May 2G, 1921 



The Florists' Review 



19 



At the Show of the American Iris Society, at Columbus, O., Last Week. 



pots, liqui(], manure alternated with 

 chemical top-dressings forms a good 

 dietary — if such rich food seems to be 

 needed. There is always a possibility 

 of overfeeding, or jiampering, and no 

 precise rules for the rationing of the 

 plants can be given without knowing 

 the exact nature of the soil. Each 

 grower must settle such uncertainties 

 for himself and it is tlie right solution 

 of such questions that distinguishes be- 

 tween skillful and unskillful growers 

 In damp, cool weather, it is well to 

 avoid Avetting the leaves unnecessarily. 

 Tlie watering always should be so 

 planned as to allow the foliage to dry 

 before night. A chilly dampness in the 

 atmosphere also is detrimental. Gener- 

 ally speaking, pelargoniums prefer a dry 

 atmosphere. On cold, wet days even 

 so late in the season as May, when the 

 ]>lants are in blooui, it is often a wise 

 precaution to drive out the dampness 

 i)y means of a little fire heat, so as to 

 avoid jiossible injury to the flowers. 



The Suppression of Pests. 



As intimated at the start of this ar- 

 ticle, green aphis is partial to pelar- 

 goniums. This pest may be held in 

 check by a weekly fumigation, but fumi- 

 gation with tobacco, and especially 

 witli tobacco stems, must be employed 

 with some degree of caution, as the 

 foliage is somewhat tender and is sus- 

 ceptible to injury from extremely strong 

 tobacco fumes. After the jilants are 

 in flower, smoke from tobacco stems 

 would be liable to cause the petals to 

 fall. But why use such antiquated 

 fumigating material as tobacco stems, 

 since there are nicotine extracts, nico- 

 tine papers and other modern forms of 

 nicotine preparations, which are suf- 

 ficiently effective and entirely safe? 

 Some pelargonium growers think it ad- 

 visable to rely principally on fluid in- 

 secticides. 



If white fly puts in an appearance, 

 hydrocyanic acid gaa is the only sure 

 remedy. This gas is decidedly the most 

 effective of all insecticides; it is sure, 



safe and couvonieut if the grower is 

 accustomed to its use. 



Red spider is not at all likely to be 

 troublesome unless invited and encour- 

 aged by the dryness and heat that form 

 congenial conditions for that pest, and 

 such conditions are easily avoided, sincij 

 pelargoniums love a cool atmosphere. 



IRIS SOCIETY HOLDS SHOW. 



At Columbus, O. 



Tlie first show of the American Iris 

 Society was held at Columbus, O., May 

 20 to 22. Through the cooperation of 

 the local retail florists, the Columbus 

 Horticultural Society, the Columbus 

 Iris Society and the newspapers, it 

 proved an overwhelming success. Com- 

 mercial and amateur growers from 

 many states had exhibits which 

 astonished the many visitors to the 

 show, which was held in the new Olds- 

 mobile building, at Cleveland and Broad 

 streets. Prizes aggregating about $oOO 

 were awarded in more than a score of 

 classes of exhibits. The show was open 

 from morning till 10 p. m. .•lud was full 

 of visitors at .'ill times, many of whom 

 lived at a great distance. 



The judges were V. 1\ Mead, Fort 

 Wayne, Ind.; C. P. Council, Nashville, 

 Tenn., and B. II. Farr, Wyomissing, Pa. 



Officers Elected. 



At the annual meeting of the society 

 oflicers were reelected as follows: 

 President, John C. Wister; treasurer, 

 Frank H. Presby; secretary, R. • F. 

 Sturdevant, Wellesley Farms, Mass. 



Visitors expressed themselves as over- 

 whelmed at the cordial recejition ten- 

 dered them by the Columbus flower 

 growers and at the size, variety and 

 quality of the blooms disjilayed at the 

 show l)y the iris growers of Columbus. 



Many of the prizes were for artistic 

 arrangements and the decorators of 

 several retail florists aided in arranging 

 some of these. 



Prof. A. C. Hottes gave a lecture on 

 the iris and several interesting discus- 



sions followed. Some of tlie mediuiii- 

 jn-iced varieties which can be use<l for 

 commercial dis|)lay and arrangements 

 included jiallida dalmatica, Hrioueusis, 

 Rlieiii Xixe, Iris Jviiig, Loreley, Ariiols. 

 IMnie. Chereau, Othello, flavesceiis and 

 aurea. 



Lee R. Bonnewitz was winner of th<' 

 American Iris Society silver medal for 

 the commercial exhibitor m.aking the 

 most comprehensive display in all 

 classes. Air. Bonnewitz is a former 

 president of the American I'eouy So- 

 ciety and is located at Van Wert, O. 

 W. J. Engle & Sons, of Uayton, O., also 

 had some beautiful specimens. 



Mrs. Samuel Taft, of Cincinnati, ex- 

 liibited Dominion, which was judged 

 the finest bloom at the show. 



Many new varieties were shown. 

 Some of them were Sherbert, Quaker 

 Lady, Afterglow, Kochii, Fairy, Isoline, 

 Stamboul, Madame I'aquette and 

 Black Prince. 



Retailers Aid. 



It was estimated that between 400 

 and .loo varieties were used in the ex- 

 hibition. Some groups contained as 

 high as 600 stalks in one display and 

 were arranged by decorators from local 

 retail florists. 



The iris as a commerci.'il flower c;iu 

 be used to great advantjige, as was 

 .shown in the recent wedding of Miss 

 Thelma Ilazelton, where baskets maile 

 of choice iris furnished by Mrs. E. J. 

 S])eneer were combined with roses, 

 peas, plilox and double narcissi to 

 m;ike some wonderful designs. 



The members of the American Iris 

 Society are enthusiastic over the suc- 

 cess of the show and iire jtlanning to 

 make the next show l)igger and better 

 than this one. Many new members 

 were acquired ••uid the society is grow- 

 ing rapidly. Many of the' Columbus 

 members grow irises for various Colum- 

 bus retailers and are finding it a profit- 

 able as well as enjoyable vocation. 



Out-of-town visitors to the show in- 

 cluded John C. Wister, Philadelphia, 

 president of the society; Frank 11. 



