22 



The Florists^ Review 



Septkmber 22, 1921 



the subject, that many of the hybrid 

 forms are much superior to the old S. 

 vulgaris — superior in size and texture of 

 flower trusses, in richness and purity 

 and variety of colors; superior, also, in 

 resistance to mildew and other fungous 

 diseases of the foliage. Undoubtedly 

 that is all true, under ordinary condi- 

 tions. But it is quite possible for the 

 conditions to be so bad that even lilacs, 

 though among the most dauntless of 

 bloomers, will not bloom at all, and it 

 seems that some of the hybrid forms are 

 more easily discouraged by such condi- 

 tions than is S. vulgaris. 



An Instance and an Inference. 



For instance, in a certain residential 

 district in what might be called the in- 

 ner suburbs of Chicago, where the air 

 is somewhat smoky and the soil is non- 

 descript, there are several good-sized 

 specimens of Charles X and Rubra de 

 Marley that have stood there for about 

 seven years without producing a bloom, 

 or the slightest sign or promise of a 

 bloom. Apparently they have no more 

 notion of blooming than a tramp has of 

 working or bathing. Yet in the same 

 yard some S. vulgaris and S. Josika?a 

 have bloomed fairly well. Perhaps a 

 little feeding with bone meal, or an 

 application of lime to remedy any pos- 

 sible sourness of the soil, might have 

 induced the hybrids to bloom, but they 

 have been treated as considerately as 

 the other varieties have. That instance, 

 and others similar to it, have led to this 

 inference: Though the hybrid lilacs 

 may beat the old species completely 

 when the chances are reasonably good, 

 some of the older species may beat the 

 hybrids when the chances are bad. That 

 conclusion may not be correct, but it is 

 offered for consideration if it deserves 

 any. 



With the foregoing proviso, this 

 writer will humbly but heartily agree 

 with the nurserymen and join in boost- 

 ing the hybrids, for they are truly glo- 

 rious. It would scarcely be possible to 

 sing their praises too loudly. 



A Wealth of Good Varieties. 



Among the best of the hybrids, at 

 least for use in the middle west, may 

 be mentioned the following: Souvenir 

 de L. Spaeth, single red; Charles X, 

 single purple; Marie Legraye, single 

 white; Frau Bertha Damniann, single 

 white; Mathieu de Dombaale, double 

 mauve; Alphonae Lavalle, double blue; 

 Michael Buchner, double blue; Presi- 

 dent Grevy, double lilac; Mme. Le- 

 moine, double white. And there arc 

 plenty of other good ones. Indeed, there 

 is an embarrassing anil bewildering 

 wealth of fine hybrid varieties, so nearly 

 equal in merit that a choice is difficult. 



Here are a dozen lilacs, ])artly hy- 

 brids and i)artly old-timers, which will 

 give two months of flowers, including 

 both single and double forms, in a fine 

 range of colors: Marie Legraye, oblata, 

 Mme. Lemoine, macrostachya, Philemon, 

 Michael Buchner, Charles X, Emile Le- 

 moine, persica, cliinensis, villosa and 

 Josika>a. 



Methods of Propagation. 



Any of the old. typical s])ecies of li- 

 lac can be easily rejjroduceil by seeds or 

 suckers. The hyl)rids can be ])ropagat- 

 ed by cuttings or by layering. How- 

 ever, most of the hybrid forms of S. 

 vulgaris, as sold at nurseries, are graft- 

 ed on i)rivet or couinion lilac. The va- 

 riety of privet that is principally used 



for this purpose in the north and in the 

 middle west is probably Ligustrum amu- 

 rense. In those latitudes the California 

 privet is not hardy enough for such use. 

 The Polish privet, a hardy, upright form 

 that is comparatively new in America, 

 will undoubtedly be tried as a stock. 



Most nurserymen prefer to propagate 

 the hybrid lilacs by grafting, for the 

 reason that strong, marketable, satis- 

 factory plants can be produced in that 

 way more quickly and economically 

 than by means of cuttings. It is gener- 

 ally admitted, however, that plants 

 grafted on privet are not the most long- 

 lived of stock, especially if attacked by 

 borers. 



Propagation by Cuttings. 



Since own-root lilacs are the best in 

 some respects and have the special ad- 

 vantage that every shoot produced is 

 sure to be true, some florist may wish to 

 grow a stock of the hybrids from cut- 

 tings. Of course, he may do so if he is 

 willing to exercise the necessary pa- 

 tience. The cuttings should be taken 

 before the wood becomes too firm. From 

 the middle to the end of June is the best 

 time for their propagation. Leave two 

 eyes to a cutting, trim the foliage back 

 well and place in flats in a frame. If 

 there is a little bottom heat, all the 

 better. Drain the flats well and put 



the cuttings in sandy loam. Spray sev- 

 eral times a day. Give little air, close 

 early in the afternoon and be sure that 

 the glass is well shaded. 



