1244 



FLORISTS' PLANTS 



FLORISTS' PLANTS 



placed in a waterproof envelope which is fastened to 

 the delivery tag. Deliveries of Christmas and Easter 

 plants particularly should be promptly made, for 

 nothing creates more dissatisfaction than late delivery. 

 This requires skill in systematically arranging the 

 plants according to the delivery routes, thus avoiding 

 traversing the same territory a second time. It is 

 axiomatic that the plant should be at its best on the 

 day or at the function for which it is to be used. The 

 weather has much to do with the condition of plants 

 upon delivery. At Christmas, stock may be sent out 

 twenty-four hours in advance, while at Easter stock 

 delivered thus far in advance may not be satisfactory 

 on Sunday. 



All plants in pots, with the possible exception of the 

 woody kinds, are staked and tied before handling. 

 Plants are neatly wrapped with several thicknesses of 

 paper to insure safe dehvery. Plants with flowers 

 which are easily bruised are usually ■nTapped with a 

 sheet of cotton batting or waxed paper and then six to 

 eight thicknesses of newspaper with clean plain paper 



1511. The completed crate for shipment. 



outside. When plants must be shipped in cold weather, 

 they must be wrapped as indicated and then set in 

 strong wooden boxes. These boxes are approximately 

 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 8 inches deep. The corners 

 are strengthened by the use of extra cleats. The box 

 is first lined with corrugated paper, and then several 

 thicknesses of newspaper which are left hanging over 

 the edges of the box all around. SUghtly dampened 

 excelsior is used around the pots to prevent breakage 

 and to make the package secure. The paper is then 

 brought up over the plants and fastened (Fig. 1.510). 

 Over the top a frame is built of 1 2 x 4-inch cleating 

 lumber which prevents damage to the plants (Fig. 1511). 



The number of plants that can be had in perfection 

 at Christmas is Umited and does not change from year 

 to year. Among the leading flowering plants are 

 poinsettias in pots and pans, azaleas, cyclamen and 

 Lorraine begonias. The more expensive plants are 

 ericas (E. melanihera) and camellias. 



The berried plants commonly grown are the Jerusa^ 

 lem cherry (Solarium Capsicastrum), Christmas pepper 

 (S. Pseudo-Capsicum), aucubas, ardisias, holly and 

 Otaheite oranges. 



The fohage plants include araucarias, boxwood, 

 crotons, nephrolepis, Pandanus Veilchii, Ficus pan- 

 durala and F. elastica, Draca'na (D. terminalis, D. fra- 

 grans, D. Mandsearia, D. Godseffiana, D. Lord Wolselcy) 

 and Adiantum. 



Easter is a great plant day and there is a great variety 

 of suitable plants. The leading flowering plant is, of 

 course, Lilium longiflorum. 



It would be difficult to determine the relative mar- 

 ket value of the different plants, but among the bulbs 

 tulips, hyacinths, narcissi and lilies-of-the-valley are 

 staples. These are sold in pots or pans, singly or 

 in plant combinations. A very large amount of bulbous 

 material is sold at Easter. Cinerarias, Primula obconica 

 and P. sinensis are a smaller factor than formerly on 

 the large city markets, but still remain an important 

 item in the smaller cities. Marguerites and spirea 

 (Astilbe japonica) , when well grown, find a good sale in 

 New York. A number of violets and pansies planted in 

 low dishes, and small blooming geraniums, from 3-inch 

 pots, planted in 6- to 12-inch bulb pans, are salable 

 plants in many localities. Among the shrubs the azaleas 

 are most important, although in some cities they show a 

 dechne in popularity. Following these are genistas, 

 which have been for many years a popular Easter 

 plant. Hydrangea rosea and H. Otaksa were long stand- 

 ard varieties, but now will probably give way to the 

 new French varieties. In some cities hydrangeas are 

 less used for Easter than for Memorial Day. Lilacs, 

 Charles X, Marie Legraye and Madame Lemoine are 

 among the best. The lilac has the disadvantage of a 

 great display of wood and leaves before the terminal 

 flowers charm the eye. It therefore requires acces- 

 sories to relieve this effect, and the demand for this 

 plant is limited. Rhododendrons are slowly gaining in 

 popularity. Acacias and ericas are becoming more 

 common each year. Acacia longifolia and A. paradoia 

 are now grown for market. Erica Cavendishii is used 

 for individual plants, while E. cupressina is used in 

 making up baskets of plants. Bougainmllea Sanderiana, 

 Uke the rambler roses, may be made to assume definite 

 forms which are especially beautiful when the bracts 

 are well colored. Among the other shrubs more or less 

 common are Azalea mollis, Deulzia gracilis, Spinea 

 Van Houttci, double almond, hawthorns, and Wistaria 

 muttijuga. In the last decade the rambler roses have 

 taken a prominent place among Easter plants and each 

 year a larger number are grown. The crimson rambler 

 was first used, but is now superseded by the more 

 beautiful Dorothy Perkins, Tausendschon, Lady Gay, 

 Newport Fairy and Hiawatha. The rambler roses 

 ■ possess the advantage that they can be trained into 

 pleasing forms. The polyantha roses are popular also, 

 and among the varieties used are Madame Norbert 

 Levavasseur (Baby Rambler), Mrs. Cutbush and 

 Orleans. The latter are very satisfactory when sold 

 either as individual plants with waterproof crepe paper 

 pot-covers or in baskets with other plants. The hybrid 

 perpetuals are still grown, but not in so large quantities 

 as formerly. The varieties now grown are Frau Karl 

 Druschki, Mrs. John Laing and Magna Charta. 



Easter brings a demand for some of the larger sizes 

 of foliage plants for decorations in churches, retail 

 stores, and the like. The small -sized ferns, dracenas 

 and palms are required in making up baskets of plants. 



The florist of fifty years ago thought that a good 

 blooming plant did not need any aids to make it 

 attractive. This has changed, and the florists are 

 seeking every means to make their plants more attrac- 

 tive. The most inexpensive method of doing this is to 

 use pot-covers of waterproof crepe paper in color suited 

 to the subjects. Porto Rican or raffia matting in color 

 is used in a similar manner. 



The trade of the present day disposes of a great 

 many plants in baskets or boxes. Individual plant- 

 baskets, with handles, to hold even as large as 6- to 

 8-inch pots are often used. Baskets, usually of the 

 peach-basket shape, are also utilized for an endless 

 variety of combinations of flowering and fohage plants 

 (Fig. 1512). The baskets are supplied with a metal 

 receptacle or lining so that the pots may be removed 

 from the plants, giving them the appearance of having 

 been grown together. Formerly these receptacles were 

 filled by the retailers, but now many are prepared at 



