January 18, 1917. 



The Florists^ Review 



19 



choose? 

 German, 

 rian, or 

 to have 



Mr. Harrison has given us a good 

 argument in favor of the iris. It cer- 

 tainly is a beautiful flower, and the 

 new ones are most gorgeous. But I 

 am led to ask, which one shall we 

 Our own dainty blue, or the 

 or the English, or the Sibe- 

 some other? Ought we not 

 as the national flower some- 

 thing that stands for one thing, or 

 one type, all over this great country 

 of ours? While the iris is a most beau- 

 tiful flower when properly handled, how 

 long would it last in a procession where 

 enthusiasm runs rampant, as on holi- 

 days or gala days It seems to me some- 

 thing is needed that the children espe- 

 cially can carry and wave to their 

 hearts' content, and that will stand 

 some grief at such times. We want all 

 the bright colors, as well as the old 

 red, white and blue, and something that 

 will be an inspiration to everyone that 

 sees the emblem; something that will 

 make a person hurrah for tlie stars and 

 stripes and the country that stands be- 

 hind them. 



Every other nation of any prominence 

 has its national flower, and America 

 will have its in due time. In order 

 not to be compelled to choose some- 

 thing of mediocre value, or not worthy 

 the honor, let us discuss the subject in 

 a fair, open manner. By so doing we 

 shall obtain the best opinion of all, and 

 secure what is really the best when the 

 opportune time shall come to make the 

 decision. And there is no class of men 

 in the United States better able to han- 

 dle such a discussion than the florists 

 of America. 



Suitability of the Gladiolus. 



Seldom, if ever, is the first selection 

 in any discussion given the honor of 

 the field, but this one, that one, or the 

 other one, after days and sometimes 

 years of discussion, is chosen. All hail 

 to the flower that finally secures the 

 honor! All hail to the one flower ca- 

 ])able of filling every niche and corner 

 of our united country! All hail to the 

 gladiolus, the only flower that meets 

 every requirement! Men, women and 

 children can wave it in triumph in city, 

 town and country all over this broad 

 land, and each answering wave will 

 bring a<lded enthusiasm, till procession 

 and curbstone, hall and home, school 

 and church will be ablaze with the 

 flower for the millions, the one the mil- 

 lions love. All hail to the gladiolus, 

 America's national flower! 



The gladiolus is a showy flower. It 

 can be seen and recognized farther than 

 any other flower. When handled by 

 everybody and in no careful way, the 

 gladiolus will stand the strain better 

 than any known flower in cultivation. 

 A spike of flowers from one to two feet 

 in length, carrying its own staff, or 

 handle if you wisli, so that it can be 

 Avavcd back and fortii, as it surely will 

 need to be, with colors that cannot be 

 beaten in any other family of plants- 

 such a combination of suitable quali- 

 ties will not be downed. When the pub- 

 lic fully recognizes the value of the gla- 

 diolus, I believe it will ])e chosen as 

 the best representative in the floral king- 

 <lom to maintain the honor that surely 

 will be ascribed to America's national 

 flower. 



Effect on Trade Interests. 



liet the florists and growers of gla- 

 <lioli unite, and at home, in clubs, in 

 <'onventions and everywhere boost the 



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AND WHY I 



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GRANT A. KIMMELL. 



A CHARTER member of the Tennessee State Florists' Association, second vice- 

 president during the society's first year and then vice president for Hamilton 

 county— in such unhesitating, whole-souled way did Grant A. Kininiell give him- 

 self to the support of the new organization. And in giving himself he gave to 

 the society the benefit of the executive ability, enterprise and varied experience 

 that are indicated in this summary of his career: Born in Noble county, Indiana, 

 June 30, 1865; in 1898 started greenhouses at Albion, Ind.; sold these three years 

 later and worked for the Johnson Floral Co., at Kendallville, Ind.; in 1904 removed 

 to Chattanooga, Tenn., and took charge, for four years, of the W. F. Haeger busi- 

 ness; entered,' the service of the city and constructed the new Warner park, com- 

 j)leting it in two years; established the greenhouses at Forest Hills cemetery and 

 conducted them for several years; returned to the W. F. Ilaeger place, where he 

 now is manager. 



gladiolus to the licad of the column of 

 aspirants. Let tiiis grand old flower, 

 that cannot be beaten for beauty and 

 grace, represent America on every ban- 

 ner that waves in ])rocession, hall or 

 ])ublic meeting associated with any 

 jiatriotic ]iurpose. 



While tiie jirofitable end is not to 

 be the first consideration, it would apply 

 to any flower chosen. It is no small 

 part of the ])rogram, for our particular 

 trade and ])rofession. The selection of 

 tiie gladiolus would impart an impetus 

 to the planting of the bulbs in quan- 

 tity, so that flowers might he ha<l for 

 all j)urposes, and thousands would thus 

 be used where now but tens or hundreds 

 are planted. 



We cannot find a better niodiuin tlian 

 The Review in wiiich to commence the 

 l)ropaganda, and the call is made to all 

 lovers of this grand old flower to put 

 in their claims for consideration. »Wakc 

 up, growers, and give the world your 



argument in favor of the gladiolus as 

 America's national flower. 



E. S. Thompson. 



CYCLAMEN MITE. 



Tnder separate cover I am mailing 

 a cvclamen plant. Please advise me 

 what is wrong with it, the cause and 

 the remedy. 1 liave had (piite a little 

 trouble with my cyclamens in this way 

 for the last two vears. 



P. L. W.— Mich. 



The plant is affectetl with cyclamen 

 mite, for which there is no real cure. 

 The roots were rotted also, as if from 

 an oversujiply of water. I would ad- 

 vise you to drop cyclamen culture for 

 a year. Nicotine sprayings have helpeil 

 to fight mite in some cases, but they 

 cannot be considered a complete rem- 

 edy. Mite annuailv wipes out many 

 plants. " C. W. 



