I89I. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



251 



growth of glowing red or for their refresh- 

 ing green. I question, indeed, whether the 

 lovely colors of June foliage are not more 

 rich and varied among Maples than in any 

 other genus of hardy trees. 



But of all Maples, the most remarkable, 

 the most gifted in color, are the Japanese 

 Maples. Every tint of green, gold, silver, 

 red and purple meet and commingle on their 

 elegantly and most strangely formed leaves. 

 The many-formed .Japanese Maple, Acer 

 poli)morj}lii(in, is positively rainbow-dyed 

 with color, but other kinds, like *4ci'r J(((J- 

 onicum, with its fine red flowers, and A. 

 Japonicum aureum are perhaps more noble 



Seventh Annual Meetlngr of the So- 

 ciety of American Florists. 



The Convention of American Florists at 

 Toronto, Ontario, Aug. 19-22, was a well at- 

 tended meeting. There was an unusually 

 large percentage of women present, which 

 shows that women are more and more 

 coming to the front as growers and deal- 

 ers in cut flowers, a state of things it is a 

 pleasure to note. The meetings of the so- 

 ciety were held in the large pavillion in 

 Horticultural Garden, a place in every way 

 suited to the success of the convention. 

 The essays, discussions, questions and an- 

 swers, were disappointing — it seemed as if 



Chrysanthemums, and many to bedding:, stove 

 and greenhouse plants. The first thing to be 

 done is to decide on what you wish to make a 

 specialty of, for, as a rule, the greatest success 

 is attained by having one principal money crop. 

 Then choose a good location where the soil is 

 best adapted for the particular plants you wish 

 to grow. Be sure and locate near a railroad sta- 

 tion or within easy access to the nearest market, 

 then erect such houses as are best fitted for the 

 plants you take a live interest in. That florist 

 will succeed best who will take the greatest care 

 in preparing bis flowers for the market, culling 

 out and throwing away the poor ones. Far too 

 many of the ordinary or inferior class of flowers 

 are grown. There has been, however, a wonder- 

 ful improvement in the quality, more especially 



with the greater mass and richness of color 

 of their leaves. The subtle beauty of tint 

 and form among these Maples all combine 

 to render them (1 am tempted to say) the 

 very highest development of complex, deli- 

 cate beauty among hardy trees and shrubs. 

 And June also is the month wherein we may 

 see the most perfect development of Japan- 

 ese Maples. Later in the season their tints 

 are liable, like those of all variegated-leaved 

 plants, to become dulled by intense heat. 

 Hot summers and cold winters are indeed 

 liable to damage them at times. We regret 

 to acknowledge it, but nevertheless it Is an 

 undeniable fact." 



In the elegance of the paper, printing and 

 binding, the book is a noteworthy example 

 of high excellence. Special mention should 

 also be made of the handsome frontispiece 

 and half-tone engravings of deciduous and 

 evergreen trees. 



Cure for the Yellows. 



At a recent meeting of the Connecticut State 

 Hoard of Agriculture, this formidable disease 

 of the Peach received its share of the dis- 

 cussion. In answer to the question, "Is there 

 any cure for the yellows?'' Mr. Meech promptly 

 answered: "Yes, sir; the grub hoe: that is what I 

 use." But Mr. Hale was sure that close pruning 

 and liberal application of muriate ot potash 

 would do it. Doubtless they would help to pre- 

 vent it. Not more than from three pounds to 20 

 pounds for a tree which has it. But orchardists 

 in other places think the genuine yellows are not 

 to be got rid of so easily, and that prompt eradi- 

 cation on the first appearance is the only reliable 

 remedy. 



the florists took too little interest in this 

 part of the convention. Such certainly was 

 the case, if the meeting is to be judged by 

 the discussions, or we should say the lack of 

 discussions, of the several essays. In many 

 cases the papers, creditable in themselves, 

 called forth no comments or remarks what- 

 ever. This is the more noteworthy from the 

 fact that the essays were few in number. 



PRESIDENT NORTON'S ADDEESS. 



In his address. President Norton alluded to the 

 fact that this was the first time the society met 

 outside the limits ot the United States. It was 

 very gratifying to be able to state that the mem- 

 bership is still increasing; that there is more 

 money in the treasury than at any time since or- 

 ganization, seven years ago. 



The coramiitee on nomenclature has already 

 exerted a salutary influence and cannot help be- 

 ing a great benefit to the cause of horticulture 

 generall.v. The very existence of this committee 

 has a healthy effect, and it is a constant reminder 

 to evil doers that the society has its eye on them. 

 He wished that the good work would go on until 

 every purchaser can feel sure of receiving what 

 he orders, and that whatever he buys, let it be 

 seeds or plants, will prove to be just what the 

 description or the illustration represents it to be. 



He counselled the voung man who aims to be- 

 c(jme a s-uccessful gardener or florist, not to for- 

 get that it is not so much the opportunities as 

 the use made ot them that tells in the end. Good 

 honest toil during working hours, together with 

 that intelligence which cau only be obtained by 

 study during leisure, will give the reputa- 

 tion of being faithful and industrious; he must 

 also have a love for his business. 



The tendency now is to grow specialties. Some 

 take to Koses, and a very few varieties; others 

 to Carnations and Violets; others to bulbs and 



with Roses, Chrysanthemums and Carnations. 

 Who would have thought a few years ago that 

 these flowers would sell for such high prices as 

 they brought the past season? It only shows 

 that the public are willing to pay for a good ar- 

 ticle, and the florist who makes quality rather 

 than quantity his first consideration will always 

 have a ready market with satisfactory prices. 



Florists are to be congratulated upon the great 

 advances made in the arrangement of cut 

 flowers. The loose, natural wa.v of putting them 

 together with their long stems and beautiful 

 foliage with an e.ve to harmony of color and ar- 

 tistic efl'ect, and the custom ot using one or two 

 colors only in each design, is a long step in the 

 right direction, and a vast improvement over the 

 style ot a few years ago, where match sticks, 

 corn-broom, tooth-picks and wire were supposed 

 to be indispensable factors in making up de- 

 signs, and an endless variety of flowers of all 

 colors were packed stiflly together. 



A successful florist always keeps his eyes open 

 for any new and rare things in his line coming 

 on the market, not allowing his competitors to 

 get ahead of him. 



President Norton recommended that ladies be 

 given the opportunity to enter the business. 

 More especially in the retail stores will they be 

 found very useful, not only as book-keepers and 

 cashiers, but in waiting on customers and in 

 putting up orders. Their correct taste and 

 their aptitude for recognizing the beautiful in 

 form and color, will make their services desir- 

 able as artists and designers, where harmony ot 

 color is so essential. There are many women to- 

 day throughout the country that are doing a 

 profitable business on their own account, and 

 there is room for many more, in an occupation 

 which is so appropriate and pleasant and for 

 which they are so admirably fitted in refinement 

 and taste. 



He believed that public exhibitions of plants 



