12 



The Florists' Review 



January 23, 1919. 



narcissi, since they may be considered 

 a good type or example of spring flow- 

 ers in general. Besides, a display that 

 consists principally of one sort of flow- 

 ers, such as narcissi, is much more dis- 

 tinctive, attractive and convincing than 

 is a miscellaneous lot of flowers. The 

 miscellaneous lot has no theme, no motif, 

 no clear meaning. The passer-by be- 

 comes hopelessly lost as he looks at it — 

 if, indeed, he stops to look. There is 

 so much to see that he sees nothing. 

 A narcissus window, therefore, is much 

 more effective than is a window that 

 can be described only as a flower win- 

 dow. 



Enlightening and Alluring. 



One of the artistic uses that can be 

 made of narcissi is shown in the illus- 

 tration on the preceding page. The il- 

 lustration may either be helpful in the 

 actual arrangement of a table decora- 

 tion or may serve as a suggestion for a 

 window display. 



Florists' windows should enlighten, as 

 well as allure, the observer. Many peo- 

 ple have only the haziest ideas of the 

 uses of flowers. They scarcely know 

 what flowers are for and are sadly in 

 need of the right kind of object lessons 

 on the subject. 



A florist, therefore, has not taken the 

 greatest possible advantage of the sea- 

 son's opportunities if he has merely 

 filled some storage jars with spring flow- 

 ers and has set the loaded receptacles 

 primly in a row, as evidence, unobtru- 

 sive and mere matter-of-fact evidence, 

 that the stock is on hand if anybody is 

 searching for it. If a florist is so sit- 

 uated — perhaps he is — that he can get 



plenty of patronage with no further ef- 

 fort than that, he is fortunate. But 

 if he is always on the outlook for more 

 business, as most florists are, he will try 

 to give some clear indication of the 

 unique possibilities of spring flowers, as 

 used in bouquets, corsages, decorations, 

 etc. 



Harmony Without Monotony. 



The colors, though harmonious, should 

 have a certain degree of distinctness. 

 The adept — only the adept, who knows 

 exactly how to do the trick without run- 

 ning too much risk — may create a strik- 

 ing and fine effect by putting in a 

 touch or two of bright color that al- 

 most clashes, just as the accomplished 

 musician frequently introduces a near- 

 discord, a dissonance or "harmonic dis- 

 cord," which is the most brilliant and 

 delightful of harmonies. 



Some of the flowers may be displayed, 

 of course, in suitably colored baskets, 

 tastefully bedecked with the proper 

 spring accessories, including butterflies 

 or humming birds, or other realistic 

 symbols of spring life and activity. An 

 artistic basket, skillfully used, adds 

 much more than its own cost to the 

 selling price of the flowers. In such 

 displays it is advisable to use low bas- 

 kets, with low handles and tin contain- 

 ers, so that all the stems may be in 

 water. Perhaps it is scarcely necessary 

 to say that the ribbon should be at- 

 tached in such a way as to appear to 

 serve a pi'actical purpose in fastening 

 some parts of the combination together. 

 The ribbon is in danger of seeming out 

 of place, a mere intruder or "hanger- 

 on," unless it conveys the illusion of 

 being useful as well as ornamental. 



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SEASONABLE ^ 

 <^ SUGGESTIONS 



SNAPDEAQONS. 



The cut of flowers from snapdragons 

 is now at its lowest ebb. There are one 

 or two winter-blooming varieties that 

 are fairly dependable, but we are yet 

 seeking a true midwinter-blooming race 

 which will bloom as do carnations and 

 violets. Such antirrhinums are sure to 

 come before long, however, and even as 

 it is we can get fairly good returns from 

 the various popular indoor varieties now 

 on the market. You cannot force snaps, 

 as the markets commonly term them. A 

 winter minimum of 45 degrees is better 

 than 50 degrees. Let the plants in beds 

 or benches dry out well between water- 

 ings and damp the foliage as little as 

 possible. Rust and stem-rot are liable 

 to become troublesome now, especially 

 where the plants were grown from cut- 

 tings instead of seed. A fairly dry 

 atmosphere, plenty of fresh air and the 

 removal of diseased plants as soon as 

 detected, are advised. For plants 

 benched in August, which have now 

 filled the benches with roots, a top- 

 dressing of fine, well decayed manure 

 will now prove beneficial. This is pref- 

 erable to liquid manure. Sow a batch 

 of seed now, if you want an indoor crop 

 for Memorial day and through the 

 month of June. The intermediate types 

 are best and some fine sorts are to be 



had which have been raised in America 

 and have proved their value for green- 

 liouse culture. 



