May 21. U)0: 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



1081 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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MEMORIAL DAY HINTS. 



Of all the wreaths ami wreaths for 

 Memorial Day there is none much more 

 satisfactory nor half so quickly made as 

 a loose wreath. For lack of "time, and 

 inclination as well, discard sphagnum 

 and stemming, or use the empty wire 

 frame wrapped with smila.K or aspara- 

 gus and studded with flowers. These can 

 be wired in easily, and the whole serves 

 the purpose as well as the more elaborate 

 design. It is no more difficult to pack 

 with ice than the loose cut fiowers. 



It is surprising the decline in demand 

 for the regulation "made-up" design, 

 both for funerals and memorial purposes. 

 But we have no regrets at this move- 

 ment. Wire, scissors, tacks and ham- 

 mer constitute a. decorator's equipment 

 nowadays. 



The wreath, however, is holding its 

 own, and it certainly desei-ves its pop- 

 ularity. The loose wreath as described 

 above and illustrated in the protograph 

 reproduced herewith might be defined as 

 a design guiltless of formality and as 



roses, finished with two classical ends of 

 ribbon. 



Other combinations for this occasion 

 might be suggested -as follows: Cen- 

 taurea foliage with scarlet . carnations 

 and cape jasmines. 



Swainsona galegifolia. Salvia splen- 

 dens, smilax and white carnations. 



Laurel or ivy with Kaiserin roses tied 

 with the red, white and blue in separate 

 ribbons. 



Red and white peonies, wood ferns 

 and blue ribbon, 



American Beauty and Bride roses with 

 a tie of Beaconsliclii pansies. 



Crimson Rambler or Liberty and 

 Golden Gate roses, with a touch of Ager- 

 atum Mexicanum. 



Centaurea Cyanus, white peas and 

 crimson (not scarlet) eariuitions: 



Gt'KTKiDi-: Blair. 



COMPRESSED AIR VS. SYRINGING. 



In the Review of May 7 was an arti- 

 cle on the substitution of compressed 

 air for syringing roses. The idea seems 

 perfectlv feasible, except that in place 



(hat after constant sj-ringing with water 

 the foliage becomes softer anil the shoots 

 break out froiu the wood, increasing the 

 vigor of the plant and producing more 

 flowers. 



Even if there were no rod spider in 

 existence I should still continue syring- 

 ing. U we should put aside syringing 

 with water and use compressed air in 

 its place, we could not, 1 am sure, 

 keep down red spider permanently. By 

 using compressed air we could ca.sily, by 

 applying it through the hose with suf- 

 ficient force, detach them from the 

 leaves, but they would soon crawl back 

 again without being seriously injured 

 by their adventure. It would lie the 

 .same every day, with the spiders con- 

 stantly increasing in number until they 

 would literally carry the plants away. 



I do not mean, however, that aerating 

 with compres.sed air is not an advantage. 

 I think it would be a very valuable aiil 

 in the production of first-clafis flowers. 

 But if cold air were applied, ns is sug- 

 gested in another colnnui of the paper, 

 mildew would become as thick as the 

 red spider. A sudden chill coming 

 through the hose would be disastrous. 

 .And if warm air were used alone, spider 

 would thrive. Therefore I wish to sug- 

 gest using both methods together. Use 

 air on cloudy da.vs to aerate the plants 

 and use water on sunny days. If the 

 house should not dry out before night. 

 then warm compressed air may be used 

 to dry it out. 



For carnations it would be an ad- 

 vantage to have compressed air even 



Loose Wreaths of Green for Memorial Day Uses. 



well ^ cluster as.suming a definite form. 



I hope to see the day when the floral 

 design shall be a mixture of long- 

 stemmed flowers and brains. We are get- 

 ting to that point faster than we realize, 

 and the average designer is far moi'e 

 capable than he usually gives himself 

 credit for. But he needs to break loose 

 and assert himself. 



There is shown herewith a plain 

 ■ smilax wreath with a flag ribbon drawn 

 through the inside edge, and a loo.se 

 wreath of Asparagus Sprengeri, with 



of substituting. I would suggest using 

 the two methods of .syringing in unison. 

 That is to say, use compressed air on 

 cloudy days in winter, when little ven- 

 tilation can be given, and syringe with 

 water on bright, sunny days when the 

 plants can dry out before night. 



The reason I suggest the use of both 

 methods is because they are both of 

 equal value in themselves. Syringing 

 with water performs two ollices; it keeps 

 down red spider and promotes growth. 

 If vou notice closclv vou will observe 



in place of water, for the constant ap- 

 plication of water to the foliage is in- 

 jurious. Water washes olT the natural 

 protective element of the carnation 

 leaves: that bluish substance which rubs 

 off with water or friction of any kind. 

 Perfeetl.v cold air could be used for 

 carnations and would not pro<lnce mil- 

 dew as in the case of roses, lint this 

 is something for the carnation grower to 

 talk aliont as I am not well versed on 

 carnations. AiiTiirit V. Capek-s. 



[Our correspondent misinterpreted our 



