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May 18. 1916. 



The Florists' Review 



majority of cases emphasize the fact 

 that every grower, to be successful, must 

 make a study of his soils and the best 

 methods for maintaining constant fer- 

 tility, is it not true that the reports are 

 often misleading to the average grower? 

 When we consider the great variety of 

 soils in use by florists in different sec- 

 tions of the country, it is apparent that 

 any series of experiments carried on in 

 the fertilization of one type of soil will 

 not always be applicable to other and 

 entirely different types of soil. Again, 

 different methods of growing in iden- 

 tical types of soil will bring about great 

 variations in the results obtained from 

 any given method of feeding. 



We know that the mechanical struc- 

 ture and the physical condition of soils 

 in general have practically as great an 

 influence in crop production as has the 

 actual proportion of the three essential 

 elements necessary to plant life — nitro- 

 gen, phosphorus and potassium — that a 

 soil may contain. We know that if the 

 sole benefit to be derived from the appli- 

 cation of animal manures to the soil 

 were in the minute addition of these 

 three elements, the benefit would be 

 practically nil. 



Two Distinct Purposes. 



In view of these facts, why should 

 we, as growers, confuse the uses of ani- 

 mal manures, and commercial manures 

 or fertilizers? Why should we consider 

 them in competition with each other at 

 all? We know that by the judicious use 

 of animal manures, even though we do 

 not increase materially the total con- 

 tent of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and 

 potash, we are bound to produce in the 

 soil an improved physical condition, de- 

 rived from the addition of humus and 

 certain resultant changes in mechanical 

 structure, such as increased friability 

 and water-retaining capacity, and in- 

 crease^ availability of the plant food 

 elements contained in the soil. 



We know that by the use of the more 

 powerful and more concentrated fertil- 

 izers, such as acid phosphate, bone meal, 

 dried blood, etc., we can add to our soils 

 the three essential elements of plant 

 food in larger quantities and more eco- 

 nomically than we can with animal ma- 

 nures, but commercial fertilizers will 

 not perform the same work and should 

 not be used with a view toward dis- 

 placing entirely the use of animal ma- 

 nure. To the successful grower of to- 

 day both forms of fertilizer are prac^ 

 tically indispensable and they do not 

 conflict with each other, but rather 

 should be used in conjunction with each 

 other, performing other separate offices 

 and aiding each other in the mainte- 

 nance of fertility in the soil. 



Acid Phosphate or Bone Meal? 



Personally, I do not favor the use of 

 acid phosphate in greenhouse soils 

 rather than good grades of bone meal. 

 While bone meal may be slower in ac- 

 tion and, under certain conditions, more 

 dangerous to handle than acid phos- 

 phate, I am of the opinion that phos- 

 phoric acid added to the soil in the form 

 of bone, phosphate of lime, results in 

 more permanent benefit than can be ob- 

 tained through the use of acid phos- 

 phate and there is less danger of the 

 soil breaking down in midseason. 



I am also of the opinion that we un- 

 derestimate the real value of judicious 

 applications of the carbonates of lime 

 throughout the season. It is not only 

 a most valuable neutralizer and pre- 



Chlldren's Garden, Affording a Suggestion for a Window Decoration. 



venter of acidity, but is of great value 

 as an agent in releasing both nitrogen 

 and potash. In certain soils it also pre- 

 vents, to a great extent, a chemical com- 

 bination of phosphoric acid with other 

 elements, such as iron and alumina, 

 which would thereby become unavail- 

 able to plant life. 



A Common Cause of Failure. 



After years of experience in practical 

 growing and the use of fertilizers of all 

 kinds, as well as calling on the trade in 

 the interests of fertilization, I have 

 found that one of the most potent causes 

 of failure in the use of fertilizers is a 

 habit of underestimating the quantity of 

 water required by plants, particularly 

 roses and carnations, during periods of 

 heavy feeding. Plants that are not in 

 a condition of growth to permit liberal 

 watering are in no condition to accept 

 feeding to any great extent. 



Finally, would it not be of inestimable 

 value to growers at large to invite a 

 general discussion among growers re- 

 garding these topics? Many of us are 



confronted with an ever-increasing diffi- 

 culty in obtaining suitable soils. There- 

 fore the conservation of the soils, and 

 getting the most out of our investment 

 in the way of soils and fertilizers, are 

 matters of utmost importance to all of 

 us. H. E. Humiston. 



IDEAS FROM PARK SHOW. 



The semiannual shows at Phippa Con- 

 servatory, in Schenley park, Pittsburgh, 

 where John W. Jones is foreman, al- 

 ways develop somethLog of interest. 

 Big crowds of Pittsburghers are at- 

 tracted and one effect is to deter the 

 trade in Pittsburgh from attempting ♦a 

 large show to which' an admission must 

 be charged. 



In the spring show this year some 

 different ideas were worked out which 

 may be of service to the trade, as they 

 are readily adaptable to use in window 

 decorations. Two views in the conserv- 

 atories are shown in the accompanying 

 illustrations. 



Dutch Garden in a Phipps Conservatory Display, Pittsburgh. 



A'.^i: 



