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Sbptbmbbb 9, 1920 



The Florists^ Review 



21 



DO YOU GROW THEM? 



ment are shown in this respect, I will 

 venture to say no cultivator of the 

 cineraria will regret the trifling outlay 

 either of trouble or expense which offers 

 such abundant and gratifying returns. 



D. G. Fraser. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



GBOWINO CINERAIIIAS. 



An Expert Tells How. 



This beautiful race of flowers has 

 )»eeu more improved within a compara- 

 tively short space of time than any 

 other I can call to mind. The long, 

 pointed petal of flimsy texture and ques- 

 tionable color, the flat disk and strag- 

 <riing habit of this tribe are no longer its 

 general characteristics. On the contrary, 

 they may now be recognized by their 

 symmetrical proportions and round, 

 broad, smooth petals. Many have blooms 

 of velvet-like texture and consistency, 

 varying in tints and intensity through 

 all the shades of blue, crimson, purple 

 and white, tipped with every color in 

 the rainbow, with beautifully raised 

 disks, splendidly proportioned, forming 

 elegant specimens both in habit and 

 luxuriance of foliage. 



The science of floriculture may well 

 be proud of its achievements in con- 

 templating the effects of its practice in 

 connection with the now magnificent 

 cineraria. I have traveled over nearly 

 all of Europe within the last three 

 years with a view to studying and per- 

 fecting certain plants, among them the 

 cineraria, and, therefore, have no hesi- 

 tation in giving the results of my ex- 

 perience. 



I am fully assured that no one will 

 regret taking in hand a race of plants 

 so rich and varied in their properties 

 as the subject of this paper, nor can any 

 disappointment occur, as the least care 

 in following the plain directions given 

 below will insure perfect success and 

 witli it unmeasured gratification to 

 everyone who delights in floral beauty. 



Sowing the Seed. 



Cinerarias fertilize with little trouble 

 and seed abundantly, especially in 

 southern California, where they are 

 grown under laths throughout the 

 winter. Thus they receive plenty of 

 air and judicious watering. When the 

 seed is ripe it is gathered by hand 

 and kept dry for a short time. It is 

 then cleaned and shipped to commercial 

 growers. 



Cineraria seed should be sown in finely 

 sifted and rather sandy leaf-mold. 

 They will sprout in about three weeks. 

 When they have two well formed leaves 

 and two more just beginning to show 

 themselves, you may judge it a fitting 

 time to prick them out into small pots. 

 A greenhouse is the best receptacle for 

 them and, if the collection is destined 

 to be large, one appropriated exclu- 

 sively to theii" use is most desirable. 

 It is requisite that the shelves be as 

 near the glass as possible, it being essen- 

 tial that the young plants be not far 

 removed from it. After a short time 

 "lake prepartation for repotting them. 

 1'he compost suitable for this operation 

 should consist of thoroughly decomposed 

 loaf-mold and one-eighth part of coarse 

 hniio meal. 



Wait until they have rooted well in 

 the compost with which you have sup- 

 plied them. As soon as you ascertain 

 'his to be positively the case, repot the 



plants, taking out the crocks without 

 otherwise disturbing them. 



Enriching Compost. 



As tho plants increase in size, the 

 compost may be enriched with advan- 

 tage. This may be done by mixing rather 

 more than half of the old soil with a 

 similar quantity of leaf-mold for some 

 varieties and for others three parts of 

 leaf -mold to one of soil. 



About November the large or speci- 

 men plants should be in a cool situation 

 in the greenhouse (and they will do 

 well most seasons in frames), where they 

 must remain all winter, receiving all the 

 light, air and sun the weather permits. 



Toward the latter part of February 

 place the plants at a greater distance 

 from the glass. In order to secure a con- 

 tinued supply of blooms, it is well to re- 

 tard the flowering of a few varieties. 

 This may be accomplished by potting the 

 plants, before the flower stalks begin 

 to rise, into pots larger by an inch or 

 an inch and a half than would under 

 ordinary circumstances be required. 

 Good-sized specimens will continue in 

 bloom two months or more. 



