JUNK 1«. 19^"- 



The Florists^ Review 



19 



Aneeles county. There, in the ins sec- 

 tion of their 25-acre seed growing and 

 seed trial grounds, both the newer and 

 the standard kinds are grown in large 

 numbers. One iris which needs particu- 

 larly the sunlight and summer dryness 

 of this district is Iris pallida, of which 

 the dalmatica variety is generally con- 

 sidered the best. One of the accompany- 

 jiiiT illustrations shows a field of Nue 

 d Orago, a hybrid of the pallida dal- 

 matica type, which Howard & Smith 

 liiid well worth cultivation. 

 Giant Daisies. 



Another illustration shows a thriving 

 Jeld. at this firm's seed trial grounds, 

 of Bellis peronnis monstrosa, the giant 

 (laisv, whicli is much used for border 

 plants and s])ring bedding. The gaps 

 in tlie white variety in the foreground 

 have been caused by the elimination of 

 rogues, a necessary sacrifice if seed of 

 proper quality i^ to be produced. 



Kacli kind of flower at this estab- 

 HslinuMit is under the care of an expert, 

 wliile Fred Howard, president of th<> 

 firm, keeps watchful supervision over 

 it all, having keen eyes for any rogues 

 or f;iulty i)lants in any of his favorite 

 strains. One especially enjoyable sight 

 at tliese grounds is the immense plant- 

 'ing of ;inKiryllis, or hi])])eastrum. The 

 strain of these has been worked up on. 

 tliis i)lace and is considered superior 

 to the other American and European 

 productions with which it has ])een 

 tested and compared. 



Giant Daisies After Roguiog, in California Seed Fields- 



BOSTON. 



The Market. 



FoHowing Memorial day prices came 

 down with a dull thud, accelerated by a 

 warm wave with maximum temperatures 

 of 90, 90 and 87 degrees on three suc- 

 cessive days and a quite feeble demand. 

 The hot weather knocked the life out 

 of carnations and roses. It was diflB- 

 cult to clear tlie latter at any price and 

 values sank to new low levels for the 

 present season. Flowers on 18-inch 



stems fell as low as $10 per thousand 

 and short-stemmed stock fell even lower. 

 The heat caused a decided deterioration 

 of quality on all grades. Carnations are 

 getting poorer in quality and must be 

 quite good flowers to realize $2 per hun- 

 dred. Most of them go at half this 

 ])rice. Sweet peas suffered with the 

 heat, but held up better than other 

 flowers. No outdoor flowers will be 

 available for some time yet. Gladioli 

 sell fairly well; the best bring $3 per 

 dozen. 



There is little demand for callas, lilies, 

 ten weeks' stocks, calendulas and snap- 

 dragons, but yellow marguerites of good 

 size clean up nicely. A large quantity 

 of fine outdoor lily of the valley has 



Field of Iris Nue d'Orage at California Trial Grounds. 



been coming in. The best has sold at 

 $2 to $4 per hundred, but the supply 

 exceeds the demand. Small lots of 

 single and double crimson peonies have 

 appeared. Flowers from farther south 

 have been selling at .$4 to $8 per hun- 

 dred. Iris germanica and pyrethrums 

 are seen among outdoor flowers. 



Trade in bedding plants was excep- 

 tionally brisk last week and all florists 

 were swamped with orders. Flowering 

 jilants now are not numerous and 

 hydrangeas are the leaders. 



Iris Exhibition. 



The show of irises and other season- 

 able flowers June 5 and 6 filled the main 

 exliibition hall of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society and was well 

 varied and interesting. Iris germanica 

 was shown in large numbers. While at- 

 tractive in the garden, these irises are 

 uninteresting when staged in stereo- 

 typed rows of vases and the fact that 

 the flowers have poor keeping quality 

 further detracts from their value at ex- 

 hibitions. For twenty-four vases Geo. 

 X. Smith, Wellesley, Mass., was first 

 with a fine selection, including pallida 

 sjieciosa, Queen of May, Lohengrin, Rose 

 Unique, flavoscens, Kochji, Wyomissing, 

 Celeste, Walhalla and Perfection. Iris- 

 thorpe Farm, of which Allen Jenkins is 

 head gardener, was first for twelve 

 vases. For a collection of irises of all 

 colors there were several fine displays, 

 the awards going to George N. Smith, 

 Tristhorpe Farm and Glen Eoad Iris 

 Gardens in the order named. For 

 twenty varieties of herbaceous peren- 

 nials Blue Hill Nurseries were first and 

 W. N. Craig second. Some handsome 

 eremuri were included in the winning 

 collection. For a collection of hardy 

 succulent plants Hillcrest Gardens won 

 first prize. 



The American Iris Society held an 

 exhibition in connection with this show. / 

 George N. Smith led for thirty varieties, / 

 o-ne stalk of each. For six distinct va- / 

 rieties of self-colored irises Glen Roa(y 

 Iris Gardens were first; also for six va/ 



