•2-.'8 



HORTICULTURE 



September 18, 1920 



HORTICULTURE 



EaUtbUshrd by Wlllliun J. Stowart In 10<M 



Vol. XXXII 



September 18, 1920 



No. 12 



PUBLISHED WEEKLY BT 



HORTICULTRE PUBLISHING COMPANY 

 739 Boyltton Street, Boston, Mass. 



EDWARD I. FARRINGTON, Editor. 



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Entered as Becond-elass matter December 8, 1904, at the Post Office 

 at BoatoD, Mass., under the Act of Congress of March 3. 1897. 



We heard recently of a prominent nursery- 

 A Nursery man who had accumulated a large stock of 

 Problem Diervilla florida venusta for which he couUl 

 not find a market. He has threatened to 

 dig out a large proportion of them and throw them on the 

 rubbish pile. This is one Instance of the conditions which 

 lead nurserymen to say oftentimes that it is impossible 

 for them to go in heavily on novelties because they cannot 

 get their money back, owing to the lack of interest on the 

 part of the public. Diervilla florida venusta is one of the 

 handsomest Weigelas that grows. It has been recom- 

 mended for several years by the Arnold Arboretum, and al- 

 ways attracts attention when in flower there. Yet the pub- 

 lic ignores it and goes right on buying the older but in- 

 ferior kinds. 



Obviously some of the strictures to which the nursery- 

 men have been subjected on the part of advanced garden 

 makers who are always on the lookout for new things have 

 not been entirely warranted. It is true that a certain num- 

 ber of buyers welcome novelties, and give credit to the 

 nurserymen who produce them; but this number is very 

 limited compared with the great mass of people who keep 

 the nurserymen going from year to year. 



Now it is a question whether some sort of plan could 

 not be devised by which nurserymen having a surplus of 

 any kind of novelty might bring it to the attention of the 

 public in such a way as to awaken interest in it. It would 

 seem as though the Nurserymen's Association might help 

 in this matter. Suppose that each member of the asso- 

 ciation should report to the secretary that he had a certain 

 number of plants not commonly known for which he had 

 not been able to find a market. Possibly the secretary 

 might find buyers among other nurserymen so that the 

 stock would be fairly well distributed, and then start an 

 advertising campaign which would emphasize especially 

 the value of these particular offerings. Articles about them, 

 with photographs, might easily be given a place in differ- 

 ent publications. If certain definite novelties are brought 

 before the buying public in such a way as to arouse its 

 curiosity or cupidity, sales are certain to result. 



It may be argued that the returns will not he enough 



to warrant this special effort and expenditures, but isn't 

 it true that a campaign of this kind would be of lasting 

 value' in educating the public so that It would accept new 

 things more readily in the future. At any rate, any adver- 

 tising of this kind is certain to be of value In the long run. 

 for it is the kind of publicity which excites interest and 

 comment. As conditions ai'e now, some kind of effort is 

 necessary to bring about a closer relationship between the 

 buying public and the nurserymen in sutli a way as to en- 

 courage the latter to accumulate stocks of the most worth- 

 while new plants which are available. It would seem as 

 though the nurserymen's association might serve as a kind 

 of clearing house in this respect.. 



If flower shows were intended only for scien- 

 Improving tific purposes, and were expected to be at- 

 the Shows tended only by experts and experienced grow- 

 ers, it might be well enough to arrange the 

 blooms in bottles in long rows on bare tables, without any 

 attempt at decorative effects. The fact is, though, that 

 flower shows as a rule are aimed to give pleasure and sat- 

 isfaction to the general public, including a large number 

 of amateurs who know little about the technical end of the 

 undertaking, but who find real joy in beautiful flowers and 

 growing plants. That being the case. It has been obvious 

 enough that a flower show ought to be staged in such a way 

 as to make a favorable impression upon the senses. With 

 this point in mind, it is possible to have an exhibit which 

 shall receive the applause of the multitude (and they must 

 be considered) and yet serve the interests of professional 

 growers and the expert amateur. 



In the past many of the shows, especially those devoted 

 to such flowers as the peony and the dahlia, have been very 

 drab in their general effect. Those in charge of the shows 

 at Horticultural Hall, in Boston, have decided upon a new 

 policy, and the effect was most marked at the dahlia show 

 last week. On that occasion, practically all of the dahlias 

 were arranged with their own foliage. That is. each flower 

 instead of being displayed alone was set off by a back- 

 ground of leaves. This experiment was exceedingly satis- 

 factory. The whole appearance of the hall was altered, 

 and while much praise of the arrangement was heard, not 

 a word was offered In criticism. There seems to be no 

 reason why this experiment should not be carried still 

 further. It is not at all diflicult to arrange a background 

 for extensive exhibits which will double their decorative 

 value. Gardeners are still talking about the exhibit made 

 some months ago by Mr. Butterworth, of Framingham, 

 when he exhibited a large number of orchids arranged 

 against a background of evergreen boughs. It is to be 

 hoped that this plan of using the shows not merely to ex- 

 hibit specimens but to create an atmosphere of floral 

 beauty will be continued. The results so far justify all 

 that has been done in this direction. 



Florists everywhere extend their sympathy to 



Hail the victims of the recent hailstorm in and 



Losses around Providence. R. I. It would seem as 



though the elements have been on the rampage 

 all over the country this year. Only a few weeks ago a 

 hurricane did a tremendous amount of damage in Central 

 New York, houses and barns being hurled to the ground 

 and smashed to bits like so many egg shells. There have 

 been hailstorms in the South and the West, and now comes 

 a particularly severe storm in southern New England. The 

 moral of it all seems to be that it is a mistake not to 

 carry at least a certain amount of hail insurance. To be 

 sure, it may not be needed, but when a storm does cwme, 

 it is a great satisfaction to have your losses made good. 