In the new semi-dwarf prize hybrids 

 the diversity of color is one of the prin- 

 cipal attractions. If taste and judg- 



The Market. 



The demand for stock showed a fair 

 increase last week. Weather condi- 

 tions are much better and all members 

 of the trade report an advance in the 

 number of sales for the week. Gladi- 

 oli, asters, marigolds, dahlias and 

 Easter lilies compose most of the stock 

 at present. Some particularly fine ferns 

 were on the market and they all cleaned 

 up well. 



Various Notes. 



Thomas Kirk, of the Oehmler Floral 

 Co., has returned after spending a 

 pleasant week-end in Philadelphia. 



George Comley is spending his vaca- 

 tion in Canada with his mother. 



The executive committee of the na- 

 tional capital chrysanthemum show 

 held an important meeting August 30 

 at Leo Niessen's store. A general com- 

 mittee was appointed and several other 

 important matters were discussed in 

 connection with the annual convention 

 of the Chrysanthemum Society of 

 America and the national capital chrys- 

 anthemum show, to be held November 

 10 to 14. Z. D. Blackistone presided 

 at the meeting in the absence of F. H. 

 Kramer, chairman of the show commit- 

 tee. G. V. S. 



MOTT-LY MUSINGS 



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At Wacker Bros., Washington, Pa., it 

 is noticed that carnations are in tiptop 

 shape. White Wonder is still the 

 premier white, with White Enchantress 

 a companion; Enchantress Supreme and 

 Aviator complete the list. Chrysanthe- 

 mums look promising. Business is re- 

 ported as excellent. 



• • • • 



B. F. Engle, Rochester, Pa., is well 

 pleased with returns shown from the 

 store in operation since Easter. Al- 

 though but a short distance from the 

 greenhouses, it is prominently located 

 and, as our genial confrere observed, 

 "to be in the swim nowadays, even after 

 forty years of paddling along, one must 

 put out the strongest stroke." Miss 

 Engle has charge and she attended the 

 convention to learn the newest metro- 

 politan ideas in store arrangement and 

 management. Mrs. E. H. Carey, of 

 New Brighton, Pa., accompanied her. 

 Mr. Carey is the proprietor of the Carey 

 Flower Shop, to which has been added 

 the store recently conducted by J. S. 

 Hennon & Sons, of Wampum, Pa., at 

 Beaver Falls, Pa. 



• • • • 



The store of F. M. Fitzgerald, at 

 Beaver, Pa., contains some fine baskets, 

 which sell at $15 to $20 each. J. Irwin 

 Dowdell, the designer as well as a 

 grower, says, "Who would have thought 

 baskets would become so popular for 

 funeral purposes as they have? One 

 special reason is that the flowers can 

 be kept fresh for some time, as the 



large baskets usually have containers 

 filled with water. ' ' The two Fitzgerald 

 boys, Joseph and John, are back from 

 the convention. 



• « • 



A. Krut, of Butler, Pa., is the proud 

 possessor of a loving cup presented for 

 the best window display, in a recent 

 decorating competition. "True, the cup 

 is empty," observes Mr. Krut, "but 

 it filled us with satisfaction to feel we 

 had beaten professional window dres- 

 sers. Our patrons for miles around 

 phoned us to keep the window undis- 

 turbed until they had seen it. The 

 Review showed a picture of it and our 

 appreciation was expressed at the time. 

 It was a fine piece of publicity and — 

 shall we say it? — trade has been tiptop 

 ever since. More power to the elbow 

 grease! We have had material for two 

 houses lying here for two years, await- 

 ing the necessary labor to erect them." 



* • • • 



Amalgamation of the vegetable grow- 

 ers in the immediate vicinity of Grand 

 Rapids, under the title of the Grand 

 Rapids Growers' Association, of which 

 H. J. Clieney is manager, has been ac- 

 complished and it promises to be an 

 important organization. 

 * * * « 



Tlie sunken garden at the approach 

 to the e,stal)lishnii'nt of Freyling & 

 Mendels, Grand Rapids, Mich., has been 

 yreatly admired. It has l)een, also, the 

 medium through which many orders for 



