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JUNB 3, 1915. 



The Florists' Review 



17 



live up to the promises it makes in this 

 regard. He should ascertain whether a 

 service station of the company is lo- 

 cated in or near the town where he 

 proposes to operate his truck, and 

 whether the station is open at all times 

 for his convenience; also whether a 

 complete supply of duplicate parts are 

 kept on hand to meet the demands of 

 all emergencies. 



This information can all be secured 

 with little trouble on the part of the 

 purchaser, and the best way of secur- 

 ing it is from the present truck owners, 

 the men who have had the experience 

 ^and know whereof they speak. 



Finally, do not be misled by the low- 

 est price. It is poor economy at all 

 times, but especially so in the matter 

 of motor trucks. Buy the best and 

 keep it. Forget the bugaboo of the 

 automobile world, "trade-in." The 

 late Elbert Hubbard said: "Keep 

 your car. Don't buy a car that was 

 built for trading purposes. Buy a good 

 one and keep her." He further said 

 there are three things you must keep: 

 "Keep your temper, keep your friends, 

 keep your health," and he added a 

 fourth, "Keep your car." 



AN OLD FAVORITE AND A NEW. 



Streptosolen Jamesonii. 



A large number of present-day flo- 

 rists are not acquainted with Strepto- 

 solen Jamesonii, which is an old fa- 

 vorite of our greenhouses. It was in- 

 troduced into England from Colombia 

 as long ago as 1847, and has been cul- 

 tivated in America for many years. 

 In California it is a common outdoor 

 plant as far north as San Francisco, 

 making a splendid climber as well as a 

 desirable standard or bush specimen. 

 As a greenhouse or conservatory 

 climber, it is splendid. It is not so 

 much seen now as it was a decade or 

 two ago, but the writer has in mind 

 one or two specimens in old green- 

 houses which make a grand show each 

 February and March, which is the usual 

 flowering time in an ordinary green- 

 house. 



As a commercial plant this is rarely 

 seen; yet, strange, to say, I have had 

 inquiries from more than one florist re- 

 cently asking where stock could be ob- 

 tained. I think that as a pot plant 

 it is seen at its best when grown in 

 standard form. The plant has a natu- 

 ral, graceful droop, and the rich orange 

 flowers, which are carried on terminal 

 corymbose panicles, show up beauti- 

 fully when thus grown. The small 

 evergreen leaves are a rich dark green 

 in color, and I consider a nice stand- 

 ard of this streptosolen a desirable flo- 

 rists' plant and one which would bring 

 a good price. 



Propagation from cuttings is easy in 

 winter or early spring. If standards 

 are wanted, let the cuttings, when 

 potted, grow to a height of not less 

 than eighteen inches — twenty-four 

 inches is best — before pinching out the 

 top. Keep the plant securely staked. 

 It will make a nice head in a surpris- 

 ingly short time. If not sold the sec- 

 ond season, the plants can be rested for 

 a few months, pruned back and plunged 

 outdoors within convenient reach of 

 water. If the plants are kept two or 

 three seasons, the stems will be stout 

 enough to hold up the heads without 

 supports. Specimens of this old fa- 

 vorite would be quite telling dotted in 



Streptosolen Jamesonii. 



a group of plants, and it is safe to say 

 that anyone making a display of them 

 would find a strong demand for the 

 plants. Streptosolen Jamesonii suc- 

 ceeds best under ordinary greenhouse 

 treatment. It can be flowered in Janu- 

 ary or can be kept back as late as 

 April in a cold house. 



Primula Malacoides. 



Primula malacoides is undoubtedly 

 the greatest acquisition in greenhouse 

 primulas we have had for many years. 

 It is already eclipsing P. Sinensis in 

 favor, and threatens to give P. obconica 

 a close run as first favorite. That it 

 is the most graceful and decorative of 

 all primulas admits of no question. For 

 table decorations few plants can equal 

 it, and the cut spikes last surprisingly 

 well. It has, furthermore, a pleasing 

 odor, and has not the poisonous proper- 

 ties of P. obconica. The flowers are 

 usually of a delicate lavender, but there 

 is also a white form. Double varieties 

 are now appearing. 



P. malacoides is to be had as early 

 as Christmas in good bloom, but, it 

 grown cold, can be had in good condi- 

 tion as late as early April. It is par- 

 ticularly fine in February. A few 

 points to remember in growing P. 

 malacoides are: First, seed should not 



be sown earlier than from June 15 to 

 July 1. Second, it is best grown in a 

 coldframe until October. Third, it 

 needs a cool house if wanted in the 

 best condition; 40 to 45 degrees at night 

 should not be exceeded. Fourth, when 

 watering, use care not to water the cen- 

 ter of the plant; otherwise the thickly 

 crowded leaves will start to decay. 

 Fifth, never spray the plants over- 

 head once they are in the greenhouses. 



GOOD TULIPS FOE FOECINO. 



What are the best half dozen tulips . 

 for forcing? L. M,— N. S. 



La Reine, single white, slightly shad- 

 ed pink early in the season; Yellow 

 Prince, golden yellow, and White Hawk, 

 pure white, are good. Flamingo, a 

 sport from White Hawk, is the best 

 commercial pink tulip, but is still some- 

 what higher in price than the others 

 named. In doubles, Murillo, of a beau- 

 tiful pink shade, is easily the most pop- 

 ular of all forcing tulips. An increas- 

 ingly popular sort is Tea Rose, also 

 called Brimstone Beauty, a sport from 

 Murillo, of a soft saffron yellow color. 

 Couronne d'Or, golden yellow, flushed 

 orange, is another grand double forcing 

 tulip. If you want a single scarlet, try 

 Belle Alliance C. W. 



