March 2, 1918 



HOKTICULTUKE 



199 



The Boston newspapers have had cousider- 

 Sowing able to say within the past few days con- 

 discord cerning the doings of the Boston Park Com- 

 jnissiou. Imaginative reporters in their 

 efforts at sensationalism, have given currency to much 

 that is unfounded. Several weeks ago they built up 

 quite a story about -John H. Dillon being demoted from 

 the chairmanship of the Commission which they later 

 found it necessary to retract. In a more recent imag- 

 inative outburst they have the Commission adroitly 

 preparing a place of safety for Mr. Dillon in anticipa- 

 tion of action by the Mayor in his case; and the 

 recent suspension of Luke Doogue is instanced as a 

 move in this alleged parpose. We understand 

 on excellent authority that the Commission has 

 found it necessary to make some discharges for the 

 good of the service and to shift some of the foremen. 

 The suspension of Luke Doogue, however, was on a 

 different basis. Mr. Doogue had been employed by 

 Mayor Curley in promoting war gardens last year 

 under the Public Safety Committee. This work was 

 terminated on January 31 and left several persons who 

 had been carrying it on without further employment, 

 among these being Mr. Doogue. It is explained to us 

 that he had not been doing the regular work of the 

 Department, in which there was at the time no avail- 

 able opening nor any funds for salary, hence his sus- 

 pension. Contra.ry to insinuations made in the news- 

 paper .reports, the action of the Park and Eecreation 

 Committee has not been secretive in any way but has 

 been frankly open and, we are told, in full accord with 

 the policy and instructions of the Mayor to keep down 

 expenses. 



the future has greater possibilities in store for us than 

 we have enjoyed in the past and those who prepare for 

 such conditions will be the winners. 



Readjustment 



As we stand upon the threshold of a new year we find 

 it necessary to readjust our business affairs in order to 

 meet the existing conditions. We each have our own 

 methods and our own type of business, but, we must 

 build anew as befits our own individual case. 



In the past we have followed the lines of least re- 

 sistance, procured our supplies from whatever section 

 of the globe that seemed most favorable and have had 

 little thought that we should have to change this 

 method. 



Since the outbreak of the war the industrial world 

 has found it necessary to be more independent of other 

 countries in the production of their goods. This con- 

 dition has also become necessary for us as horticul- 

 turists. By this I do not mean that each one of us 

 shall produce everything that we sell, but we should 

 try to accomplish this in purpose through cooperation 

 or exchange. We must become producers in every sense 

 of the word. Conservation has been preached inces- 

 santly, but with the high cost of supplies this is being 

 automatically regulated. 



The great problem for us, if engaged in growing 

 plants for food, is to grow them in larger quantities, 

 or, if growing them for pleasure, to grow them of better 

 quality, also to endeavor to grow some of the varieties 

 that we have been importing, viz., roses, rhododendrons 

 and azaleas and even seeds and bulbs of tlic choicer 

 sorts. 



The help question naturally looms u]) and the idea 

 of greater production with less labor makes it seem well 

 nigh impossible, but greater cflicioncy, a more strict 

 accounting and a weeding out of uiipidti table stock 

 will help solve the problem. 



We are entering upon a new era in horticulture. It 

 is therefore our diitv to take courage and believe that 



VVmUm, Mass. C_<<^^. / O-' 



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Freesias for Profit 



Our methods of growing freesia are perhaps different 

 from most growers, but we have found them to obtain 

 results far beyond the average expectation, and it is a 

 pleasure to give others the benefit of our experience 

 with these charming and useful flowers. 



The soil in which we grow freesia is old rose soil 

 removed from benches and usually given a season's rest 

 with winter freezing to renovate. We rarely plant 

 new bulbs as we find the old ones give us better results 

 according to our methods. They are planted in dif- 

 ferent locations, early in August, and are arranged to 

 give us a constant supply of flowers during the winter 

 season. For our first cutting, early in January, we 

 have them in a bench in a rose house, and as thei5e are 

 nearly through, the next bench is ready in a carnation 

 house and these in turn are followed by a bench in a 

 cooler carnation house. As to quality of flowers from 

 the various temperatures we do not find much differ- 

 ence, although those from the cooler conditions have a 

 slight advantage as to size and finish. 



These bulbs are spaced about two inches in rows 

 which are six inches apart running crosswise of the 

 liench and are covered to a depth of one and one-half 

 Indies, well watered at first, then carefully, until good 

 root action has developed, and as growth appears we 

 give a more liberal supply, gradually increasing such 

 with growth. When it is evident from appearances 

 that the buds have set, we give liberal amounts of good 

 manure water made from well decayed stable manure. 

 Toward the end of the fiowcring period we gradually 

 reduce the water siqiply and when through just enough 

 is given to keep the bulbs in growing condition for 

 about another month, when watering is stopped and the 

 bulbs allowed to dry and rest. 



About this time, we have need of much space for 

 Easter stock, so a temporary bench is erected overhead 

 of the freesias, and as far as possible on these we place 

 plants in larger pots not requiring water so often, so 

 as to prevent moisture on the bulbs, which gradually 

 dry up. When all foliage is dead and dry it is re- 

 moved, .surface soil worked lightly and all is ready for 

 another yea.r. 



We do not lift or disturb these bulbs in any way, but 

 start them again where they are, early in August. This 

 practice is continued for a period of four years and 

 when finally taken up to renew the soil, we find that 

 where we planted a thousand originally, we now have 

 several thousand good bullis, to say nothing of count- 

 less small bulblets wliich can be grown on for future 

 use. 



For support of the flower stems, we stretch wires six 

 iiiibes a]iart lengthwise of the bench and run string 

 across, same as for carnations. Grown in this manner, 

 \vi> have found freesias interestingly useful and 

 iirontablc. 



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