HORTICULTURE 



VoL XXXI 



MAY 1, 1920 



No. 18 



THE TALK OF THE TRADE 



I notice that two florists around 

 Boston are selling their rose plants di- 

 rect to the public through the daily 

 press. This is stock that has been 

 forced in the greenhouses, but dried 

 off suflSciently to stand moving, and 

 these bushes sell readily at a good 

 price and in general give very satis- 

 factory results to the buyers. Peirce 

 Bros, of Waltham and Wm. Elliott & 

 Sons, Inc., of Brighton are the two 

 firms advertising at present. They re- 

 port heavy sales and the varieties they 

 are offering are good ones for the ama- 

 teur to grow out of doors. These sales 

 are going to help those interested in 

 roses and it will mean increased busi- 

 ness through other channels, such as 

 the ramblers, hybrid perpetuals — in 

 fact, all kinds of roses. 



Window boxes are an important part 

 of many a retail florist's business, par- 

 ticularly those having greenhouses. 

 and a fine trade can be worked up in 

 this line it reasonable care is taken in 

 filling the orders. An important point 

 is the construction of the boxes, which 

 must be large enough and properly 

 taken care of in the way of drainage. 



The selection of plants for window 

 boxes must be followed out wisely, 

 having in mind always the varieties 

 suitable tor shade if the boxes are so 

 situated, also varieties that are best 

 for bright sunshine if they are to oe 

 located in such a position. I certainly 

 don't approve of using such plants as 

 cannas and salvia in window boxes. 

 I have seen it done, but I think they 

 are out of place. There are plenty of 

 other suitable plants such as gerani- 

 ums, which of course come first. Chate- 



laine and Mrs. Patten begonias are 

 fine in a partially shaded position. 

 Marguerites, both white and yellow, 

 work in well with geraniums if you 

 wish mixed boxes. Heliotrope is also 

 a very satisfactory plant, and of course 

 for vines there is nothing better than 

 vinca and German ivy. 



Many a florist can work up a good 

 bit 01 business with his local trade in 

 this line. I know several places where ' 

 they build boxes, either to order or 

 have them in certain desirable lengths 

 ready to fill for their customers. 

 Sometimes they sell the boxes out- 

 right, other times simply rent them 

 and get them back in the fall. This 

 works into a steady business for them. 

 They can get the stock plants of 

 Geraniums for propagation the coming 

 season by bringing the Iwxes back be- 

 fore they are entirely killed by frost, 

 and there is no doubt that a big in- 

 crease in this business can be brought 



A Well Grown Fern 



