December 14, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



817 



ADIANTUM FARLEYENSE AND A. F. GLORIOSA. 



Adiantim Fakleye.vse 



Adiantum Farletense Gloriosa 



The picture herewith represents an 

 unusually well-grown Adiantum Far- 

 leyense in a 16-inch pan which was ex- 

 hibited at the recent horticultural 

 show in Newport, R. I., and won the 

 Michell silver medal as the most meri- 

 torious exhibit staged there. The ex- 

 hibitor was John B. Urquhart, gard. 

 for Mr. R. L. Beeckman of Newport, 

 who also showed some extra well- 

 grown plants of the new variety, Glo- 

 riosa, in seven-inch pots, of which a 

 picture is also shown. 



For many years the old A. Farley- 

 ense has been considered the most 

 beautiful of all ferns, but it now 

 seems to have a strong rival in this 

 new variety, which is very similar and 



is said to thrive well in a lower tem- 

 perature than is suitable for the older 

 type, which is its parent. Mr. Urqu- 

 hart has excellent success, however, in 

 growing both varieties under exactly 

 the same kind of treatment. The 

 house used is a low even span with 

 curved eaves; runs nearly due east 

 and west and glass is lightly shaded. 

 The night temperature aimed at is 75 

 degrees with a rise to about 80 on 

 clear days. 



Propagation is mostly done in early 

 spring when plants are in the most 

 vigorous stage of their growth. For 

 this purpose old plants are broken up 

 into single crowns with at least a 

 part of a live frond on each which is 

 necessary for support in the rooting 



process. After being well rooted in a 

 bed of clear sharp sand they are pot- 

 ted in small pots with a mixture of 

 fiberous loam and leaf soil, and 

 plunged to the rim of the pots in a 

 bench of damp sphagnum moss where 

 they grow very quickly. From this 

 stage on the soil used for potting is 

 old sod, well chopped up and mixed 

 with well rotted cow manure. Feed- 

 ing with liquid cow and sheep manure 

 is also done to some extent. A moist 

 atmosphere and fire heat Is supplied 

 all the year around. 



At this residence this fern is used 

 extensively as plants and cut fronds 

 for table decorations and is always 

 much admired. 



JAMES ROBERTSON. 



swers thus far received are most grati- 

 fying. In several instances the Pub- 

 licity Committee are supplying ar- 

 ticles every week for newspaper pub- 

 lication — something suggestive of the 

 abundant bloom at the different sea- 

 sons. In another case, a Florist Club 

 is fostering a School Garden contest, 

 under the direction of the Woman's 

 Club. Another club collected $300.00 

 Xrom florists for Mothers' Day adver- 

 tising in street car, newspaper and 

 wagon banners, and they report the 

 results are wonderful. 



In conclusion, I wish to emphasize, 

 that whatever you debate in the club 

 consider seriously the matter of pro- 

 duction and prices. First-class stock 

 will always find a market, but we 

 don't wish to stop there. Moderate 

 prices will influence the masses, and 

 if possible get a flower into the hands 

 of every man, woman and child, en- 

 courage the use of flowers at every 

 function in the home, the festive hall 

 and public demonstration, and by all 

 means let the public know that you 

 are a florist. 



The essay committee is the most im- 

 portant of the club. Men who can in- 

 terest both from knowledge of horti- 

 culture, and interesting topics of pres- 

 ent day modern methods, should be 

 available. Encourage exhibitions at 

 the meetings. Have occasional out- 

 ings during the summer and don't 

 leave the girls at home. A member- 



ship committee is necessary to look 

 up new members, and have every 

 florist, grower, wholesaler and retailer 

 in the chairs at every meeting, includ- 

 ing your workmen and subordinates. 



What I have learned in my personal 

 touch with my florist brethren of the 

 Florists' Club of Philadelphia is the 

 one paramount thought of doing what- 

 ever is best for the advancement of 

 the business and broadening the horti- 

 cultural realm — to make optimists, to 

 use the club as a safety valve and en- 

 gender personal feelings conducive to 

 good friendship, and infuse a geniality 

 into those with whom we associate. 

 This genial temperament is usually 

 characteristic with the florist. His 

 life should be resplendent and aglow 

 with cheer, because his occupation is 

 in touch with nature's sweetest prod- 

 uct. 



TO KEEP CUT POINSETTIAS. 



Everyone knows how prone the poin- 

 settia bracts are to droop after cutting 

 and how almost impossible it is to 

 revive them. The cause is attributed 

 to the "bleeding" of the stems when 

 cut. This may be stopped at once, 

 says R. E. Loeben of Gloversville, N. 

 Y., by dipping the ends into finely 

 sifted hard coal ashes. This seals up 

 the sap at once and the stems will 

 then take up water like a rose or 

 carnation. 



Mr. Loeben says also that if the 

 same course is pursued with poinsettia 

 cuttings they can be rooted easily in 

 the pans or pots in which they are to 

 stay. 



M. H. WALSH HONORED. 



The trustees of the Massachusetts 

 Horticulti-al Society have awarded 

 the Qpoige Robert White medal of 

 honor for the year 1912 to Michael H. 

 Walsh of Woods Hole. Mass. This is 

 the fourth award of this medal by the 

 society which is voted annually for 

 eminent service in horticulture. 



Mr. Walsh is well known as the 

 originator of many new and valuable 

 varieties of roses known and highly 

 appreciated the world over 



CHRYSANTHEMUM NOVELTIES. 



Still they come! At the meeting of 

 the Floral Committee of the National 

 Chrysanthemum Society, London, on 

 October 29th last, there were 74 new 

 varieties submitted for adjudication. 

 The standard is a severe one and not 

 more than twelve secured the coveted 

 award. Had it been a French show 

 we fear the committee would not have 

 cared to incur the risk of offending so 

 many disappointed exhibitors, but 

 then let us say with Sterne "They or- 

 der this matter better in France," but 

 for "better" read "differently." 



0. HARMAN PAYNE. 



