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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



(OF AMERICA) 

 Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture 



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1 Vol. XXVII 



APKIL, 1923 



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No. 4 I 



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Things and Thoughts of the Garden 



WILLIAM N. CRAIG 



THF! New \'c)rk flower show this Spring', in spite 

 ot its unusually early date, proved to be an ex- 

 cellent one. the exhibits being- well varied and at- 

 tractive. The gardens were as usual the cyno.stire of 

 all eyes ; they certainly entail a great amount of study 

 as well as forethought and skill. It was really remark- 

 able that so much well grown, finely flowered and taste- 

 fully arranged material could be gotten together at so 

 early a date when the nature of the past — ^or rather pres- 

 ent — Winter, the fuel situation, and other factors are con- 

 sidered. The Spanish garden of Julius Roehrs Co. was 

 quite unique, and a most decided breaking away from 

 existing types, the award of the gold medals of the Archi- 

 tectural Club, anid the (lerden Club of America to this 

 exhibit made it the most discussed and criticised garden 

 in the show. 



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I must admit, however, that the garden which appealed 

 to me the most was that of the F. R. Pierson Co. This 

 was eminently practical and quite possible of dujdication 

 in the East; the material used was well placed and. better 

 still, the various plants were plainly la'belled. The rock 

 garden of Bobbink and Atkins was well conceived and 

 most interesting; here again all plants were named, thus 

 making" it educational. The Azalea Garden from the last 

 named firm was very showy and proved that there are 

 still some Azaleas in .America. The rockery of the Julius 

 Roehrs Co. was also nicely done. The Bulb Garden of 

 John Scheepcrs was very charming and the color arrange- 

 ment expuisite. I had hoped to see two or three rose 

 gardens, however, the one from Cromwell Garden could 

 hardly have been improved upon, and the effect produced 

 by using not only half a dozen varieties, was vastly lietter 

 than if a much larger number had been planted. 



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There was an evident tendency to overcrowd the beau- 

 tiful arrangements of greenhouse flowering plants from 

 Mrs. Payne \\'hitney. and W. B. Thompson, half the 

 number of plants would have produced a 'better effect. 

 I was glad to note how popular Buddleia Asiatica. in- 

 troduced about eleven years ago by Farquhars' of Boston, 

 had become. Both florists and professional gardeners are 

 now recognizing its decorative value. Clarkia "Salmon 

 Queen," a lovely annual for pot culture as well as the 

 garden, and one possessing splendid lasting qualities as 

 a cut flower, was noted in one group, also well flowered 

 ]>lant? of the single annual Chrysanthemums. 



There was a wonderful array of Orchids. These were, 

 liov\ever, fearfully crowded, and one or two of the largest 

 groups were very poorl\- arranged. The Cynnhidiums 

 were easily the star featiu-es in this department. I think 

 1 noticed a name on the beautiful Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya, 

 "Snowdon." from A. N. Cooley of Pittsfield, Mass., and 

 it IS just possible that one or two others had names, but 

 not a solitary label apjDeared on the bulk of the groups. 

 This held true throughout the entire exhibition. 



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I presume that flower shows are held to satisfy and 

 encourage the love of people for flowers, and particularly 

 to make such exhibitions educational. They utterly fail 

 in this latter mo.st essential particular when so few plants 

 and flowers are named as in New York. Personally I 

 think the policy of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety which insists on all exhibits being named, and the 

 refusal of awards to any plants and flowers not plainly 

 labelled, might ver\- well be adopted in New York. Small 

 inconspicuous cards either printed, or plainly written in 

 ink. should be made mandatory. If this is not done, this 

 greatest ol' our Spring flower shows will fail in its full 

 mission. 



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The cut flower displays at New York are always ex- 

 cellent and this year were fully equal to those of former 

 years. The sweet pea display of ^^^ Atlee Bui-pee & Co. 

 was as usual a splendid one, being also most artistically 

 arranged, and free from the abominable draperies which 

 disfigured the first and second prize groups of cut roses. 

 My own personal opinion was that the F. R. Pierson Co. 

 display, ever\-thing considered, was the best of the three. 

 I may be old-fashioned but I am opposed to giving pre- 

 miums to lavish displays of ribbons, chiffon, or even col- 

 ored burlap and tissue paper. Amongst the new roses 

 \merica. Commonwealth. Mrs. Harding, and Souv. de 

 Claudius Pernet, all had their admirers. The last named 

 was the centre of attraction for amateurs, as it is proving 

 to be a good garden rose, and its color reminds one very 

 strongly of that beautiful variety. Marechal Neil, by long 

 odds the finest climbing yellow we have today but, un- 

 fortunately, too tender for our cold eastern Sitates. 



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It is ahvays interesting to note what are commonly 

 classeid as ''spring flowers." A nice assortment of these 

 appeared, especially amongst the table decorative material. 

 Amongst the forced annuals and bulbs used T noticed 



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