MARCH 2G, 1903 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



7J7 



ROSES. 



Seasonable Hints. 



A retrospective view of the situation 

 at this time will reveal many curious 

 facts, especially when we compare it 

 with many former seasons which seemed 

 far more favorable to rose culture. The 

 very limited amount of sunshine since 

 planting time, accompanied by such an 

 excess of moisture, would naturally lead 

 one to suppose that the product would 

 be of a very inferior quality and de- 

 ficient in quantity, and wliich would 

 stand no chance in comjjaring it with 

 other seasons with over three times the 

 duration of sunshine and less than half 

 the amount of moisture. 



Every season we look for the gloomy 

 I)eriod when Beauties and other pink 

 roses, especially Maids, will be off color 

 more or less, xisually more, and as we 

 rarely miss it we naturall.v expected it 

 in such a season as the past in double 

 doses. The result, however, so far as I 

 can gather and from experience, is in 

 quite a different ratio. Taken alto- 

 gether Maids have produced heavier 

 crops, the quality of the blooms both in 

 substance and coloring has been ahead 

 of many former years, while the foliage 

 lias licen simply grand. The percentage 



of -hort and weak stemmed llowers has 

 been considerably below the average. 

 Sales have also been prompt, prices good, 

 and a very much smaller jjercentage of 

 waste has to be recorded. 



Reports on Beauties have also been 

 more gratifying. One year ago there 

 were many complaints of malformed 

 buds, losses from the ravages of thrips. 

 etc., while many of the long promised 

 long-stemmed buds failed to come to 

 time at Easter. Although prices may 

 liave been a little better for high graus 

 stock last year, the grower will be com- 

 ])ensated this year by a heavier cut. 

 In Brides, Golden Gates and I^•ory the 

 reports look equall}' well alongside of 

 last year's retvirns. 



Meteors have produced as good crops 

 as in an}' former years, while the quali- 

 ty of bloom, stem and foliage has been 

 superior, short stems being up to the 

 present almost entirely absent. The 

 market for these and other reds has 

 l)een imprecedented and prices have 

 ruled high. Xever during any part of 

 tlie sea.son has there been a glut of these. 



This also seems to be an oft" year so 

 far as tlie introduction of new varieties 

 is concerned, indeed many of us are real 

 glad of the fact; a rest from the mental 

 worry and sti-ain which accompanies an 

 investment in these will perhaps renew 



our strength and resolution to again 

 tackle "the something new" by the time 

 it is ti-otted out. 



Keports for Easter crops are of a 

 rosier hue than those of last year, and 

 if all present indications meet with ful- 

 fillment the Joy of the brethren will be 

 substantial and lasting. 



Taking it altogether the current sea- 

 son promises, despite of all the seeming 

 drawbacks, last but not least being the 

 scarcity and exorbitant price of coal, to 

 be one of the most profitable and satisfac- 

 tory in the history of American rose 

 growing. Long may it continue is the 

 wish of Yours truly, 



ElBES. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



Some Varieties of J903. 



Every grower is intimately acquaint- 

 ed witli the standard varieties and the 

 best way to handle them, but new va- 

 rieties are coming up all the time, each 

 with its own individuality of growth, 

 disposition and adaptability and the 

 gi'ower of extra choice flowers has to 

 keep posted on the peculiarities of the 

 new varieties, Wlien a new variety is 

 merely a sport from an older variety, 

 such for Instance as Yellow Eaton, it is 

 of course well imderstood that the same 

 treatment will give good results in the 

 case of the sport as has been found suc- 

 cessful in the case of the parent. In 

 the case of imported varieties one can 

 only proceed on the lines generally laid 

 down and see how the stock finishes 

 with such treatment. 



It is generally considered that the 

 chrysanthemum is such an easilj' grown 

 llower that no special treatment is need- 

 ed, but if you want the best that can be 

 grown you will have to give your plants 

 as much attention as j-ou would in 

 growing any other crop. 



In looking over the novelties (and 

 more especially the new Australian va- 

 rieties which were brought to the notice 

 of the readers of this column last fall) 

 they seem generally to be of good, vigor- 

 ous habit. The most important point 

 to remember in growing any novelties of 

 foreign origin is that they should al- 

 most invariablj' be taken on the crown 

 bud. this being the bud in general use 

 in England. France and Australia. 

 There is also another point that intend- 

 ing jiurchasers of these novelties will 

 do well til notice, and that is that some 

 varieties while unexcelled for exhibition 

 are useless for commercial cut flower 

 work. Some of the firms are this year 

 stating the varieties that are only suit- 

 ;ible for exhibition and intending pur- 

 chasers will do well to take notice there- 

 of and govern themselves accordingly. 



Mrs. T. VV. Pockett. which is one of 

 the most beautiful varieties I ever saw, 

 will, I fear, never be of much service to 

 the commercial grower. It is a Jap- 

 anese, yellow in color, and the very long 

 drooping petals make it a poor shipper 

 when handled in the ordinary wholesale 

 way. To a florist with a home trade 

 who can, market such varieties as Nellie 

 Pockett. this variety will Ije welcome for 

 it is a great improvement on Nellie 

 Pockett in every way. 



Another variety that I would not recom- 

 mend for general use is Durbin's Pride. 

 It makes tremendous flowers from the 

 crown bud, but cannot be gro^vn to 

 stand erect, and when taken on the ter- 

 minal the flower is unsatisfactory. It 

 is, however, a- splendid variety to grow 



