H 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



October, 



H. Hoffman, 



John Weld, James Craib & Son. 

 Chas. Coolidge, and Howard Bros. 



In the ornamental department the pyramids of 

 plants already refened to, and which were drawn 

 from the private collection of W. S. KimUxll of 

 Rochester, attracted perhaps the most notice. 

 Such certiiinly was the case if we speak of this 

 gentleman's exhibit as a whole, for this included, 

 additionally to the pyramids, numerous rare and 

 costly Orchids, Asiatic Pitcher Plants and Ac- 

 quatics, which commanded all eyes. This general 

 collection drew the first prize of $30, the second 

 going to J. B. KeUer. Among other extensive 

 exhibitoi-s here was the last named gentleman of 

 Rochester, N. Y., in an exhibit of various pot 

 plants, securing a number of first prizes. Mr. 

 James Vick with a characteiistically large and 

 good show, consisting mainly of seed-grown sum- 

 mer flowei-s, and which, with Asters and Phlox 

 Drummondi in the lead throughout, received 

 numerous fli-st premiums, Saltes Bros., plants 

 and floral designs, taking first prizes, and Schlegel 

 & Sons, with a fine and varied display of pot 

 plants. Still other exhibitors, most of which 

 took both first and second prizes, were the 

 Philadelphia Floral Co., Geo. A. Mathei-s, A. 

 Stone, H. Dempster, Mrs. D. Lyday, Mary Cool- 

 idge, O. S. Jacques and H. Glass. 



In the Juvenile Department first prizes of $10 

 each were drawn by Willie Keller for display of 

 cut flowei-s, and by Charles Donnelly for a floral 

 design. In the same classes second and third 

 prizes were secured by Willie Keller and Tillie 

 Warford. 



The display of vegetables in Domestic Hall was 

 also a very creditable one, that from the New 

 York Experimental Station at Geneva being per- 

 haps the most striking, due in part to numerous 

 rare and curious kinds. James Vick also made a 

 splendid show here, as did also the following par- 

 ties, in a greater or less degree: C. L. G. Blessing, 

 Charles Coolidge, Howard Bros., M. F. Pierson, 

 Chas. N. Tuttle, E. Van Allen, P. C. Van Allen, 

 Jno. O. Reiley, Daniel Peacock, Herman Glass, 

 F. E. Kudman, C. P. Whitney, Aaron BardweU, 

 O. S. Jacques and H. W. Skerrett. 



Grapes in Illinois. 



[Reiiurt of September Meeting of the Alton Horti 

 cultural Society.'] 



Well grown Grapes were shown in great 

 force. Mr. M'Plke made a fine display of 

 the older sorts, such as Catawba, Concord, 

 Ncrrton'ttMniiniajRvJandfr, Delaware, etc. 

 Among newer varieties shown Niagara and 

 Jewell received much praise for their good 

 quality and fine appearance, and it is to be 

 hoped that these promising kinds will fulfill 

 the expectations of growers. 



J. S. Browne, of Committee on Vineyards, re- 

 ported that the past season has been one of the 

 worst for rot in several years. It started earlier 

 than usual and lasted so that the crop was not 

 more than a third or half of what it was last 

 year. If the Department of Agriculture's knowl- 

 edge of the Downy Mildew iPeronos:pora rificoid) 

 is so complete that they are able to say what 

 amount of sulphate of copper will be required 

 and when to apply, he thinks their remedy against 

 rot is to gi-ow either those vaiieties which do not 

 rot, and they are very late, of poor quaUty, such 

 as Cynthiana, late, or, Marsala, foxy, or to grow 

 a class that are Uttle subject to mildew, one of 

 which is the BrigMon; in this class wQl be found 

 our best quality of Grapes,— using one of the 

 copper remedies as a preventive. 



Among the newer varieties which have come 

 under his notice he had found none that are Just 

 what we want. Prentvix has rotted almost en- 

 tirely; Montcftiire nearly all gone; Empire State 

 mildews both leaf and bunch; Marxala but very 

 little rot, has a thick skin and not of good quality; 

 Vergennen all gone; the much advertised iViajrara 

 over one half rotten both in the bags and out; 

 Woodruff's ReO badly rotten— drops from the 

 bunch and is very foxy; Early Victor rotted on 

 lower part of vine, but not on upper. This Grape 

 is inclined to overbear. Some buds will have as 

 many as five bunches, and four in common; all 

 should be cut off but two or three; PocMiimton 

 rotted badly and what were left ripened very 

 unevenly- is very foxy; CuiiOiiatia, as usual, free 

 from rot and should be grown by every one for 

 family use. The Jewell, after watching it for the 

 last three years, he had foimd as free from rot as 

 the rot proof Cynthiana— in fia\'or eqUiU to the 

 Delaware, ripe nearly a week before Champion, 

 extremely hai-dy and altogether the most prom- 



ising early black Grape now on the market and 

 is well worthy of a trial. 



