Febuuaky 13, 1919. 



The Florists^ Review 



15 



House of Poinsettias Grown by F. E. Cremer» Hanover> Pa.f a Highly Profitable Christmas Crop. 



fully answer your inquiry, but perhaps 

 you may get some helpful suggestions 

 from them. C. W. 



PRIME POINSETTIAS. 



To produce first-class poinsettias, not 

 only now and then, hut as a regular pro- 

 gram, is no small achievement ; it is real 

 evidence of the grower's skill. That 

 statement, you say, would be true also 

 of many other kinds of stock. Yes, but 

 it is applicable in a certain i)eculiar sort 

 of way to poinsettias. They are not ex- 

 ceptionally difficult to grow, l)ut they 

 sometimes have an exceptionally sud- 

 den and disconcerting way of express- 

 ing their disapproval of ill-treatment. 

 The\' are prone, in resenting abuse, to 

 act so quickly and decisively as to allow 

 the grower no time for repentance. 



Their favorite manner of showing 

 their resentment is to drop their foliage. 

 Let us watch the poinsettias of the care- 

 less or inexperienced grower. For many 

 days, perhaps, their big, handsome 

 leaves have been the delight of his 

 eyes. Meanwhile, in his own soul, he 

 has "i)ut forth the tender leaves of 

 hope." (No intentional disrespect to 

 Shakespeare.) Rut presently, when 

 the grower thinks, "good ea.sy man," 

 full surely his poinsettias are a-ripening 

 for a glorious Christmas harvest, their 

 leaves begin, mayhap, to fade and fall 

 and his "leaves of hope" do likewise. 



But many poinsettia growers have re- 

 duced their cultural methods to so ex- 

 act a system that there is scarcely any 

 risk of disappointment. They follow a 

 certain well planned routine and — well, 

 they are not quite so confident about the 



future results us an expert baker is 

 about his next batch of bread, but they 

 are as confident as growers ever have 

 a right to be. 



F. E. Cremer, of Hanover, Pa., whose 

 house of 1,600 poinsettias is here 

 pictured, has been a successful grower of 

 the "true Christmas red variety" for 

 many years. He states that this par- 

 ticular houseful, marketed this seasor 

 was one of the best lots he ever grew 

 and "the entire crop graded Xo. 1." 



In his brief letter to The Review, 

 Mr. Cremer does not say a word about 

 the precautions that he takes to guard 

 against failure. Still, it is ])ractice 

 rather than theory that counts in such 

 a matter. Most of us are aware that 

 injudicious watering, especially excess- 

 ive watering in a low temperature, is 

 one of the surest causes of loss of poin- 

 settia foliage. But, then, both exi)eri- 

 ence and discernment are needed in order 

 to determine just what constitutes mod- 

 erate drinking for ])oinsettias. We know 

 that ]i()insettias, since their native home 

 is in tropical Mexico and Central 

 America, prefer a warm atmosphere, 

 around (50 degrees at night. We know, 

 too, that they may remain unharmed in 

 a considerably lower temjjerature than 

 that, if they are com])arativelv dry at 

 the roots, but a combination of wetness 

 and coolness is a sure precursor of yel- 

 low and falling leaves. 



Starvation at the roots also is con- 

 ducive to leaf trouble. In most cases, 

 therefore, moderate doses of weak liquid 

 manure once in four or five days are 

 necessary in the later stages of poin- 

 settia culture. A small proportion of 

 soot in this liquid has an excellent ef- 

 fect. But, as too generous an allowance 

 of liquid manure may be as injurious 



as an oversupply of water, it is impor- 

 tant to have the compost sufficiently 

 nourishing at the start. Some growers 

 think that top-dressings of cow manure 

 are safer and more efficacious as extra 

 food for poinsettias than are applica- 

 tions of manure water. 



BUSINESS EMBABBASSMENTS. 



New York, N. Y. — Herman Brauch, 

 residing at 18 East One Hundred Sixth 

 street, has filed a petition in bankruptcy 

 with liabilities of $4,813 and no assets. 

 Among the largest creditors are F. 

 Wayner's Son, $1,248; W. Wilson, $400, 

 and John Schneider, $358. 



BBIEF ANSWEBS. 



A. J. D. & C, la.— We don't know 

 what you mean by window display al- 

 bum. 



L. C, N. C. — ^Dreer and Michell are 

 representative dealers. 



H. & S., Pa. — Valley pips will not 

 force a second year; you might plant 

 them outdoors. 



H. N., Mass. — Cucumber growing has 

 been covered many times in The Re- 

 view; see October 24 and leading article 

 January 3, 1918, and succeeding articles. 

 Send stamps for replies by mail. 



North East, Pa.— F. E. Selkregg says 

 he spent a most profitable time at the 

 carnation convention, although ill able 

 to spare the time, owing to sickness in 

 the family. From present appearances, 

 it will be a difficult task to grow the 

 desired number of vegetable and other 

 plants, the demand for which has fairly 

 jumped of late. 



r\ 



