60 



The Florists^ Review 



Jdlt 18, 1922 



have been working on those improved 

 grasses and now have cuttings for sale. 

 It is possible for a person to improve 

 his own turf by selecting spots Avliere 

 the grass is particularly good and grow- 

 ing the cut runners in rows in a field. 

 When the good strain has been in- 

 creased sufficiently in this way, the old 

 turf may be plowed up and the new 

 strain established. 



GARDEN SEED TESTING. 



Problems of a Seed Analyst. 



The atmosphere of commercial seed 

 laboratories differs somewhat from tliat 

 of the official laboratories in its more 

 intense hurry and excitement. These 

 laboratories are always rushed, always 

 under suspicion. In any controversy 

 their tests are mistrusted until they 

 can prove them to be correct. The seeds- 

 man hesitates to complain on a given 

 lot of seed unless he is fairly sure he 

 can rely on his test, and the grower 

 or wholesaler from wliom the seed was 

 bought is, of course, always convinced 

 his seed is all right. So there must he 

 dose control on all f.actors, and on 

 anything of importance the analyst 

 must immediately get a chock test from 

 a government or commercial laboratorv, 

 and probably a soil test as well. 



It is from this standpoint that the 

 problems of the commercial seed labora- 

 tory will be considered, limiting the pa- 

 per to the germination of vegetable 

 seeds. It will attempt to show how 

 we safeguard, and also point out the 

 possibilities of further precautions. 



Dormancy. 



One of the important problems is that 

 of dormancy. The dormant seeds fall 

 into three groups: Those that germi- 

 nate slowly and over a rather long pe- 

 riod of time, those that will not germi- 

 nate at all at certain times and tliose 

 that lose power of rapid germination. 

 The first of these dormant types is illus- 

 trated well by the umbclliferfp. Car- 

 rots, celery, parsnips and parsley stav 

 in the germinator an awkwardly long 

 time and it would l)e a great help in a 

 commercial house if their germination 

 could be hurried. There probably is 

 some stimulant for these, if we can get 

 the problem worked out. Possibly :i 

 chemical could supply the stimulation. 



The second type of dormancy is the 

 period of after-ripening, which "is illus- 

 trated particularly well by lettuce. The 

 outstanding example is Grand Rapids 

 lettuce, which generally refuses to ger- 

 minate until almost time for the next 

 year's sowing. Other varieties of let- 

 tuce also show this hesitancy to ger- 

 minate in a more or less marked de- 

 gree. Carrots seem to give a somewhat 

 better germination the second year than 

 the first, while some other seeds show 

 a similar tendency. Dormancy, of 

 course, is distinguished from lack of 

 vitality by t]\o appearance of the seeds. 



The third form of dormancy is the 

 result of age; namely, the retarding of 

 germination, which occurs in the bras- 

 sicas which have been carried several 

 years. This seems to be a true retanl- 

 ing and not a loss of germination— 



r.-ijior pniHircd li.v Miss I>.ol;i •niiirlim:niii, 

 sooil niialvst df ViiiibIliu's SppiI Storo. CliicMcci, 

 • 111 "rriililcms of n Coiniiioriiiil (Jmrloii Soid 

 Ijih<)r;it(ir.v." and road by Leonard 11. Vnnt'liiin 

 at llie joint nipotinK of tlip Aniniian Seed 

 Trade -Association and tlio Association of Otiiiial 

 Seed .Vnalysts, at Chicago, June «. 



SNAPDRAGON 



Snapdragons have moved into first place 

 with all wide-awake florists and are earn- 

 ing growers more money than any flower 

 in cultivation. This is especially true 

 am> ng growers with a retail outlet. 

 Splendid blooms may be had any month in 

 the year, with a bumper crop over the 

 three great flower days, Easter, Mothers' 

 Day, and Memorial, extending throughout 

 June graduations. 



Snapdragons are easy to grow and good 

 seed may be had at such small cost that 

 there is no excuse for having inferior 

 stock. Producing snapdragon seed is our 

 one business and the ever increasing 

 orders show how well we attend to it. 

 Years of experience and our reputation 

 are back of every packet of seed. See 

 complete list below. First comes 



A NEW ONE:- We are happy to an- 

 nounce a new addition to our snapdragon 

 family and introduce "HELEN," a gor- 

 geous, delicate salmon, named for a daugh- 

 ter who graciously assisted in bringing 

 our business through the critical world war priod. Helen is a stately variety, medium tall, 

 Bdrly and very prolific. We have never had so many pleasing comments by visitors and 

 many advance orders have been placed. This variety will please the most exacting and 

 should be in every collection. Note low price 



Helen — Exquisite delicate salmon, a winner 



Silver Pink — Soft silvery pink, marvelous producer 



Golden Pink Queen— (1920) Immensely popular, very free 

 Hybrid— (1920) Delicate orchid shade of pink 



$1.00 per pkt. 



3 for $2.50 

 7 for 5.00 



Nelro«e— Beautiful rose pink \ 



Keystone — A stately variety of dark pink 1 



Buxton— Tall, plain pink f 



Yellow— The finest of its color ' ,e 1^ 



White— Pure and free blooming ^ •*•>« PW P«« 



Garnet — A rich decorative color , o r^_ ti aa 



Scarlet— Bright and gay [ ^ ™*^ ♦'*"" 



Light Pink— Soft shade; strong and productive 



Bronze — A novelty in its color 



Fancy Mixed— Highly satisfactory- all colors 



The coming season fortify yourself against the shortage of blooms by planting 

 heavier of Snapdragons. Seed may be sown any time and plants handled a? 

 desired. For greatest profit use only seedlings. 



Free cultural directions. All orders cash 



G. S. RANSBURG, Somersworth, N. H. 



Mpntlon The Rerlew when yon write. 



gUpeWO" BULBS 



Tfrr vEiJ> 



ONS 



61VESEYST. NY CITY 



OlUoules, 

 «rJ-ance. 



Sj^te""' 



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BULBS 



PIONEER GROWERS 

 AND EXPORTERS of 



N. VeMhiyxen nn Zantea & Sods 



LIS8E. HOLLAND 



Kstabllshed 1870- Still going strong 

 CMt AMrcM - VELOZANTEN. USSE. HOLLAND. 



Mention The Review when you write. 



DUTCH AND FRENCH BULBS 



C. J. Speelman & Sons Uiuie & Speelnu 



MSSflMflM. HOUMO OLUOULES. «M. FRMRE 

 New York Office: 470 GREENWICH ST. 



Psclflc Coast Rep., W. B. Clark«y 



Box S43, San JoM. OaUf. 



ALKEMADE & SON 



Wholesale Bulb Growers 



8«nd us your Hat of wants for auotatlona 



Noordwy]^ Holland 



Mention The Review when you write. 



All Florists who seek a source of dependable and reli- 

 able ForclOK Bulbs please communicate with 



CRESCENT BULB COMPANY 



Wholesale Bulb Growers 

 Amricaa Address: HILLKOOM. 



M Broad St., Nsw Yerk HOLLAND 



Quality is our motto. 