Mr. M'Pike, speaking from twenty-one years' 

 careful study and experiment, could say that 

 Norton's Viruinia and Cynthiana were the only 

 two varieties of this vicinity that were anything 

 like certain of good crops year after year. All 

 things considered, Concorri is the best to plant 

 until some other Grape has proven better; some, 

 like Goethe, can be grown by laying and covering 

 in winter and bagging to prevent rot. These ten- 

 der Grapes were usually of high quality and wUl 

 repay extra care. 



Mr. Riehl agreed that Cunthiana and Norton 

 were the only Grapes absolutely hardy, healthy 

 and free from rot, but they were small and late, 

 and early Grapes were the only ones profitable 

 here. Had fruited Jeti'eU three yeare and so fai- 

 had not winter killed and no rot until this year, 

 when the rot commenced unusually early and 

 attacked even Cunthiana and Norton; believed 

 that in any ordinary season it mil be found free 

 from rot, being very early, of the highest quaUty 

 and healthy; believed it wUl prove our most 

 profitable Grape to plant. 



Had grown the Niagara two years, and con- 

 sidered it the best white Grape we now have; it 

 is hardy, healthy, very good quality, large and 

 handsome, and the only White Grape with him 

 that does not rot as it i-ipens. Is too late for 

 shipping North, but for home use and Southern 

 markets believed it would give good satisfaction. 

 Mr. Riggs reported that \ines-cut down in '85 

 as bearing a fuU crop of Grapes free from rot. 



[At a pre\-ious meeting of this Society it was 

 stated that Grapes sacked before the 5th of June 

 remained sound, but all sacked after that date 

 rotted as bad or worse than those not bagged. 

 Usually wc have a much hmger period in which 

 to do the sacking, but this year hot weather and 

 rains came earlier and as a consequence rot com- 

 menced as soon almost sis the Grapes were out of 

 bloom. Moore's Early has again proven a very 

 satisfactory market Grape, being early, large and 

 fairly good in quality, with but Uttle rot. The 

 rot this year was wi irse than last season. 



The Secretary stated he had read of experi- 

 ments by three different persons in sacking 

 Grapes before blooming and in every case it was 

 stated that the Grapes fertilized well in the sacks, 

 and recommended that next season all the mem- 

 bers having Grapes try the experiment on at 

 least a few bunches of every variety they have, in 

 order that we may leara whether all varieties will 

 fertilize themselves in the sacks, for if so it will be 

 a great gain, giving longer time for the work.] 



The Retail Florists' Business. 



{Abstraet of J. M. Jordon's Aihlress before the Cmi- 

 vention of Florists at Chicago in August.] 



Quality of Work. The question to consider 

 is how best we can continue to increase the 

 demand and have our work receive the 

 highest place of honor. I see but one way; 

 advance the standard and quality of our 

 work and improve the taste. How best cau 

 that be accomplished y 



First, your place of sale should be as fine as any 

 in town, neat, clean, flowei-s and floral designs 

 displayed to advantage, and, above all, you should 

 be master of your art. Allow customers to sug- 

 gest but not to dictate how to arrange flowei-s. 



The Matter of Prices, A growing and detri- 

 mental custom among consumers is the habit of 

 asking for bids on room decorations or floral de- 

 signs. I have made it the rule for yeai-s not to 

 give a price, or furnish designs of decorations, 

 unless we had the order to do the work. Pei-sons 

 receiving your designs and prices can submit 

 them to the unskilled for a cheaper bid. 



When parties want to know the cost, ask them 

 what they want to expend, and if this is not 

 enough to make a good job, decline it. I have 

 frequently told ladies that the amount suggested 

 would not decorate their spacious parlors to har- 

 monize with the beautiful surroundings, and 

 thus have often had them double the amount. 



Another custom is that of pricing a fine design 

 before it is filled, and then saymg, " I want that 

 filled with so many doUai-s worth," kindly sug- 

 gesting Roses, Lilies of the Valley and Violets, 

 with a few Orchids; when the price is much too 

 low and when informed of it they will often say. 

