70 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 





JCNB 2. 1904. 



Vegetable Forcing. 



CLEANING CUCUMBER HOUSES. 



Since pests of various kinds aro likely 

 to increase with the age of the green- 

 house it is good practice to follow Kome 

 systematic treatment of the house each 

 year as a means of prevention. As cu- 

 cumber houses are usually empty for a 

 portion of the year it is possible to ap- 

 ply stringent remedies. We have made 

 a practice each year of thoroughly fumi- 

 gating our houses with either burnt sul- 

 phur or hydrocyanic gaa, or both, before 

 putting in the crop. We have burned 

 sulphur at the rate of 200 grams (about 

 six ounces) to 1,000 cubic feet of ?pace 

 and hydrocyanic gas at the rate of 



25 grams cyanide (nearly 1 os.). 

 % more by weight of sulphuric acjd. 

 Vi more by weight of watto than acid. 



This amount is suflScient for 100 cubic 

 feet. 



The sulphur treatment is not as expen- 

 sive as the cyanide, and while the sul- 

 phur is desirable for some things the 

 cyanide is better adapted for others. 

 E/ither of these treatments will efFec- 

 JJually remove certain pests common to 

 greenhouses, and we believe it desirable 

 for growers to practice fumigation meth- 

 ods. — GrEOBGE E. Stone, in Bulletin of 

 Hatch Experiment Station. 



manure and coarse sand. Good drainage 

 is essential, for although when growing 

 water must be given freely, it should be 

 remembered that a stagnant condition of 

 the soil will result in yellow and sickly- 

 looking leaves. As these plants are often 

 kept for a long time in the same pots, 

 when grown under cool conditions, small 

 lumps of charcoal should be well mixed 

 with the potting soil. 



The aspidistra is said to be almost 

 hardy, and I have seen a number of 

 plants in a house from which frost was 

 scarcely excluded. These had a healthy 

 appearance, but were somewhat stunted 

 in their growth. For general use they 

 aro much better grown under warm con- 

 ditions, especially during the time they 

 are making growth. The leaves and 

 stems are then longer, which result in 

 more graceful specimens being secured. 

 The most suitable time to repot or di- 

 vide the plants is just when they are be- 

 ginning to grow. A little warmth at 

 this time is most beneficial, as it will 

 greatly assist the formation of new 

 roots, and the plants will soon become 

 established. Abundance of water will be 

 required during the summer, when 

 growth is being made, but not much 

 will be needed during the dark days of 

 winter. Indeed, many plants are spoilt 

 by inattention to this particular. 



Aspidistras are not much troubled 

 with insect pests, but when grown in 

 warm houses, thrips sometimes makes its 



Mr. Compere. Mr. Bees. 



Section of Freesia Fields of Rees & Compere, Long Beach, Cat 



ASPIDISTRA LURIDA. 



Perhaps no other plant, used generally 

 for decorative purposes, is better known 

 than Aspidistra lurida. No doubt this 

 is owing to its very accommodating na- 

 ture, as it will grow and flourish under 

 adverse conditions where many other 

 plants would succumb. In houses where 

 gas is used, in smoky districts, or dark 

 rcoms, it is a most valuable plant, but 

 it will be scarcely necessary to add that 

 it will be more satisfactory under better 

 conditions. 



The aspidistra is popularly known as 

 the parlor palm. Its thick, handsome, 

 shining leaves, somewhat resemble those 

 of some kinds of palms, and from the 

 fact that it flourishes so well in "par- 

 lors," the name is appropriate. Al- 

 though the aspidistra will grow in a 

 poor, light soil, it thrives much better 

 under generous treatment. A suitable 

 medium in which to put it is good turfy 

 loam, leaf-mold, a little well-decayed | 



appearance, but can easily be kept at 

 bay by sponging or syringing periodi- 

 cally with any approved insecticide. 

 Used as a window plant, the aspidistra 

 should have the leaves sponged over once 

 a week with clean water, to free them 

 of dust. Or the plants may be stood 

 outside during a shower of rain, if the 

 weather be not too cold or windy. The 

 variegated aspidistra is in every way as 

 good and useful as the green, it being 

 purely a matter of taste which one may 

 like best. 



It is fairly well known that aspidistra 

 flowers appear on the creeping rhizomes, 

 and seem to "sit upon the soil," so to 

 speak. There are many who do not rec- 

 ognize them as flowers, and I have sev- 

 eral times had them pointed out to me 

 ah something extraordinary. — Garden- 

 ers' Magazine. 



Cleveland, O. — Smith & Fetters are 

 having a very fine run of wedding work. 



Seed Trade News. 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOOATION. 



Pros., 8. P. Wlllard, Wethersfleld, Conn.; First 

 Vice-Pres., J. Ohas. McOallouBrh, Cincinnati, O.; 

 Seo'y and Treaa., O. B. Kendel, Cleveland, O. 

 The Md annual meeting will be held at St. LoulB, 

 Mo..Juiie.U(M. 



Clover seed is rapidly approaching 

 the usual summer dullness. 



The a, a. Berry Seed Co., Clarinda. 

 la., will build a large warehouse this 

 season. 



Oklahoma Citt, Okla. — Mr. De 

 Beere, representing the L. A. Budlong 

 Co., onion set growers, Chicago, has been 

 _booking orders here. 



The Ohio Department of Agriculture 

 reports that the acreage of clover sown 

 is ninety-one per cent of the area sown 

 last year. 



The acreage of clover sown in Michi- 

 gan, compared with 1903, is, in the state 

 and southern counties eighty-nine, in the 

 central counties eighty-eight and in the 

 northern counties ninety-two. 



An international committee has been 

 formed for the purpose of erecting a 

 memorial at Paris to the late Henri de 

 Vilmorin. The United States is repre- 

 sented by Prof. C. S. Sargent, of Arnold 

 Arboretum, Boston. 



Many seed dealers find that poultry 

 supplies make a very popular side line 

 and in some instances very large cata- 

 logue trades have been built up in this 

 department. The Harvey Seed Co., of 

 Montgomery, Ala., has found the poultry 

 department well worth developing. 



The English growers are attempting to 

 rival with the potato the famous tulip 

 craze in Holland. Seed stock of one or 

 two new varieties has been sold, literally, 

 for its weight in gold and now small 

 plants of the variety Eldorado are selling 

 at $10 each. And they have a National 

 Potato Society. 



In the three leading lines of canned 

 vegetables — tomatoes, corn and peas — 

 our export business, compared to the an- 

 nual production and home consumption, 

 is almost insignificant. A few tomatoes 

 are sent abroad each year, and, of course, 

 a small quantity of corn and peas; but 

 our foreign trade in these vegetables is 

 still in its infancy and will require vig- 

 orous pushing to develop. And develop- 

 ment in exports of staple vegetables is de- 

 sirable to provide wider markets and a 

 bigger outlet for American canners, and 

 to carry off a portion of the surplus in 

 seasons of excessive production. 



Toledo, O. — At the Scottwood Green- 

 house they say that the sale of bedding 

 plants ha.s been heavier than ever before 

 and that Decoration day trade was very 

 good. 



Gladiolos Bolbs 



Oar bolbi are not better than 

 the best, bat better than the reit. 

 TBT THBM. f. 



Cushman Gladiolus Co. 



STXTASIA. OHIO. 



Mention The Beview when yon write. 



Always mention the Florists' Review when 

 writing advertisers. 



