as a 

 washtub, $[. s to $1.50 each. 7 in., very large, 75c. to 

 $1 each. 6 in., very large, 50c. 5 to 5}^ in., 35c., 40c, 



NEPHROLEPIS SCOTTII. 4 in., 25c.: s to s^A 

 in.. 3SC. to 40c.; 6 in., =,oc. to 75c.; 7 in., 4-1 to"$i.95. 



NEPHROLEPIS PJERSGNII 6 in., 50c.; 5 to 5}^ 

 in., 35c. to 40C. : 4 in., 25C, 



WILSONII FERNS. sH in., very attractive, good 

 seller, 20c. 



FERNS FOR DISHES, a good assortment, 2^ in.. 

 $5 per TOO. 



SOLANUM OR JERUSALEM CHERRIES. 



full of berries, 6 in. pots, 'sc., 35c., 50c. . % 



AZALEAS FOR XMAS BLOOMING, pink, 



white and rose. 75C.. $1. $i.;5, $1.50. 



GODFREY ASCHMANN 



Importer and Wholesale Grower and Shipper 

 of Potted Plant* 



1012 West Ontario St., Philadelphia, Pa. 



CASH WITH ORDER. PLEASE 



Please mention if pots are wanted. All goods 



must travel at purchaser's riik. 



NEP. WHITMAN^ 



2'/i in., JS.OO per 100 



NEP. WHiTMANI 



3!4 in,, $25.00 per 100 



BOSTON FERNS 



2'4 in , $3. no per 100 



H. H. BA RROWS & SON WhitmaiuMass. 

 JOHN SCOTT 



Grower of PALHS, FERNS and Other Deco- 

 rative Stoci« 



NEPHROLEPiS SCOTTil Ail tile Year Round 



Rutland Road and East 45th St. 

 Telephone 2S90 Bedford BROOKLYN, N. Y. 





LA NTS 



STAKES 



