HORTICULTURE 



Vol. XXX 



NOVEMBER 8, 1919 



No. 19 



THE TALK OF THE TRADE 



Discussing the question of green- 

 house labor, with some of the Chicago 

 employers who are keeping their 

 places up to the highest efficiency 

 with much less help than before the 

 war, the solution seems to be reduced 

 to one method only and that is this, — 

 employers must reduce their work to 

 a system so as to get more work done 

 with less labor and yet work their 

 men less hours. If this seem impos- 

 sible, study the methods of the manu- 

 facturer in the modern up-to-date fac- 

 tory. Every unnecessary move is elim- 

 inated, every man knows his work and 

 does it and not a minute is lost in 

 duplication or waiting. 



Every greenhouse establishment has 

 need of greater system and it is the 

 only thing that will make a little labor 

 go a long way. This is not theory that 

 cannot be put into practice. There are 

 growers in Chicago who made more 

 money this year than ever before be- 

 cause they have so systematized their 

 work that they use less help, especial- 

 ly the unskilled help. 



The legal rights of the employees of 

 a firm to withdraw and form an organi- 

 zation of their own has always been 

 recognized, but their right to use their 

 time while drawing salary from their 

 employers, for arranging the details 

 of such an organization seems about 

 to be tested in the courts. Under the 

 offer of a $10,000 reward for certain 

 evidence of "conspiracy." the Albert 

 Dickinson Seed Co., of 2750 West 35th 

 street, Chicago, said to be the largest 

 seed concern in the world, made the 

 announcement of its labor troubles in 

 the local papers a week ago. This was 

 followed by a double page advertise- 

 ment in the Economist of this week, 

 which, as advertising copy, is extreme- 

 ly unique and embodies business prin- 

 ciples, which coming from a firm of 

 the high standing and long experience 

 of the Albert Dickinson Seed Co., is 

 especially worthy of attention. The 

 heading is as follows: "Which gets 

 the farthest, 'an eye for an eye, and 

 a tooth for a tooth' or iove thy neigh- 

 bor as thy self?' " 



It is interesting to see the quick way 

 in which all the few Bernice carna- 

 tions which reach the Boston market 

 are snapped up. "Wait until we can 

 get Howard's new carnation," is a com- 



mon remark. And truly Bernice 

 seems worthy of all the good things 

 that are being said about it. It is a 

 seedling of Fenn and Beacon which 

 has been in cultivation for five years 

 and which has proved itself a remark- 

 able crimson flower. W. D. Howard 

 of Milford, Mass., the originator, does 

 not claim that it is a fancy flower, but 

 presents it as a first class commer- 

 cial variety. It is a very easy grower, 

 for one thing, bearing fine flowers on 

 long, stiff stems. -It seldom bursts, 

 and it does not make a lot of surplus 

 grass, according to Mr. Howard, 

 throwing the flowers quickly. The 

 awards which Bernice has received 

 are many, including first prize at the 

 International Flower Show in New 

 York in 1917. Plants are now being 

 disseminated widely. Boston sales- 

 men are particularly keen about Ber- 

 nice, for there is no city in the coun- 

 try where a crimson carnation sells 

 better. 



The members of the Retail Florists' 

 Association of Boston at the meeting 

 held at the Parker House, Tuesday 

 evening were fortunate in seeing speci- 

 mens of a number of good flowers. The 

 new Rose Pilgrim was shown particu- 

 larly well. This is a striking flower 

 with two very strong points, namely 

 color and fragrance. As a matter of 

 fact there is no weak point apparent 

 in a vase of blooms. 



The new Rose Frank W. Dunlop was 

 also well shown. It was excellent 

 stock and the keeping qualities are 

 evidently of the best. For a dark pink 

 rose there is as much life as would 

 seem possible with no tendency 

 toward blue. 



The new Chrysanthemum Mrs. J. 

 Leslie Davis, which is a sport of Wil- 

 liam Turner, is identical in every way 

 with Turner, except in color; the color 

 is a clear lavender pink, and exhibi- 

 tion tables will undoubtedly show the 

 new Turner in great shape. 



William R. Nicholson had two lots of 

 Mensa, white and yellow, not new 

 varieties by any means, but particu- 

 larly well grown. 



The result of the State election was 

 announced, and the association im- 

 mediately voted to send to His Ex- 

 cellency, Governor Calvin Coolidge a 

 bouquet of flowers. The flowers were 



arranged by Mr. Sydney Hoffman, the 

 blooms of Dunlop and the Mensa 

 Chrysanthemums being used, and were 

 sent to the Governor with the con- 

 gratulations of the Club. The bloomi 

 of Chrysanthemum .Mrs. J. Leslie 

 Davis were sent to District Attorney 

 Elect, Nathan Tufts, who was at din- 

 ner in an adjoining room. 



A novelty of interest to every 

 plantsman is the new Begonia Optima, 

 from Lemoine of France. It has been 

 in this country about four years, but 

 has not been developed commercially. 

 From present indications Optima will 

 be tried out the coming season and 

 bids fair to make a sensation. 



Optima is similar in growth to Cin- 

 cinnati and Melior, but more woody. 

 Specimen plants have been shown 

 three feet high and three feet in 

 diameter. The foliage is very much 

 like Melior and large specimens can be 

 finished with ample foliage and a mass 

 of bloom. The flowers are large, in- 

 dividual blooms averaging 2 to 2% 

 inches in diameter, and of a very 

 lively salmon pink color, and a strong 

 point in favor of this variety is its 

 keeping qualities. Plants loaded solid 

 with blooms keep for weeks and out- 

 last any of the other varieties. A 

 limited amount of stock will be avail- 

 able next spring and is being eagerly 

 sought for. Young stock is propagated 

 from leaves. Top cuttings may also be 

 used, but of course, are not so satis 

 factory. Plantsmen, keep your eye on 

 it. 



REUTER CO.'S NEW LOCATION. 



The L. J. Reuter Co., has transferred 

 its headquarters from Waltham, Mass., 

 to Watertown, where the facilities for 

 doinn business are better and where 

 a very desirable location has been ob- 

 tained. The new address is 15 Cedar 

 street. Watertown, P. O., Boston, Mass. 

 Watertown is a suburb of Boston, and 

 has a branch postoffce. In less than a. 

 year Mr. Reuter has built up an exten- 

 sive plant brokerage business, dealing 

 with higher grades of florists' plants, 

 as well as handling large numbers of 

 bulbs. The business is not confined to 

 New England by any means, but ex- 

 tends over all the Eastern States, and 

 as much of it is done by mail, com- 

 modious and convenient offices are 

 needed, which have been found in 

 Watertown. 



