40 



The Florists^ Review 



Deckmbbr 14, 1916. 



shifted later, as circumstances appear 

 to demand. 



' ' In the production of exhibition flow- 

 ers, " continued Mr. Pockett, "cuttings 

 are put into a bed, as described, with 

 tlie exception that there is one and one- 

 half inches of sand on top instead of an 

 eighth of an inch. The cuttings are in- 

 serted in August or September. In a 

 situation with an easterly aspect there 

 is no necessity for a glass covering. 



Growing Exhibition Flowers. 



' ' In raised beds tlie drainage is more 

 perfect than in level areas. Hardwood 

 boards six inches deep and an inch 

 thick, on the sides and ends, will make 

 a bed two feet six inches or three feet 

 in width, and as long as is considered 

 necessary. This affords ample space for 



two rows of plants. The plants may be 

 fifteen inches or eighteen inches apart 

 in the rows, and a similar distance may 

 separate the rows. Rather heavy soil 

 gives the petals better substance than 

 light loam. 



"To get the best results, the flower 

 buds of each variety must be selected 

 at the proper time. In ordinary sea- 

 sons, the bud of William Turner is 

 taken about February 16. Growers must 

 bear in mind that the doubling of petals 

 is controlled largely by the earliness of 

 the bud. As against this, however, it 

 requires to be pointed out that those 

 which are naturally late, with a com- 

 paratively full flower on late buds, are 

 usually a failure if selected on early 

 buds. ' ' 



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To Keep Poinsettias from Wilting. 



The question is frequently asked how 

 to prevent cut poinsettias from wilting. 

 Where they are benched, it is a good 

 plan to lower the temperature a little 

 before cutting is done. This helps to 

 harden them. Have a pail of water at 

 as near the boiling point as possible 

 to dip the ends of the shoots in as they 

 are cut, to stanch the bleeding, or the 

 ends can be seared with a red-hot iron 

 or coal. If the ends are not seared, the 

 bracts are pretty sure to wilt. Stand 

 the cut poinsettias in deep vases of 

 water. Wrap up the foliage in sheets 

 of soft paper before immersing. Do 

 not place them in an. ordinary refriger- 

 ator. This is too cold; 4.5 to 50 degrees 

 suits them better. 



Camellias. 



It is good to see how camellias, tlio 



old-time favorites, have come again. 

 More than ever they are being offered 

 this Christmas. Great care is needed 

 when packing these to protect the flow- 

 ers with cotton wool and tissue paper 

 to prevent bruising. These plants dis- 

 like warm treatment. Grow them cool, 

 with plenty of air, and well exposed 

 to the light, or it will be but a short 

 time until all the buds have dropped. 



Ericas. 



Ericas stand quite cold treatment 

 with impunity. They have one grand 

 point in their favor, viz.: when the 

 flowers fade they do not fall off. The 

 ])lants withstand the dry, overheated 

 conditions of the living room better 

 than most others. Be sure that they do 

 not suffer from want of water. Ericas, 

 in common with azaleas, boronias and 

 other hard-wooded plants, have fine. 



hairlike roots and a thorough . drying 

 out will mean loss of vitality if not 

 death. 



Protecting Outdoor Boses. 



It now is time to give the necessary 

 winter protection to outdoor roses, or, 

 as they are usually called, hardy roses. 

 However, these are not hardy in the 

 same degree as lilacs, peonies, phloxes 

 or German irises. A few varieties may 

 be exceptions, but the overwhelming 

 majority are likely to be winter-killed 

 in our northerly states unless they are 

 carefully protected. There is no better 

 covering for hybrid teas and hybrid 

 perpetuals than earth drawn up about 

 the stems before the ground freezes. 

 Over this a coating of strawy manure 

 can be placed. Cut back any long 

 shoots somewhat and pull the plants 

 together with soft twine before cover- 

 ing them. 



In extremely cold latitudes I would 

 advise lifting and storing hybrid teas 

 in coldframes or a cold cellar, or even 

 burying them outdoors in any well 

 draiiied piece of ground. The same 

 process should be followed with the 

 standard or tree roses. Rambler roses, 

 where liable to winter-kill, should be 

 cut loose, laid down and covered with 

 leaves or some other mulch. If this is 

 done they will winter in fine shape. 



Erlangea Tomentosa. 



Erlangea tomentosa is one of the fin- 

 est additions to winter-flowering plants 

 we have had of late years. E. tomen- 

 tosa, while a native of tropical Africa, 

 flourishes splendidly in a cool green- 

 house, succeeding as well in a minimum 

 of 45 degrees as in one 5 degrees 

 warmer. It is closely allied to eupa- 

 toriums; in fact, the pretty mauve 

 heads of flowers are suggestive of both 

 eupatoriums and agexatums. The foli- 

 age is sweetly scented and the flowers 

 themselves have a pleasing odor. Its 

 value as a cut flower I have yet to 

 prove, but there is no question as to its 

 value as a pot plant. It is of rapid 

 growth and cuttings taken as late as 

 •inly 1 have made bushy plants in 6- 

 inch and 7-inch pots. The plants flower 

 for several months and can be had for 

 Thanksgiving, Christmas or later, ac- 

 cording to how late the pinching is 

 continued. This new plant is worthy 

 the attention of all florists who make 

 a specialty of pot plants. 



Euphorbia Jacquinlseflora. 



Euphorbia jacquinlseflora, the beauti- 

 ful Christmas plant, now is opening its 

 flowers. It likes a sunny house and a 

 temperature of 5.5 degrees at night; 

 also, it prefers a somewhat dry at- 

 mosphere. While less common than the 

 poinsettia, which also is a euphorbia 

 botanically, its long, arching shoots, 

 closely clustered with rich, orange-red 

 flowers, are attractive and the market 

 is insufficiently supplied with it. A 

 common error is to dry off the stock 

 plants like the common poinsettia. If 

 this is done the plants are sure to die. 

 Keep them moderately dry, but not 

 (lust-dry, after flowering. 



Charles H. Totty. W. Wells, now doceased. Thomas W. Pockett 



The Only Meeting of this International Triumvirate. 



THE GLADIOLUS SOCIETY. 



A vote by mail taken by the mem- 

 bers of the American Gladiolus Society 

 has resulted in the selection, by a large 

 majority, of New York city as the 

 place for the 1917 exhibition and busi- 

 ness convention. Secretary Henry You- 

 ell, of Syracuse, N. Y., advises that 

 the exhibition will be held in the Mu- 



