Deckmbeu 12, 1918. 



The Florists^ Review 



21 



all Christmas 

 It is not so 



flowers and sometimes death to the 

 plants, in addition, so be sure that you 

 iiurefully watch such plants, and if, wlien 

 you tap the ])()ts with the knuckles, there 

 is a clear, bell-like rinj^, soak the pots 

 in a pail of water. 



Poinsettias. 



The most brilliant of 

 flowers is the poinsettia. 

 easy to grow as some other plants for 

 the holiday season, and, being more sus- 

 ceptible to cold than almost any other 

 ])lant, it needs careful wrapping when 

 the temperature is low. It is dangerous 

 to move poinsettias from a warm to a 

 cool house. Let the temperatures be 

 reduced gradually or j-ou are sure to lose 

 a good deal of foliage and a poinsettia 

 minus leaves reminds one of a Scotch- 

 man with attenuated kilts; neither is 

 attractive. Probably poinsettias will sell 

 sluggishly if the weather chances to be 

 severe at the holidays. People fight shy 

 of them when we have such climatic 

 conditions. So if you seem likely to 

 be long on plants, cut off and sell the 

 stalks, but do not fail to sear the cuts 

 either with boiling water or hot cinders 

 to stop the bleeding, or the bracts are 

 sure to flop. It is best to wrap some 

 soft paper around the foliage of each 

 stalk and merely leave part of the bract 

 exjioscd before placing in water, and 

 do not place them in as low a tempera- 

 ture as you would cut carnations, roses 

 or mums. I find they keep best when 

 the thermometer holds about 50 degrees. 



Berried Plants. 



We are not dependent on European 

 importations for our small berried plants 

 for Christmas, although we shall miss 

 the handsome English hollies, aucubas 

 and skimmias of other years and these 

 latter we cannot produce at home. How- 

 ever, we shall have an abundance of 

 berried solanums, or Jerusalem cherries, 

 which are of the easiest possible cul- 

 ture and rarely fail to fruit abundantly. 

 This plant appeals to the buyer of mod- 

 erate means and makes a bright and at- 

 tractive Christmas plant.. You need not 

 worry about your solanums, even if they 

 should be exposed to a little frost, as it 

 will not harm them. Then, for those 

 with larger purses, we have the ardisias, 

 and what wonderful keepers they arel 

 Their foliage and berries both, even 

 under careless treatment, will persist 

 for months. Otaheite oranges with rijie 

 fruit make a splendid holiday plant 

 and if, as occasionally ha])pens, the 

 idants at the same time have one or two 

 llowers open, it enhances their value, 

 for who can resist the delightful odor 

 of orringo blossoms? All the fruiting 

 plants will keep well in a temperature 

 just clear of freezing. 



Primulas. 



The primula familv is one of impor- 

 tance at Christmas.' We have three 

 I'rincipal varieties, P. chinensis, P. ob 

 'omca and P. malacoides. The Chinese 

 1-rimroses drop their flowers more easily 

 than obconica and malacoides, are brit- 

 tle and for that reason are j)racticallv 

 '" the discard. Thev make a splendid 



i"iis(. plant, however, and will bloom 

 t'T months if kept moderately cool. P. 

 olK'onica continues to frightoii some re- 

 tailers, who absolutely refuse to handle 

 It. as its foliage poisons some people. 



Uns is regrettable, as obconica as now 

 f^een is wonderfully improved in size, 

 <-<nur and substance, as compared with 

 a (locade ago, and it comes in extremelv 

 colors. It is a good plant for 



WHO'S WHO Kl- AND WHY 



PHILIP F. KESSLER. 



pilILIP F. KHSSLKR, president of the New York l-'lorists" ('Uili for the ensuing 

 ^ year, is well and favoralily known to the trade in \ew York. Mr. Kessler cele- 

 brated his forty-fifth hirtlniay at tlie meeting of the clnl> NdVcmlier 11. lie was born 

 in New York city. Conceiving a liking for tlie lloiists' business, he eventually went 

 to Bridgeport, Conn., where he served an apprenticeship with Jolm Keck & Son. Ke- 

 turning to New York, he hecame coniu'cted with tlie New York Cut Flower Exchange, 

 soon being ai)pointe(l manager. In 1!)().") he einliarkcil in Imsiness for himself. He 

 has built a large and ]H(isper(His trade entirely tlirougli his own efforts. He is a hard 

 worker, generally to be found at his post at 4 a. m., and continuing there until evening. 

 Possessed of a cheerful disposition and clianning personality, he has endeared himself 

 to a host of friends, lie is ha|ii)ily married ami tli<' proud father of three daughters 

 and two sons. 



rich 



store traile and is especially good in 

 window boxes. P. mal;icoides, a glori- 

 fied baby jirimrose in ai>i>earance, h;is 

 come raj)idly to the front of late. It 

 is by far the most graceful of all the 

 l>riniroses and can be had in fairly gooil 

 Idoom in December. To see it at its 

 best, however, we must wait a month or 

 six weeks, but malacoides, esjiecially 

 the dwarf bright ]iink forms, is a 

 grand acquisition. Pe sure to water it 

 carefully and pour the water in at the 

 sides and not in the center of the jHits. 

 If water is poured over the crown it is 

 likely to cause d.'imping off; Iherefore, 

 guard against this carefully. 



Hard-Wooded Plants. 



Hard-wooded plants, apart from aza- 

 leas, hel]i out the v;iriety of Christmas 

 offerings. Chief among these are the 

 ericas, especially E. nudanthi'ia, always 

 dejiendable and a wonderful keejter, pro- 

 vided its roots do not become drv. This 



erica is of easy propagation auil can 

 he jiroduceil abundantly at home. 

 Other heathers, including the long tubed 

 French hybrids, will be obtainable in 

 small lots and appeal to critical buy- 

 ers. Tiien we liav(> the camellias, which 

 have come into their own in great meas- 

 ure again. Wiiat more attractive holi- 

 day plant could there be than a camel- 

 lia with several open flowers and buds 

 showing ('(dor to f(dlow .' He sure to 

 protect all flowers well when ])aeking 

 up, as camidlia jicfals are easily bruised. 



Euphorbia and Orchids. 



Kujdiorbia jaciininiadlora in pans, sev- 

 eral jdants together, makes a grand 

 Christmas plant. Only a few growers 

 understand how to propagate, grow and 

 tlower if j)roperly. If will never he n 

 cheaji jdant, but is a briili;int and at- 

 tractive one .nnd the flowers last a long 

 time fresh. Cypripedium insigne an(l 

 the golden Sandera' are most satisfac- 



