•■irs:: 



54 



The Florists' Review 



JuLV 22, 1915. 



in Australia and New Zealand for the 

 markets of Europe; to the most rapid 

 development of garden peas growing in 

 the valleys of Montana, Utah and 

 Idaho, where snow-capped mountains 

 look down all summer upon thousands 

 of acres of most delicate pea vines, 

 and to the almost fabulous cultures of 

 sweet peas in California to furnish 

 seed for the ornamental gardens of the 

 entire world. 



"Such being the world-wide distribu- 

 tion of seed-producing districts, it can 

 readily be perceived that all leading 

 seed merchants to a large degree are 

 assemblers of seeds, they or the still 

 larger seedsmen from whom they pur- 

 chase drawing from all parts of the 

 world, just as the large dry-goods mer- 

 chant sells the products of the mills 

 of many countries. It is just here why 

 the seeds sold by different seed mer- 

 chants vary so greatly. Most seed 

 merchants are all the time intensely 

 straining to get the cheapest seeds, so 

 that they can sell cheaply, overlooking 

 or ignoring the fact that cheap seeds 

 at once indicate inferiority. The ex- 

 pression 'cheap and nasty' applies to 

 seeds more than to any other com- 

 modity. 



"Years ago, when a merchant or 

 storekeeper selling seeds obtained the 

 larger quantity of his seeds from neigh- 

 boring farmer seed growers or market 

 gardeners in his vicinity, he could know 

 something of the quality, he could visit 

 the seed fields, he could know some- 

 thing of the character of the men who 

 grew the seeds, but not now. That 

 local source of supply is, as a rule, a 

 thing of the past. Eadish seed, gener- 

 ally obtained from second or even 

 fourth hand from the actual farmer, 

 now is grown 4,000 miles east in 

 Europe, or 4,000 miles west in Cali- 

 fornia; peas are grown probably in the 

 valleys of the Rocky mountains, pos- 

 sibly away off in New Zealand or in 

 Argentina, and just so with other 

 things. He has to rely upon the honesty 

 of several parties not known to him — 

 men passing the seed along at various 

 intervals through the chain of sup- 

 plies — all making a profit in the trans- 

 action. 



' ' Even the highest prices do not 

 assure the best seeds, as there are Shy- 

 locks and grafters all along the line. 

 Quality can only be partially assured 

 by getting supplies from experts pos- 

 sessing a reputation for honesty; but 

 often experts may themselves be de- 

 ceived, for why should conditions gov- 

 erning the grade of seeds, which pass 

 through many hands before getting 

 into the hands of the planter, be in a 

 different category from drugs, of which 

 everyone knows there are many grades? 

 Using inferior drugs, the sick man is 

 in his grave saying nothing; but using 

 inferior seeds, the planter six months 

 after purchase may privately give way 

 to more or less profanity every time 

 he looks at his crops, and he cannot 

 be blamed. 



"Few seed merchants have the 

 knowledge from which countries to get 

 the best, and then, when the country 

 or district is determined upon, from 

 what firms of seed growers there to 

 get the best, for the 'cheap Johns' are 

 there too. Some curious errors have 

 been presented to us in the purchase 

 of seeds, as, for instance, so-called 

 European seed has. When the bags were 

 emptied out, exposed California labels, 

 and the reverse — California seed when 



ANNOUNCEMENT 



OF THE 1915 CROP PRICES ON 



ZVOLANEK'SSiNcORCHID 

 SWEET PEA SEED 



We are distributors for these famous Sweet Pea Seeds and are today 

 able to announce the following prices subject to crop being unsold 

 on receipt of order— so speak quick. Delivery July or August. 



Mrs. A. A. Skach, a beautiful 

 shell pink. Will not fade and has 

 splendid keeping qualities. Per 

 ounce, $1.75; 4 ounces, $6.60; 1 

 pound, $18.00. 



Mrs. Jos. Manda, a light shell 

 pink with extra long stem. Flow- 

 ers ruffled, becoming a brighter 

 pink the longer they are kept. 

 Per ounce. $2.00; 4 ounces, $7.00; 

 1 pound, $26.00. 



White Orchid, a true white. Per 

 ounce, $1.75; 4 ounces, $6.00; 1 

 pound. $18.00. 



Orchid Beauty, dark rose, blush- 

 ed with orange. Per ounce, $1.75; 

 4 ounces, $6.00; 1 pound, $18.00. 



Mrs. M. Spanolin, black-seeded, 

 of the purest white color. Has 

 won a number of first prizes. 

 Per ounce, $2.00; 4 ounces, $7.00; 

 1 pound, $25.00. 



Orang^e Orchid, begins to bloom 

 in March. One of thfe best if sown 

 late. During December and Janu- 

 ary the color is more rose. True. 

 Per ounce, $4.00; 4 ounces, $12.00. 



Iiavender Orchid, lavender pink, 

 very large. Per ounce, $2.00; 

 4 ounces, $7.00; 1 pound, $25.00. 



Venus, white with slight pink 

 blush; one of the best. Per ounce, 

 $2.00; 4 ounces, $7.00; 1 pound, 

 $25.00. 



ORDER NOW AND MAKE SURE OF YOUR SUPPLY 



WABASH AT 

 LAKE STREET 



Wholesale Cut flowers 



CHICAGO, ILL 



Mention Tbe B«Tlew when yon write. 



Why postpone ordering stock you will be sure to 

 need? Place your order now for: — 



Per 100 Per 1000 



Begonia Cincinnati, 2X-iii., strong $17.60 $160.00 



Begonia Lorraine 14.00 120.00 



Begonia Chatelaine 5.00 45.00 



Poinsettias, select 6.00 50.00 



Cydamen, 2>^-in., excellent strain 5.60 60.00 



S-in., $8.00 per 100, $75.00 per 1000; 4-in., $20.00 



per 100. 



Primula Obconica, Chinensis and Malacoides, 2%-in 3.00 2??00 



Fern nats,best commercial varietiee, $2.00 per flat, 10 flats for $17.60 



Per 100 Per IMO 



Boiivardias, 2X-in. , red, white and pink $ 4.00 $35.00 



Euphorbia Jacquiniaeflora, 2>^-in 10.00 



Nico-Fume Liquid $10.60 per gallon 



Nico-Fume Paper $7.50 per can of 288-iheet8 



Magic Hose (none better), ^-in., 50-ft., 16c per ft.; 100-ft., 15c per 

 ft.; ^-in., 50.ft., 17c per ft.; 100-ft., 16c per ft. 



For Rose, Carnation and Chrysanthemum plants, consult our cata- 

 logue, which will be cheerfully mailed on application. 



How about Cold Storage Lilies and Valley? We have the stodt and 

 our prices are right Write us. 



S. S. SKIDELSKY ft CO., "^ yJlTi-Jr..:?.;; v.. 



Mention llie Bcrlew when yon 



T: 



