102 



The Florists' Review 



August 11, 1921 



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A STUDY IN ZINNIAS. 



In companv with Joliii Bodfjer, Jr., 

 and S. S. Skidelsky, of Philadelphia, 

 the writer had a ])ieasant visit to the 

 KI Monte seed farm of John Bodger & 

 Sons Co., near Los Angeles, Cal., to look 

 over the zinnias more particularly. 

 When it is said that eighty acres are 

 devoted to these popular and showy 

 flowers, it will be acknowledged that 

 there are "some zinnias." Among the 

 first and most imjiortant is the new dah- 

 lia flowered type, with immense flowers 

 liaving the a])pearance of the show dah- 

 lia. Although the largest part of these 

 types are still in mixture, some of the 

 finest have been segregated by four 

 years' work of careful roguing. These 

 new tyj)es are not sown anywliere near 

 the mixtures, but in separate long lines, 

 with breadths of other flowers, such as 

 asters or stocks, between them. Size, 

 magnificent coloring and splendid build 

 of flower are the distinguishing charac- 

 teristics of these and so severely is the 

 roguing carried out that only the eye of 

 an expert could tell when the discarded 

 plants fell short of the type. Inci- 

 dentally, it may be mentioned that, al- 

 though a skilled and experienced staff 

 of Mexicans has been trained to rogue 

 the ordinary types of zinnias and other 

 flowers, Mr. Bodger goes over these nov- 

 (dties personally and ruthlessly, it seems 

 to an outsider. He discards really mag- 

 nificent flowers because of some seem- 

 ingly trivial departure from the high 

 standard set. The pieotee-edged varie- 

 ties are well developed and here again 

 many varieties have been selected and 

 Irued up. Golden Crescent is one which 

 is to be sent out this season, a beautiful 

 golden flower, with brown edging that 

 makes a wonderful combination of col- 

 oring. The giant-quilled types are quite 

 distinct, large flowers on plants of good 

 liabit and with superb coloring. Then 

 the ordinary giants in blocks of five to 

 fen acres, all of one color, nmke a splen- 

 did showing, (h-inison, golden yellow, 

 h'uiou yellow, burnt orange and other 

 shades make broad l)aiids of color in the 

 landscape and, besides these, are frilled, 

 curled pompon and other types, each 

 possessing some points of excellence. 

 It is a great sight and everyone who can 

 should make the trip to see them. It 

 will surely prove an education in zin- 

 nias. H. R. R. 



LOS ANGELES, CAL. 



The Market. 



AVhilc funeral work again last week 

 was the mainstay of the retailers, there 

 was enough of that to keep the depleted 

 staffs busy in most of the stores, many 

 lieing away on vacations, (iood stock, 

 as usual, has cleaned up finely, Init there 

 is little demand for the second-grade 

 floAvers. The futility of growing early 

 thrysanthenuinis was never more clear- 

 ly shown tli.'ui tliis season. Tlie flowers 

 are not needed, they are not attractive 

 and they hardly last in good condition 

 to reach the stores, let alone the cus- 

 tomers. 



Asters, gladioli and dahlias still hold 



the field, the two former being the best 

 shipi)ers now. Carnations are improv- 

 ing, the new crop flowers being the best 

 seen for many years at this season. 

 Roses are fair and there is an abun- 

 dance of small flowers and greens. 



Various Notes. 



William J. Bodger, of Arcadia, had a 

 narrow escape with his life July 27. 

 He returned honu' after dark and put 

 his car away. He had a sliort errand to 

 do and rode his bicycle. He passed a 

 place where a gas main was being re- 

 paired, the trenches as usual being 

 marked by red lights. Just as Mr. 

 Bodger was passing, the main burst, 

 the lamps igniting the gas and caus- 

 ing an explosion, which blew him and 

 his bicycle sixty feet away. Strange 

 to say, he was not injured in the slight- 

 est, a most lucky escape, for the fire 

 from the gas reached a height of forty 

 feet, alarming the whole neighborhood. 



About fifty members of the Southern 

 California Dahlia Association met at the 



Superior Dahlia Gardens last week, at 

 the invitation of C. E. Gutting. Every- 

 one was interested and pleased with the 

 fine display. All of the choicest com- 

 mercial varieties are included in this 

 collection, as well as a number of choice 

 seedlings raised by Mr. Gutting. 



H. N. Gage is back on the job, after 

 his automobile trip to the Yosemite. He 

 was accompanied by Mrs. Gage and drove 

 up the coast route and down the valley. 

 He said that he had a wonderful and an 

 enjoyable trip. 



A beautiful piece of work noted at 

 the Broadway Florist's last week was a 

 casket cover of Ophelia roses and Del- 

 phinium Belladonna. Business is brisk 

 here. 



Louis Dubin, of Wolfskill's & !Mor- 

 ris Goldenson, is away on a well-earned 

 vacation. 



The Butterfly roses coming from the 

 greenhouses to the store of Wright's 

 Flower Shop are extra good in quality 

 for this season. 



The roses coming to the E. C. Amling 



CALIFORNIA 



Flowers and Greens 



OF ALL KINDS AT 



LOWEST MARKET PRICES 



PACKED RIGHT 



L. A. FLORAL COMPANY 



7%« Howum of Quality and Servicm 

 236 EAST FOURTH ST^ LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 



Write t»r Special Prices 



ASTERS! ASTERS! 



FOR LONG DISTANCE SHIPPING 



We are absolutely headquarters for the finest long-stemmed Asters 

 coming to this market. All colors at the right prices. 



SUMNER FLOWERS 



During the summer we will have an abundant stock of all classes of 

 flowers that ship well in hot weather and our prices will be low. 

 We are especially strong on GLADIOLI, CARNATIONS, ROSES. 

 SWEET PEAS and VALLEY and we always have plenty of 

 DAISIES, BABY ROSES and small flowers. 

 Our packing methods insure good results. 



S. MURATA & CO. 



380-386 S. Los Angeles St., LOS ANGELES, CAL. 



Oldest and Most Experienced Shippers in California 



WE NEVER MISS 



