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38 



I'hc Florists' Review 



Mabch 18, 1920 



Hyacinths, Candytuft and Perns in This Basket. 



It is time we had some good yellow 

 hybrid tea roses, but noue of them ap- 

 proaches the old Marechal Niel iii color 

 and fragrance. 



French Hydrangeas. 



A decade ago there were few hydran- 

 geas offered at Easter and these were of 

 the old Hortensia or otaksa type. But 

 the advent of the new French varieties, 

 which come in pure white, deep pink, 

 salmon, pale pink, rose, blue and other 

 shades, has caused a revolution in hy- 

 drangea culture. They are unlikely to 

 displace the old otaksa for Memorial 

 day sales, or for use as specimens on 

 lawns or on verandas in summer, but 

 for early flowering they are a wonder- 

 ful acquisition. The smallest plants 

 bloom with remarkable freedom and 

 their ease of propagation and culture, 

 fine range of colors and lasting proper- 

 ties should commend them to any coun- 

 try florist. Such beautiful sorts as Mme. 

 Chautard, Mme. E. Mouillere, Radiant, 

 Mont Bose, General de Vibraye, Mme. 

 Auguste Nonin and Eclaireur can 

 hardly fail to sell at Easter. 



Speaking of these lovely plants, now 

 is the time to get in a good-sized batch 

 of cuttings, which when rooted can be 

 potted off and planted outdoors about 

 the end of May, preferably where they 

 can be given some water if the weather 

 is hot and dry, and potted in Septem- 

 ber, for use another Easter. These hy- 

 drangeas flower with wonderful free- 

 dom and specimens 10 years old in tubs, 

 carrying fifty or more heads, are seen 

 at some of the plant establishments. 

 These are among the finest offerings for 

 the coming Easter and, Mr. Retailer, be 

 sure to instruct your man who does the 

 watering to give hydrangeas an ample 

 supply, as they are thirsty subjects. 



Dutch Bulbous Stock. 



A popular class of Easter plants is 

 Dutch bulbous stock. Probably many 

 country florists depend more on these 

 than on almost anything else. They are 

 moderate in price, of easy culture, not 

 suscejitihle to chills and make an excel- 



lent show for the money they cost. Most 

 of these are grown in pans, several 

 bulbs in each. But in the case of hya- 

 cinths, single bulbs are sometimes 

 grown. The severe winter has made it 

 difficult for those who are in the habit 

 of keeping their bulbs outdoors to dig 

 them out and the advantages of storing 

 in a cellar or in frames must be quite 

 apparent. In my own case, I kept most 

 of my stock in coldframos, and covered 

 the pans or flats with about an inch of 

 sand. Then, as the weather became 

 colder, I spread eight to nine inches of 

 dry sawdust over them and put sashes 

 on top. I have been able to get at these 

 bulbs without any diflScuIty and not a 

 trace of frost has reached any of the 

 receptacles, although temperatures of 

 -0 degrees below zero have been record- 



ed. In former years coal ashes or loam 

 has been spread over the pans. This in 

 spite of outside protection from mats 

 and board shutters, would freeze solid 

 and frequently pans were burst. The 

 sawdust makes a warmer covering and 

 is removed in cakes easily without dam- 

 aging the tops in the least. 



All of these bulbs make rapid head- 

 way when placed in heat and, as they 

 sell best when not too far expanded, it 

 would be best to grow them in a cool 

 and shaded house, especially in the case 

 of tulips. A few days of heat will send 

 along any laggards rapidly, but keep 

 everything on the bench well up to the 

 light and not below the benches, where 

 they would become drawn and spindly. 



Hard-Wooded Plants. 



Indian azaleas will be few in number 

 and each succeeding year will find them 

 rarer, unless, perchance, the F. H. B. 

 lets down the bars so that we can get 

 in some Belgian stock. But at present 

 the board is arrogant and self-satisfied; 

 so we must worry along without them. 



Genistas there are in abundance. They 

 are not the best of Easter plants, for, no 

 matter how cool they have been grown, 

 they do not last long in a warm dwell- 

 ing. While fresh they are fine, but once 

 they begin to droop, it is all up with 

 them. Give them an abundance of 

 water, for one good drying out will 

 mean practical ruin to any plant of this 

 woody nature. Ericas, especially melan- 

 thera, are still available. Few plants 

 can be kept in good condition over so 

 long a season as these heaths. Some 

 were in full bloom for Thanks- 

 giving. Christmas saw them in greater 

 numbers, and now many are in perfect 

 condition for Easter. Of course, heaths 

 need cold culture. Anything just above 

 freezing suits them. Yet I know of no 

 flowering plant which will keep better 

 in the average American home than eri- 

 cas, provided they are kept moist at the 

 root. 



Another woody subject not so com- 

 mon as I should like to see it is Chori- 

 zema ilicifolia; the brilliant red and 

 yellow leguminous flowers make a strik- 

 ing effect. Still another plant not much 



Calendulas and Valley in an Ivory-finisbed Basket. 



