66 



The Florists^ Review 



OCTOBEB 23, 1913. 



<S^Ai 



^.^4t^S^^S^^.'^^J^^^^0^J^^S^t^:'i=i^9<i;h9^-^=i^^-i^>9<Ur^'^f^'^^^^ 



Pacific C oast Department 



For report of the convention of the 

 California Association of Nurserymen, at 

 Fresno, October 16 to 18, see the Nur- 

 sery Department, pages 72 to 74. 



EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT 



Not within the memory of the oldest 

 horticulturist in central California have 

 vsre ever been in such desperate straits 

 for moisture as we are at the present 

 writing. The season of 1911-12 was the 

 driest for half a century and that of 

 1912-13 was practically a repetition of 

 the previous season. No one antici- 

 pated two such scanty rainfalls. When 

 the first season's stock dried out early 

 in 1912, there was but little hesitancy 

 in replanting, only to find a much 

 worse state of affairs at a correspond- 

 ing period in 1913. Two dry years iu 

 succession destroyed all chances of ob- 

 taining water from underground, ex- 

 cept in low-lying districts, and irriga- 

 tion was immediately necessary to save 

 even a part of the crop. 



To further complicate matters, dur- 

 ing the months of February and March 

 of the prespnt year we were visited by 

 several weeks of dry, hot winds. The 

 effect of these on freshly planted stock 

 can hardly be understood by one who 

 was not on the ground at the time. 

 Even where irrigation was in use the 

 results were most unpleasant. Every- 

 one who has had much experience in 

 California planting knows that a hot, 

 dry atmosphere overhead cannot be 

 well controlled by plenty of moisture 

 below. This refers, of course, to cut- 

 tings and small seedling stock; larger 

 stock can be handled even in the face 

 of extremely trying conditions when 

 there is plenty of water handy. With 

 growers, however, who depended on the 

 usual ample supply of rainfall in Cali- 

 fornia to get their moisture, the results 

 in many cases were ruinous, and the 

 writer has seen hundreds of thousands 

 of cuttings and other small stock a 

 total loss to the planter. 



With the seed growers, who also de- 

 pend on the rainfall, the season 's losses, 

 coupled with those of last year, have 

 eaten up the profits of several pre- 

 vious years. Thousands of acres of 

 peas were planted in our favored locali- 

 ties, only to find that the cost of the 

 seed, the planting and the lease of the 

 land were all contracted for, without 

 the chance of getting a penny back. 



With the orchardists and vineyardists 

 in this section, the results are not quite 

 so apparent, except in the newly 

 planted places. Since many of these 

 are on high ground and on hillsides, 

 the percentage of young stock lost is 

 quite teavy. One might add that early 

 in April a severe frost was added to 

 our other afflictions, and the grape crop 

 suffered heavily. In bearing orchards 

 n many places the trees are showing a 

 •endency to die back, and in driving 

 around the country, one cannot but no- 

 tice the hundreds of wells that are 

 being bored in the hope of getting 

 down to where water is to be had. 

 This is a large expense in itself, and 

 when the cost of pumping and distrib- 

 uting is added as well, the amount 

 rises rapidly. Certainly there are many 

 .places where these tactics are not neces- 



sary, but there are many more grow- 

 ers who do not intend to be found 

 without water another season, in case 

 we are treated to more drought. 



With the growers of ornamental trees 

 and shrubbery, conditions have also 

 been far from satisfactory for the 

 same reasons. Growths are generally 

 poor, and unless the stock is on low, 

 moist land, or there is an abundance of 

 cheap water for irrigating purposes, it 

 does not take even a practiced eye to 

 discover that the usual healthy growth 

 of branches is noticeable chiefly by its 

 absence. G. 



LOS ANOEIiES, CAL. 



The Market. 



With all the immense number of 

 clirysanthemums now coming in, there 

 still seems to be no glut of these flow- 

 ers and on some varieties the demand 

 has exceeded the supply. But by the 

 time these notes appear the Bonnaf- 

 fons will be in full blast and there 

 will be plenty for all, if not a surplus. 

 A peculiar condition exists now in the 

 carnation market; a well known whole- 

 saler says he cannot get enough good 

 whites, but is overloaded with all other 

 colors; yet there are possibly more 

 whites grown than of any other. A 

 scarcity of white roses developed one 

 (lay, but a few days later the market 

 was loaded and this is the way with 

 most other flowers. Reds and pinks 

 are too plentiful. Beauties are about 

 even with the demand. Baby roses 

 are scarce, but good in quality. Or- 

 chids are scarce. Valley is about equal 

 to the demand. 



An abundance of good funeral work, 

 with a considerable sprinkling of wed- 

 dings and other social affairs, is re- 

 sponsible for keeping down the sur- 

 plus of flowers. 



Various Notes. 



A wedding decoration running close 

 to $1,000 in cost, at St. Thomas' 

 church, was among the orders recently 

 executed by Morris Goldenson. Beauty 

 roses and smilax were the most salient 

 points in the decoration, large numbers 

 of each being used. The bride 's bou- 

 quet was of white orchids and lily of 

 the valley; the maid of honor carried 

 cattleyas and the bridesmaids carried 

 Beauty roses. John Gordon was in 

 charge and everything went smoothly 

 and successfully. 



Another boost for the Los Angeles 

 climate: F. Sperry, of the Los Angeles 

 Flower Market, likes it so well that 

 he has persuaded his father to leave 

 the confines of historical Edinburg, 

 Pa., to come to the City of the Angels. 

 He arrived here October 10 and is 

 already a booster for southern Cali- 

 fornia. 



Another young man is going to try 

 his luck at the retail business; this 

 time it is Harry Hansen, recently of 

 the force at Wright's Flower Shop, 

 who will open at once at Seventh and 

 Hill streets. So far I have heard no 

 particulars, but Mr. Hansen has had 

 considerable experience in the best 

 trade in this town and is decidedly 

 popular. Everyone will wish him suc- 

 cess and he will doubtless deserve it. 



• Three flower shows in one week 

 close to Los Angeles — at Hollywood, 

 Montebello and Santa Monica — yet Los 

 Angeles herself is apparently unable 

 to swing one. 



The usual number of eastern grow- 

 ers and helpers generally have arrived 

 here during the season of tourist fares, 

 some, no doubt, to do well here, but 

 others, it is feared, to waste time 

 looking for snaps and then return to 

 say California is "no good." Per- 

 haps it is needless to remark that per- 



H. N. GAGE CO., Inc. 



536 South Broadway, LOS ANGELES, CAL. 



WE ARE READY with all classes of stock for long distance shipments. Our 

 facilities have been greatly improved during the summer, and we can take 

 good care of your orders for Chryaanthemums, Violets, Carnations and 



all other florists' flowers. 



QUALITY AND SERVICE 



is our motto. A new and clean line of Florists' Supplies and Ribbons. 



WHOLESALE FLORISTS 



NURSERYMEN 



Mention The Rcrlew when yon write. 



LOS ANGELES FLOWER MARKET 



414^ South Broadway, 



LOS ANGELES. CAL. 



Headquarters for everything that the florist needs— All seasonable flowers and greens at the 



lowest market price. 



FLORISTS' SUPPLIES 



No order too large or too small to receive our very best attention, 

 OIVE US A TRIAL. 



