HORTICULTURE 



Vol. XXIX 



JUNE 7, 1919 



No. 23 



BULBS AND BULB PRICES 



There is no doubt of the fact that bulbs are going to 

 be somewhat short this season and it is a serious ques- 

 tion as to the extent which the florist will be able to use 

 them. The prices charged customers next spring will 

 have to be higher, both for cut flowers and for potted 

 plants than they were this season. This is unfortunate, 

 for there has been, a growing appreciation of bulbous 

 flowers, especially Darwin tulips, and an increasing 

 demand. 



The reason for the shortage can be traced back to the 

 war. While many of the large Holland growers con- 

 tinued growing stock all through the troublesome times, 

 a large percentage of the smaller growers were obliged to 

 suspend operations. Now they are stocking up again. 

 As a result a large part of the crop will be taken at 

 In mie. In other words, the Hollanders are in compe- 

 tition this year with the foreign trade. 



Then England did not allow the importation of bulbs 

 last year. Now, of course, they are being admitted and 

 the demand from that country eats heavily into the 

 supply which otherwise would cross the seas. Just how 

 many bulbs will go to other parts of Europe, it is im- 

 possible to say, but it is reported that considerable buy- 

 ing is done in the Scandinavian countries. 



Coming to concrete facts, it is probable that the in- 

 crease in prices to wholesalers will be jumped from four 

 to ten dollars a thousand, depending upon the kind. As 

 prices are already high, this will make the cost prac- 

 tically prohibitive for many dealers, who know that they 

 will sell only a limited number of flowers when they 

 pass the increase along to their customers. From the 

 present outlook there would not be enough Holland 

 stock to go around if buying were free, so that the in- 

 creased price will form a natural check 



Of course freight rates continue very high, but in- 

 surance is less now that tbe submarine menace no longer 

 exists. Morever, shipments will arrive much more 

 promptly than last season and there will be fewer losses. 

 It is reported that the importers in this country are 

 ordering very conservatively. Some of them are mak- 

 ing conditions of acceptance when taking orders which 

 read somewhat as follows: 



"All advance orders for growing crops are booked by 

 us previous to harvesting and receipt — subject to crops 

 permitting — and accidents or delays beyond our control. 

 Should shortages necessitate it, we reserve the right to 

 fill such orders pro rata." 



It is understood that the Holland growers have 

 formed closer associations than ever before, that they 

 are having the moral if not the financial support of the 



Hutch government in getting the business back to a 

 normal condition. Tbe Hollanders feel none too kindly 

 disposed toward the United States as a result of the 

 Federal Horticultural Board's drastic ruling excluding 

 great numbers of important plants and it is safe to say 

 that but few favors will be shown Americans this season. 



Of course the embargo on Chinese lilies will be raised 

 this season, in place of these lilies many florists last 

 year recommended the Tazetta narcissi. Millions of 

 these bulbs were grown last winter in window gardens 

 and conservatories, in earth, fibre or water. 



It is interesting to know that this class of narcissi 

 was cultivated in Egypt a century or more before the 

 birth of Christ, and the flowers were largely used then 

 as now in funeral ceremonies. Probably there will be a 

 considerable demand for these narcissi this season, as 

 many people became fond of them. 



Opposition to Plant Exclusion 



The leading papers of the country show remarkable 

 unanimity in their opposition to the plant exclusion act. 

 In its current number the American Botanist says: 



"It is not likely that a policy of separating ourselves 

 from the good things of this world to spite a few measly 

 plant pests will commend itself to a free people. To be 

 sure a race of landscape artists has sprung up in this 

 country which is so patriotic that it will plant only 

 native species, but while we admit that many hand- 

 some shrubs and trees originated in this country, we do 

 not see how the best planting can do without the lilacs, 

 the forsythias, the rhododendrons and many others that 

 make our grounds attractive. We cannot help feeling 

 that the horticulturists should have bent their efforts 

 toward establishing safe methods of importing plants 

 instead of proposing to shut ourselves up in magnificent 

 isolation. Fortunately for us, a change in the political 

 complexion of the country may make possible the modi- 

 fying or rescinding of the obnoxious order. Its enforce- 

 ment for a short time may possibly be of value in em- 

 phasizing the harm that such a sweeping order is sure 

 to bring to the gardening movement in America." 



Another Honor for Mr* Wilson 



At a meeting in Paris on the 25th of May La Societe 

 Xationale d' Acclimation de France bestowed its MSdaille 

 hors classe i I'effigie d' Piodore Geoffrey Saine Hilaire 

 on Ernest H. Wilson, Assistant Director of the Arnold 



Arboretum, in appreciation of his services to the world 

 by his discovery and introduction into the United States 

 and Europe of a large number of valuable Chinese and 

 Japanese plants. 



