March 23. 1918 



HORTICULTUEE 



?S1 



NEW YORK SPRING FLOWER SHOW 



The International Flower Show 

 which closed on Thursday night, 

 March 21, after a successful run of 

 eight days at the Grand Central Pal- 

 ace, was a splendid demonstration of 

 the skill of the growers in the face of 

 many difficulties, of the courage and 

 perseverance of those who were in- 

 trusted with its responsibilities, and 

 of the loyalty of the public in the mat- 

 ter of flower shows. As compared 

 with the recent automobile show, for 

 example, the flower show was propor- 

 tionately a much more conspicuous 

 success, which speaks well for the 

 spirit of the people towards Nature's 

 "non-essentials" which cannot be 

 eaten and cannot be used in munition 

 manufacture but, for all that, have a 

 large place to fill as soul-food in this 

 war-torn world and are today needed 

 more than ever before. 



It is not yet known just what the 

 financial balance will show but it is 

 quite certain that there will be no de- 

 ficit and that should satisfy every- 

 body, considering the uninviting out- 

 look and the prognostications of fail- 

 ure which confronted its supporters 

 a few weeks ago. It was a big and se- 

 rious undertaking and so its success 

 is all the more glorious. 



In general effect this show far out- 

 classed all its predecessors. The 

 quantity of material was greatly re- 

 duced as compared with last year, 

 when there was far too much stuff and 

 exhibits were crowded together in a 

 confused jumble. The arrangement 



Bulb Garden Exhibit bt John Scheepers. 



this year was open and pleasing, with 

 impressive vistas and abundant room 

 for visitors to move around. Favorable 

 comment on this line was heard on all 

 sides. There were many ofRcials and 

 others who gave their time and effort 

 unceasingly in the performance of the 

 manifold duties that attach to such an 

 affair. We cannot mention them all 

 but we may be pardoned for mention- 

 ing individually two gentlemen to 

 whom unstinted praise is due for their 

 fidelity and efficiency — Manager Her- 

 rington and Chairman of .ludges Totty. 

 The daily newspapers performed their 

 part well. The number of trade visit- 

 ors from distant points was unexpect- 

 edly large and for this the 'American 

 Rose Society with its annual meeting 

 and active participation in the exhibi- 

 tion schedule was largely responsible. 

 The list of visitors from points out- 

 side of about a 25-mile radius appears 

 in another column. 



The rival Rose Gardens arranged 

 each year heretofore by F. R. Pierson 

 Tarrytown, N. Y., and A. N. Pierson. 

 Cromwell, Conn., have always been 

 "high liners," and this time, although 

 the competitive idea was al)andoned 

 and a special gold medal was awarded 

 to each, they both were if anything, 

 better than ever before. F. R. Pier- 

 son's creation was truly wonderful, a 

 gorgeous symphony of rose tints, re- 

 markable for luxuriance and finish. 

 A. N. Pierson's garden was enclosed 

 by a rustic fence over which trailed 



his new hardy rambler Rosiere. There 

 was a neat simplicity in the arrange- 

 ment and planting of the beds of poly- 

 anthas that was very pleasing. 



There would have been a big gap 

 in the exhibition if the colossal groups 

 (if palms, and other foliage and flower- 

 ing plants contributed by the park de- 

 partments of Manhattan and Brook- 

 lyn had been left out. They were 

 splendid features and full of interest 

 because of the great variety of un- 

 common plants included in the groups. 

 .\nother big feature which helped im- 

 mensely in giving body to the show 

 was the groups of large plants by the 

 Secaucus Exotic Nursery, M. Mutillod, 

 proprietor. The group by the Brook- 

 lyn Botanic Garden was most com- 

 mendable and instructive by reason of 

 the clear labelling of every plant 

 shewn. 



The big flowering plant groups ar- 

 ranged in |)icturesque grotto form with 

 rocks and pools, by .1. W. Smith of 

 Ridgefield, Conn., and P. W. Popp of 

 Mamaroneck, were very effective 

 features, elaborate in construction and 

 imposing in extent. An arrangement 

 of crotons, dracaenas and other decor- 

 ative foliage plants in open formation 

 on a moss floor was commented upon 

 by many as one of the most pleasing 

 features of the show. This was the 

 work of R. M. .lohnston of Yonkers, 

 N. Y. 



We have never seen anything more 

 chaste and charming in the way of 

 dinner table adornment than the 