IVY-LEAVED GERANIUMS. 



All the ivy-leaved geraniums make 

 grand plants for baskets and there can 

 be no better time than the present for 

 filling these. Especially fine varieties 

 for baskets are Souv. de Charles Turner, 

 Achievement, Ryecroft's Surprise and 

 Colonel Baden Powell. A temperature 

 of 50 degrees at night and full sun will 

 suit these ivy-leaved geraniums in bas- 

 kets. While fuchsias prefer some shade 

 during their blooming period, the gera- 

 niums succeed better in brighter loca- 

 tions. 



AZAIiEA MOLLIS. 



There will be few plants of Azalea 

 indica for Easter, 1919, but Azalea 

 mollis from home-grown stock is avail- 

 able and makes a most desirable pot 

 plant. It sells well much earlier than 

 Easter and, started now, can be had in 

 bloom within fifty or sixty days. It 

 can be forced fairly hard, but as the 

 flowers open a somewhat lower tempera- 

 ture is desirable, to give them substance. 

 In Azalea mollis there are some beauti- 

 ful colors that are not found in A. in- 



dica, such as golden yellow, orange and 

 reddish orange, and any of these de- 

 ciduous shrubs appeal much to buyers 

 when winter has been with us for some 

 time. 



LEMON VERBENAS. 



Of course everyone who handles bed- ' 

 ding plants needs some plants of Aloysia 

 citriodora, as the ever popular lemon- 

 scented verbena is termed botanically. 

 If you lifted some old plants from the 

 field and heeled them in where they are 

 free from frost, you can soon increase 

 your stock. Pot up the stock plants, 

 prune back somewhat, place in a warm 

 house and spray freely, but water spar- 

 ingly until the growths start. An over- 

 plus of water often causes stock plants 

 to rot away entirely. Take the cuttings 

 while they are short and stocky and 

 can be rubbed off with a heel. You will 

 find that cuttings of this type are fairly 

 certain to root well, while those from 

 more mature wood prove somewhat un- 

 satisfactory. 



POTTING FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



During the dark days of winter, while 

 the sun is at its lowest ebb and various 

 greenhouse duties outside of firing are 

 somewhat less onerous, is a good time 

 to overhaul any palms and other foliage 

 plants, such as crotons, dracaenas, pan- 

 danus, ficus, etc., and to do any neces- 

 sary repotting. In some cases the re- 

 moval of some of the surface soil and 

 the application of a top-dressing may 

 suffice. Use clean pots, drain sufficient- 

 ly and use a compost of fibrous loam, 

 with some well decayed and dry cow 

 manure and sharp sand added. From 

 three-fourths to four-fifths of the whole 

 should be loam. Ram the compost firm- 

 ly and be sure to leave an ample space 

 for water. For some time after potting, 

 the watering must be done carefully, so 

 that the balls may not become soggy. 

 All work of this kind should be done 

 now, or it is liable to be overlooked 

 entirely as the busy season advances. 



POTTING BEGONIA LEAVES. 



It is not necessary to wait for the ap- 

 pearance of growths before potting 

 leaves of such winter-blooming be- 

 gonias as Cincinnati, Lorraine, Melior 

 and Mrs. Peterson. If there is good root 

 action from the leaf stalks, the growths 

 are sure to come in good season. Be sure 

 to use a light compost, mostly flaky 

 leaf-mold with some sharp sand added, 

 and let it be warm. After potting, stand 

 the plants on a bench where they will 

 get some bottom heat and a temperature 

 of 60 degrees at night. Put in a further 

 batch of leaves. These will have time 

 to root before we get such warm weather 

 that heat in the sand will be irregular 

 or much reduced. 



Columbus, O. — The Franklin Park 

 Floral Co. tore down part of an old 

 range and built one new house with 

 concrete walls, posts and benches, in 

 time to stock it for holiday business, 

 which is reported excellent. 



Carlisle, Pa.— John E. Dewalt, who 

 condu'cts a large greenhouse here, lost 

 heavily when his heating plant was 

 damaged and went out of commission 

 overnight. The entire contents of the 

 greenhouse, valued at $1,500, were fro- 

 zen. 



