940 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



liibits of trees and shrubs, both evergreen and tlovvering, 

 and thirdly, the very elegant and extensive rock gardens. 

 It is also a curious fact, but true, that thuugh the carna- 

 tions grown in England today are mainly the outcome 

 of varieties received from America, yet in regard to 

 quality they are the equal of any I see here, and to my 

 mind at least they are much more beautifully arranged. 

 'Of course, a start ha^ to be made in Xew 'N'ork tnward 



iiii-: II. II. cii.xRi.K.s cur. 



For Colletlii.il of lU.lbdUs l-'lowc-riiig I'l.ii.ts. Win l,y .\nl..ii Scluilllieis. 



tdisplaying these graceful flowers as they ought to be, as 

 was shown in the decorative exhil)its that were staged on 

 the Friday of the show. We can still improve upon our 

 efforts of this year, but it is a matter of satisfaction to 

 know that this new development has occurred. 



Then again, at this season in England there are 

 numerous disjjlays of all classes of bulbous jjlant.^, and 

 particularh' of the finer varieties of tulijis and narcissus. 

 Parterres with beds of flowering bulbs, laid out in grass, 

 are a feature of the spring exhibitions. The English 

 shows also contain exhibits of indoor-grown fruit trees, 

 and generally one or more magnificent exhibits of forced 

 vegetables. In .■\merica, however, we can easily beat 

 our English brethren in regard to specimen Acacias, 

 roses, specimen ferns and foliage ]>lants, while of course 

 the hydrangeas were finer than anything I have seen 

 at the spring shows in Eondon or elsewhere. Then again 

 the introduction of the retailers' bootlu furnish a show in 

 itself, and this is a side that is entirely neglected across 

 the water. In tliis they certainly evince a curious 

 attitude. 



We, here, are quite on the right lines and need not 

 fear but that in a very few years our spring exhibitions 

 will equal, if they do nut surpass, the finest horticultural 

 shows that are to be fi.iund anywhere in the world. We 

 have started well and witli enthusiasm, and it is scarcely 

 likely that, having put nur hand to the plow, we shall 

 halt or look back. 



ADVERTISING A FLOWER SHOW. 



To make a flower show a success in a large city re- 

 (juires eftective advertising, just the same as is required 

 liv an\' "big show" that may come to town. In New York 

 L'itv a week before the flower show opened, you could 

 find big posters announcing the show, staring at you 

 nearly everywhere that ]josters were displayed. Smaller 

 ])lacar(ls were displayed in store windows. Suburban 

 towns outside of Xew York were all "billed" and the 

 Xew York dailies carried attractive advertisements which 

 caught the eye. • 



Special floral displays in department stores during 

 Mower Show week and attractively arranged windows 

 among many of the city's retail florist shops e.xploiting 

 tbe show proved eiTective advertising. 



The large display window of the International .Silver 

 Company on 34th street, just off Broadway, attracted 

 much attention and produced profitable results for the 

 Mower Show. This window, an illustration of which ap- 

 pears in these columns, contained many of the prizes 

 awarded at the show with neat cards in silver frames ex- 

 plaining what they were to be competed for. Twice a 

 da}- fresh displaxs of flowers were placed in large glass 

 .and silver vases and few passed who did not stop to ad- 

 mire the display and incidentally learned that a big flower 

 show was in progress at the Grand Central Palace. Good 

 adverti.?ing backed up by a good show spells success. 



Alan\ novel features were introduced both in advertis- 

 ing and in the show itself, this year. New York will be 

 prepared with new features to again arouse public in- 

 terest toward the show next year, and will introduce 

 new sensations at the show to enthuse the public interest 

 when it gets there. 



.Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces 

 up, snow is exhilarating: there is really no such thing 

 as bad weather — only ditiferent kinds of good weather. 



• — John Ruskin. 



THE SEED CATALOGUE. 



\\\- W.M.TKR G. DOTV. 



The red rtunbler rose like a gas bill grows, 



.\nd the fleecy white clematis looks like a fog ; 



While trailing vines race all over the place — 

 I speak of the seed catalogue. 



I dug up the sward, ami I planted my yard — 



First pulling the weeds lest the flowers they clog — 



With roses and stocks and sweet four-o'clocks 

 That were shown in the seed catalogue. 



I Jut the dahlias went dead, and the gay asters fed 

 Great ])oison-proof beetles as big as a dog: 



.\nd, thanks to mildew, the roses were few — 

 How dirt'rent that seed catalogue! 



My lack of success was owing, I guess, 



To the fact that I ke]3t things as wet as a bog : 



PiUt it must be confessed that all blossoms lilnom best 

 In tbe ga\-C(>loreil seed catalogue! 