When the cuttings are nicely cal- 

 loused, air more freely, and early in 

 September remove the sashes entirely. 

 By fall some varieties will have made a 

 veritable network of roots; others are 

 slower. Keep the flats in a coldframe, 

 packed in dry leaves, over winter. 

 Transplant carefully into nursery rows 

 in spring. The second season some of 

 the plants may be of sufficient size to 

 sell. 



POSTPONE CONVENTION. 



The Tennessee State Florists' Asso- 

 ciation's convention, which was to have 

 been held October 25 and 26, at Chatta- 

 nooga, Tenn., has been postponed to No- 

 vember 1 and 2. The reason for this 

 change in date is that the United Con- 

 federate Veterans will reunite on the 

 dates formerly set for the convention. 

 So make your arrangements to be in 

 Chattanooga November 1 and 2 and we 

 assure you a good time. One of the fea- 

 tures of this convention will be the 

 flower show at the Tivoli theater. This 

 alone will be worth your attending. 

 Chattanooga Florists' Club. 



G. A. Kimmell, Pres. 



J. J. Ferrall, Sec. 



PRIMULINUS HYBRIDS. 



From Seeds and Bulblets. 



Gladioli increase in popular favor 

 yearly, particularly since the introduc- 

 tion of (t. primulinus and the raising 

 of numerous beautiful hybrids from this 

 variety. The ])rinuilinus hybrids may 

 be less ])opular than tiie larger, more 

 densely flowered and stiff-looking gan- 

 davensis hybrids with some of those who 

 ship flowers long distances and who want 

 flowers which will stand up under han- 

 dling, but wlieii it conies to artistic 

 arrangements the primulinus section 

 stands head and shoulders over all 

 others. 



As growers of these gladioli well 

 know, the primulinus varieties ])roduce 

 great numbers of l>ulblets, and too often 

 these are wasted. If <'arefully saveil 

 at digging time, piicked in sand or loam 

 over winter and stored in a frost-proof 

 but cool cellar, and sown in drills two 

 inches deep like common garden pe.'is 

 as soon as possible after winter has 

 |)assrd, a large ])roi)orti(in of these will 

 flower the same season and practicallv 

 all will lia\e so iiuproved in size that 

 they will llower the following season. 



Wide Color Range. 



The priiiuiliuus sei-tion ])ro(lliccs seed 

 easily and abundantly. There is a fine 

 field (ijieu for the hybridist, but even 

 witliout hybridizing, a s])lendid range 

 of colors may be had where several 

 vari(>ties are grown. 1 have sown seed 

 under glass in .Ianu;try, ))otted seiMllings 



off singly, gradually hardened them off 

 and planted them out in rich soil early 

 in May. Many of these primulinus 

 seedlings have flowered the same season. 

 Seed sown in drills about the end of 

 April will produce little bulbs and the 

 greater number will flower the follow- 

 ing year. There will be a wide range 

 of color. Many will no doubt be yellow, 

 occasional ones white, scarlet or crim- 

 son, while a great many are likely to be 

 of the lovely buff, orange, apricot and 

 similar shades, similar to such sorts 

 as Salmon Beauty, Angola, Altair, Alice 

 Tiplafly and Priscilla. Some of these 

 lionu'-raised seedlings are sure to be 

 worth marking and sowing; others may 

 not be of sufiicicnt merit to keep, but 

 there are few poor colors in the primu- 

 linus family as yet, and all are well 

 iidapted for cutting and infinitely more 

 pleasing when arranged in vases, bowls, 

 baskets or hampers than the stiffer an«l 

 heavier gandavensis types. 



As gladiolus bulbs will persist over 

 winter unless we have severe frost, it 

 is well to give them a new location each 

 se.Mson when planting in nursery rows 

 and propagating from seeds or bulblets, 

 to avoid roguing. Personally, I dis- 

 approve of file tendency to increase the 

 size of flowers in the primulinus family 

 by crossing them on the larger and more 

 • ijien-flowered types. Their flowers al- 

 ready are of amjde size and hybridists 

 should renuMuber that much of the beau- 

 ty of this type lies in the hooded flow- 

 ers and in the fact that the flowers are 

 produced loosely on the stems and are 

 not crowded, as in the case of other 

 hybrids. W. N. G. 



