March 22. 1917. 



The Florists^ Review 



43 



for California, to attend to the com- 

 pany's calla and freesia bulbs for next 

 June and later deliveries. On account of 

 the constantly increasing business, the 

 office force has been enlarged. 



The directors of the National Associa- 

 tion of Gardeners met here March 16, 

 ex-President J. A. Everitt in the chair. 

 Twelve members were present. It was 



decided to have the national conven- 

 tion the first week in December at 

 Chicago. 



William Lackey, superintendent of 

 the Guggenheim estate at Long Branch. 

 L. I., was killed March 10 by two va- 

 grants, whom he was ejecting from the 

 grounds. The slayers escaped. 



J. Austin Shaw. 



I I IBIII I IIIII I II II IIIIIIII^ 



SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS 

 FOR SOUTHERN FLORISTS 



CARNATIONS IN THE SOUTH. 



The first requisite in planting out is 

 to have the ground in first-class shape 

 for the purpose. Two systems are fa- 

 vored and both are good. Some growers 

 plow the field in the fall and leave it 

 in the rough all winter, so that the 

 frost will get a chance to disintegrate 

 it. Another, and, I think, a better way, 

 is to sow the field down with a cover 

 crop, such as red clover or rye, and turn 

 it under at the spring plowing. This 

 plan has the advantage of adding fiber 

 and humus to the soil, which, in the 

 south, is deficient in both, and no manure 

 is required, although a dressing of fine 

 bone or commercial guano will give 

 added benefits. The soil in most of the 

 carnation belt in the south is of rather 

 a stiff texture and must not be too wet 

 when worked. Where the soil is of a 

 light and sandy nature the moisture is 

 not likely to be bothersome. After 

 plowing, the field should be thoroughly 

 disked, going over it often enough to 

 pulverize the big lumps. This should 

 be followed with a smoothing harrow. 

 The whole must be quite fine, to enable 

 the young plants to make a good start. 



Where ground is not plentiful the 

 plants ean be set out, 6x8 inches, in beds 

 four feet wide, with an 18-inch walk 

 between each bed. The soil in these 

 walks should be dug out and thrown on 

 the beds, rounding them up to shed 

 water on both sides. A depth of two 

 or three inches is all that need be dug 

 out. Such beds, of course, can only be 

 worked with a small hand cultivator. 



When plants are to be worked with a 

 wheel cultivator the rows should be six- 

 teen to eighteen inches apart and the 

 plants eight to ten inches apart in the 

 rows. In setting the plants out it is 

 better to have the balls just a trifle 

 above rather than below the surface. 

 The plants should be well watered before 

 being set out and if you are fortunate 

 enough to get a good shower immediate- 

 ly after planting, the most critical stage 

 is past. A sprinkling system is really a 

 necessity in many states in the south 

 which are deficient in rainfall during 

 early and midsummer months. Such a 

 system is a money-making investment. 



ST. Loxns. 



The Market. 



Considering that we are in the midst 

 of the Lenten season, the market 

 showed a lot of activity all last week, 

 ^ome days the trade was really rushing. 

 Stock of all kinds was plentiful and all 

 orders could be filled. All of our local 

 growers are in full crop. 



During the week we found the rose 



crop becoming more plentiful and some 

 fine Ophelia, Russell, Sunburst and Kil- 

 larneys, for which the demand was 

 large, were seen daily. Carnations are 

 abundant in all varieties. Whites had 

 a big call March 15 to 17 for greening 

 for St. Patrick's day and the price 

 jumped to $4 per hundred on extra 

 choice. In other colors $3 per hundred 

 was the price. Sweet peas are coming 

 in well and an abundance of fancy 

 Spencers is seen daily. There is an 

 overproduction of the common sorts, 

 which have little demand, and sell cheap 

 in thousand lots. The bulbous stock is 

 at its height. Jonquils, Von Sions, val- 

 ley, callas, tulips and Dutch hyacinths 

 are abundant. There will be plenty of 

 Easter lilies from now on. 



The shortage in plumosus and Spren- 

 geri causes a big demand for other 

 greens. Wild smilax sold well last 

 week. 



Various Notes. 



G. A. Knapp, of Nevada, Mo., presi- 

 dent of the Missouri State Florists' As- 

 sociation, was a visitor at the big show 

 last week. Mr. Knapp says the State 

 Florists' Association is in good shape 

 and expects a large attendance at the 

 annual meeting at Columbia, Mo., in 

 August. 



Chas. Meier, of Kirkwood, Mo., is 

 bringing in some superb Spencer peas 



and carnations. The peas are grown 

 cooler than with the majority of the 

 growers and possess great substance. 



James North has a pretty flower store 

 at the old stand vacated by Alex. John- 

 son at the loop in Wellston. Mr. North 

 reports that business lias been great all 

 this month, especially in funeral work. 



H. J. Weber & Sons Nursery Co. has 

 issued the annual spring catalogue 

 known as the Weber Guide. Frank 

 Weber says advance orders will keep 

 an extra force busy when the weather 

 permits digging. 



Young Bros. Floral Co., on Waterman 

 avenue, and Sanders Nurseries Co., on 

 Clara avenue, have pretty blooming dis- 

 plays in their big show houses. They 

 report good business and an excellent 

 demand for plants of all kinds. 



The volume of mail orders coming 

 to the St. Louis Seed Co., C. Young & 

 Sons Co. and Schisler-Corneli Seed Co. 

 last week, for seeds, bulbs and plants, 

 indicates a busy season. The fine 

 weather last week stimulated trade. 



Ostertag Bros, report a great deal of 

 decorating work for spring openings. 

 J. J. Burke, in charge of the cut flow- 

 er department, says business is excep- 

 tionally good in his department, con- 

 sidering the Lentan season. 



The Lady Florists' Home Circle held 

 its regular monthly meeting at the home 

 of Mrs. Theodore Miller, on Delmar ave- 

 nue, March 14. For the April meeting, 

 Mrs. J. J. Beneke will entertain the 

 circle at her home, 3648 Humphrey 

 street. 



In the stores of the leading downtown 

 florists we see some pretty window dis- 

 plays, especially those of the Mullan- 

 phy Flower Co., Grimm & Gorly and 

 F. J. Foster. They say that transient 

 business during the last week was large, 

 special sales being on for each day. 



The South Grand avenue florists say 

 that the Lenten season has made little 

 difference to them. M. Eggeling, 

 Windier 's Flowers, C. E. Schoenle, C. 

 Bergstermann and Chas. Beyer have at- 

 tractive window displays daily. 



J. J. B. 



Hydrangea E. G. Hill. 



