August 30, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



187 



THE POT PLANT IN COMMERCE. 



Of all the different branches of the 

 horticultural industry none calls for 

 more skill than the culture of pot 

 plants for distribution to the public. 

 Many excellent specimens of plants 

 are, at all seasons of the year, to be 

 seen at the Royal Horticultural Socie- 

 ty's fortnightly meetings and at many 

 provincial flower shows; but very 

 often these plants are produced in pots 

 of large size, whereas those grown for 

 distribution have to be produced in 

 small pots, hence the difficulty in cul- 

 ture. The chief reasons for the neces- 

 sity of the small pot are, firstly, cost 

 of transit; secondly, general appear- 

 ance; thirdly, suitability for placing in 

 the fancy pots generally used in pri- 

 vate dwellings, says a wTiter in the 

 British Florists' Bulletin. 



The general appearance of a pot 

 plant is a great point to be considered. 

 In the flowering plants there are two 

 sections — those used for decoration in 

 groups and as individual specimens, 

 and those used for flower gardening 

 out of doors. For the first, a plant 

 must be well balanced, of good color, 

 Hot over-potted, fresh, and not too for- 

 ward. In the second group the plants 

 must be either in flower or on the 

 point of flowering — the latter for 

 choice especially in the case of mar- 

 guerites and pelargoniums — so as to 

 make a display when bedded out. 



One other important necessity of 

 the commercial pot plant is "traveling 

 capability." Unless a plant is able to 

 stand more or less rough handling it is 

 useless for commerce. A very good 

 test for a flowering plant is to give it 

 about a dozen vigorous shakes, and 

 then, if it is presentable, it may be of 

 use to the market grower. There are 

 many lovely plants that may be grown 

 by the amateur for the conservatory — 

 such as gloxinias and begonias — but 

 which are of no use as finished plants, 

 because it is almost impossible to pack 

 them so as to ensure a presentable ap- 

 pearance on arrival at the desired des- 

 tination. 



The above remarks are now prob- 

 ably common knowledge to most of 

 the readers of this article, but the fol- 

 lowing points may not have been 

 brought home at all, or to retail flor- 

 ists in particular. Why should the 

 public buy a pot plant? For the fol- 

 lowing reasons. It is better value for 

 the money than cut flowers. For in- 

 stance, an erica, cyclamen or chrys- 

 anthemum will last longer than a 

 bunch of chrysanthemums, carnations 

 or roses. Certainly, the plant cannot 

 be used in the same way as cut flow- 

 ers; but, after all, the final touch of 

 comfort is in the home, whether the 

 rooms are decorated with cut flowers 



or pot plants. It is purely a matter of 

 artistic arrangement of the furniture 

 aud the floral decorations in the most 

 effective positions. Again, does every- 

 one realize the value of a fern when 

 flowers are very expensive and out of 

 the reach of those possessing moder- 

 aie incomes? A pteris cretica major 

 or asplenium biforme will add grace 

 and beauty to a room, and, with ordi- 

 nary care, will remain in respectable 

 condition for months. 



The growing plant is of much more 

 interest to the amateur gardener than 

 a bunch of fading flowers. This should 

 always be impressed on those who are 

 buying a floral present for a friend 

 who is a keen gardener. A cyclamen 

 plant, purchased at Christmas, will 

 continue to flower until April and give 

 continuous interest to the owner. A 

 hydrangea may be plunged in the soil 

 in the garden after it has flowered, 

 and, with slight protection during the 

 winter months, it will flower quite well 

 the following year. A rambler rose 

 in a pot can also be treated in this 

 way. Fuchsias and pelargoniums, mar- 

 guerites and many other popular 

 plants are of interest to the amateur 

 for far longer than the actual time 

 they are in bloom. 



AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO REGULA- 

 TIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO 

 QUARANTINE 37. 



Under authority conferred by the 

 Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 

 1912, (37 Stat. 315), it is ordered that 

 the rules and regulations supple- 

 mental to Notice of Quarantine No. 37 

 governing the importation of nursery 

 stock and other plants and seeds into 

 the United States, effective June 1. 

 1919, be, and the same are hereby 

 amended effective on and after August 

 16, 1919, by the addition of a new reg- 

 ulation to be designated as Regulation 

 15, reading as follows: 



Regulation 15. Permits for the Im- 

 portation of Otherwise Prohibited 

 Stock from Foreign Countries Contigu- 

 ous to the United States. 



When it is deemed by the Secretary 

 of Agriculture that the imporation 

 from countries contiguous to the 

 United States of any class or classes' 

 of nursery stock and other plants and 

 seeds the entry of which is not other- 

 wise provided for by these regulations 

 will not be attended by serious risk to 

 the agriculture, horticulture or flori- 

 culture of the United States, permits 

 may be issued, on application, author- 

 izing the entry of such nursery stock 

 and other plants and seeds under such 

 safeguards as may be prescribed in 

 the permits: Provided, That impor- 

 tations under this regulation shall be 



limited to specific classes of nursery 

 stock and other plants and seeds 

 which can be considered as peculiar 

 to such contiguous countries, and not 

 mere reproductions of imported stock 

 from foreign countries, and which are 

 not available in sufficient quantities in 

 the United States: Provided further, 

 That this shall not apply to nursery 

 stock and other plants and seeds 

 governed by special quarantines and 

 other restrictive orders, other than 

 Quarantine 37, now in force, nor to 

 such as may hereafter be made the 

 subject of special quarantines: Pro- 

 vided further, That in addition to the 

 certificate required by Regulation 7. 

 the invoice covering nursery stock and 

 other plants and seeds offered for 

 entry under this regulation must be 

 accompanied by a certificate of a duly 

 authorized official of the country of 

 origin, stating that the nursery stock 

 and other plants and seeds proposed 

 to be exported to the United States 

 have been produced or grown in the 

 country from which they are proposed 

 to be exported. 



Done in the District of Columbia 

 this 6th day of August, 1919. Witness 

 my hand and the seal of the United 

 States. Department of Agriculture. 



D. F. Houston, 

 (Seal) Secretary of Agriculture. 



IRIS 



Special Offer of 

 Surplus Stock 



While they last we will sell a 

 selected list of Iris at a discount 

 of 80% from retail catalogue 

 prices. 



The special list includes such 

 choice varieties as Albert Victor, 

 Celeste, Dalmarius, Doctor 

 Bernice, Frederick, Iris King, 

 Lohengrin, Mme. Chereau, Mrs. 

 H. Darwin, Pallida Dalmatica, 

 Princess Victoria Louise, Queen 

 of May, Phein Nixe, Walhalla, 

 Wyomissing and others 



Not less than 20 of one variety 

 at this price. No order accepted 

 for less than 100. 



A rare opportunity for dealers 

 to improve their stock Send 

 for surplus list and order early. 



Movilla Gardens 



HAVERFORD, PENNA. 