 " Fill the best you can for the money." These 

 orders decline, unless the price is ample, for no 

 artist can afford to have poor work leave his 

 store, or give one customer more for the money 

 than he would another. 



Another practice: parties call to see a basket 

 flUed, and after the price is agreed on suggest 

 that a fine large Rose would improve it. Never 

 put it in, but tell them that it would be better to 

 wear, and wrap it up ami give it to them. I have 

 never had the customer make the second sugges- 

 tion after receiving a gift in that way. 



Helpful Agencies. The newspapers are the 

 florists best friends. We should assist them to 

 give correct descriptions of decorations, hand 

 bouquets carried at the opera, etc., mention all 

 new improvements in fiowei-s and arrangements. 

 By getting photographs of fine work, keeping a 

 short sketch of materials, number of plants, ete., 

 you can easUy give customei-s an idea of decora- 

 tions and cost. 



Competition should be little encouraged. Fine 

 flowei-s, properly handled, at good prices, are 

 sure to win. Our business should be managed on 

 good business principles. The very perishable 

 nature of the goods we handle should require 

 them to lie a cash commodity. Goods should be 

 as represented. Sometimes we have a larger clip 

 of flowers than the demand would receive, then 

 we distribute the surplus among hospitals, 

 schools, or friends, particularly if we have a cus- 

 tomer who is reported sick. By doing so we 

 soon make a demand that becomes a necessity. 



Funeral Flowers. Unskilled artists have done 

 much to depreciate the worth of floral ornamen- 

 tation. I venture to assert that there is no city 

 of suflicient importance to give employment to a 

 No. 1 floral artist but what you wiU And other 

 little shops mth signs displayed, " Florist. Cut 

 Flowers Cheap," or to the same import. This 

 class has done much to depreciate the true worth 

 of flowers at funerals, drumming for ordei-s from 

 afllieted friends, and often filling it in a way to 

 disgust the bereaved ones. With this class have 

 no alfiliation. 



It is my opinion that the request, "Please omit 

 flowei-s," is often made from the fact that at 

 many funerals flowers have not been properly 

 arranged. When we have a large funeral order 

 we send a skilled man to arrange the designs in 

 the rooms, and often furnish a few nice plants 

 free, to complete the decorations. We cannot 

 afford to have flowers excluded from the home 

 of bereavement. When sadness in its most de- 

 pressing form has laid its heavy hand on the 

 home by the loss of a loved one our instincts go 

 out in sympathy, and 1 know of no way we can 

 better lessen the sharp arrow's deepening wound 

 and let in a ray of hope than by arranging about 

 the rooms and casket. 



Flowers that tell 

 What words cau never speak so well. 

 Their lessons often prove an inspiratiiiu never 

 to be forgotten. 



The Society— Wholesalers and Setailers- 

 Every floral artist should be a member of the 

 Society of American Florists. Every wholesale 

 grower and commission man in flowei-s should 

 have a list of floral artists (who are worthy the 

 name), and work to encourage them in their ai-t. 

 For to them they must look for their own success. 

 Fluctuations of prices, on certain days, by 

 wholesale dealers, work a great hardship on the 

 retailers; and growei-s will learn that steady 

 prices tend to increase the demand with lasting 

 benefit to themselevs. Give the retailers the 

 benefit of holidays and good prices, for they have 

 to bear the heavy expenses of long summer 

 months, with little to do and low prices. We 

 want more of good summer bloom, something 

 different from the winter flowei-s. 



Finally, look well to your profession, for it is 

 committed to your hands to give the finishing 

 touch to the ornameutati>in of many homes, 

 decorating them with garlands of Nature's 

 choicest flowei-s. Your work is honorable and 

 should make you better by being associated with 

 flowei-s and the lovers of flowei-s; and you should 

 aspire to identify yourself with the promoters of 

 science, literature and art in all its branches, 

 having a common interest in their good work. 



The Fruit Industry of North America 

 From an European View. 



[Abstract of paper by ./. Haerschi before a meeting 

 of the Horticultural Societg of Siritzerlaml. Trans- 

 lated bi/ F. Lionberger, Missouri.] 



The fruit Industry of North Aiuerica, and 

 of California in particular, is not an old one. 

 Since the last fifty years it has been growing 

 steady and now attains gigantic proportions. 

 As in a great many other ways the Ameri- 

 cans have come to be our teachers, so they 



