78 



The Florists' Review 



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Pacific Coast Department 



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Eugene, Ore. — David Masterton, who 

 has had charge of the greenhouses and 

 grounds of the State Agricultural Col- 

 lege for seven and a half years, intends 

 to engage in the ^crista' business here. 

 Mr. Masterton is exceptionally well pre- 

 pared for this venture, having been in- 

 terested in horticulture from his youth. 

 He gained a practical knowledge of 

 gardening as an apprentice to the trade 

 in Scotland. 



OYPSOFHILA. 



We would like to secure stock of the 

 variety of gypsophila which waa largely 

 grown in the west for the cut flower 

 markets last summer. We have planted 

 several trials of seeds, but none were 

 the desired kind and no one has offered 

 stock of gypsophila in The Review. In- 

 formation on its habits and history, and 

 where stock, either of seeds or plants, 

 can be obtained, will be appreciated. 

 Leading articles in The Beview on vari- 

 ous plants have been helpful and we 

 would like to suggest another on the 

 subject of gypsophila. V. S. G. — ^Mo. 



There are two kinds of gypsophila 

 that are largely grown in the west for 

 commercial purposes. One is G. pani- 

 culata, the other is G. cleans. G. pani- 

 culata is a perennial plant, easily grown 

 from seed. It produces thick rootstocks 

 and the flowers are small and long last- 

 ing. The effect of the large panicles is 

 misty and elegant, giving rise to the 

 name, "baby's breath." Seed of G. 

 paniculata should be obtained at once 

 and sown in flats or on a bench of light 

 soil, to which a little old lime or sifted 



glaster and leaf -mould has been added, 

 (over lightly and when the seedlings 

 are large enough to handle, prick them 

 out separately, two inches apart, in 

 frames or flats. When the leaves touch, 

 the plants should either be potted or 

 placed in their permanent flowering 

 quarters, a sunny southern aspect being 

 best for them. Two feet apart in the 

 rows and the rows three feet apart is a 

 good rule for distance. The only after- 

 treatment necessary is frequent culti- 

 vation. The plants will flower freely 

 the second year. This gypsophila al- 

 ways brings a high price in the market, 

 owing to its superior qualities as noted 

 above. 



G. elegans is a totally different plant 

 from the above. It is always treated 

 as an annual and the mode of culture 

 followed is to sow the seed thinly in 

 drills two feet apart. The seed is cheap 

 and germinates freely, so that sometimes 

 a little thinning may be necessary. It 

 is not particular as to soil, but in a 

 warm, light medium the plants come 

 to maturity more quickly than under 

 opposite conditions and as a result more 

 sowings may be made during the season. 

 In southern California growers sow 

 the seed at all times of the year and, by 

 lightly fertilizing and liming, use the 

 same ground over and over again, mak- 

 ing this a remunerative crop. In colder 

 districts from spring to early autumn 

 would be the only time to sow. G. 

 elegans is much softer in texture than 

 G. paniculata and bears larger, pure 



white flowers, those of paniculata being 

 grayish. 



G. elegans does not last so well as 

 paniculata and therefore sells for a 

 lower price, but it is so much more 

 quickly and easily grown that it is gen- 

 erally more profitable. Btill, an acre or 

 two of good, well established G. pani- 

 culata is a mighty good asset to any 

 florist. There is also a double form of 

 paniculata and a rosy pink "gyp" that 

 is more or less grown, but the two kinds 

 mentioned above are the best for gen- 

 eral use. H. B. Bichards. 



LOS ANGELES. 



The Market. 



A considerable falling off in funeral 

 work has been noted this week and as 

 this has constituted the bulk of the 

 business for some time, retailers found 

 themselves with more time on their 

 hands than has been the case of late. 

 The rains, while a great blessing to the 

 country generally, have had the effect 

 of spoiling much of the outdoor stock 

 for shipping long distances; but this 

 will be only a temporary trouble and 

 the plants eventually will benefit. 



The price of good indoor carnations 

 holds up well, but field-grown stock 

 varies from day to day, sometimes go- 

 ing low. Boses are not too plentiful 

 and the demand takes care of them. 

 Violets are in good condition and were 

 plentiful enough to insure big business 

 St. Valentine's day. Orchids, too, are 

 fairly plentiful and they are always in 

 big demand on this occasion. Sweet 

 peas are coming in fine shape, but are 

 not plentiful. Daffodils are scarcer 



than for years. Excellent Boman hya- 

 cinths are being sent in from the Glen- 

 dale neighborhood. Although grown 

 outside, they have stems from nine 

 inches to a foot in length. Erica melan- 

 thera of fine color is arriving and 

 continues to meet with a good demand 

 as a cut flower. Good plants also are 

 offered. Potted cyclamens are es- 

 pecially fine. The northern growers are 

 helping out local supplies. 



Ferns are still good and some bright 

 red Japanese azaleas help the display. 

 Wild greens, such as huckleberry and 

 ferns, keep getting scarcer and various 

 other local shrubs are being used. 

 Among these are buddleia, cassia, 

 eucalyptus, leptospermum and the vari- 

 ous peaches, plums and acacias. 



Various Notes. 



J. W. Welters is reducing the size of 

 his store front in order to save on the 

 expense of display, which, with the two 

 large windows, was great. Some charm- 

 ing spring baskets and fine plants of 

 Erica melanthera are shown here. 



Gustav Teufel, of Portland, Ore., re- 

 turned home this week after a long visit 

 in California, which included the prin- 

 cipal towns. He purchased a good deal 

 of stock and seemed especially inter- 

 ested in strawflowers. 



George Boeding, of the Fancher Creek 

 and California Nurseries, is in town 

 this week. 



The first of Fischer 's beautiful hybrid 

 freesias were shown at the store of W. 

 Armacost & Co. the other day, the col- 

 ors being delightful. In an announce- 

 ment sent out by this progressive firm 

 it is stated that from now on Mr. Anna- 



CTOCK of all kinds is com- 



ing in fine shape now 



and we are especially strong 



on Daffodils and Violets. 



L. A. FLORAL CO. 



FRED SPERRY, Manager 



236 E. Fourth St., LOS ANGELES, CAL. 



Long Distance Phone, Pico 518 



Mention The BcTlew when jon writ*. 



-WHOLESALE EVERGREENS- 



OarUnd RoDins, Hollyberry. EnsUsh Holly. Cal. Pepper Boughs, Desert Holly, Smilaz. 

 Asparagus plumosus. Huckleberry, Hard and Soft Brake, Maidenhair, Mexican Ivy and 

 all other classes of evergreens and similar stock. 



For best prices, write 

 TASSANO BROS., 422 South WaU Street, Los Angeles, Cal. 



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