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The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



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Jancart 12. 1905. 



y^etable Forcing. 



VEGETABLE MARKETS. 



Chicago, Jan. 11. — Leaf lettuce, 15c to 

 25c case; head lettuce, $2.50 to $4.50 

 bbl. 



Boston, Jan. 10. — Cucumbers, select, 

 $12 to $20 box; ordinary, $3 to $8 box; 

 radishes, $2.50 box; tomatoes, 35c to 40c 

 lb. ; lettuce, 15c to 30c doz. ; mushrooms, 

 50c to 80c lb.; mint, $1.25 doz. bunches; 

 asparagus, $4 doz. bunches. 



CANTALOUPES. 



There seem to be very few who have 

 attempted to grow cantaloupes under 

 glass for market and these few claim 

 that it is hard to get a profitable urice 

 out of them. Demand would naturally 

 be created if more of tliem were placed 

 upon the market. Some people might 

 «'itme along who wouUi be willing to prfy 

 a good price for them from a novelty 

 l>oint of view, but these novelty-stck- 

 ers are too few and far between to be 

 counted on as profitable buyers. Still 

 we can't get away from the fact that a 

 nice fresh muskmelon is about as fine 

 a fruit as can be placed on the table at 

 any season of the year and during the 

 winter and spring months should have 

 an especial value. It therefore seems 

 reasonable enough to expect that if the 

 right class of [leople could be reached 

 they woukl be willing to pay a price 

 high enough to make it worth while for 

 the grower to handle this crop. Only, I 

 wouhl advise those who contemplate try- 

 ing it to go rather limited on it at first 

 until they see how they are likely to 

 come out. 



The general cultivation of cantaloupes 

 is similar to tliat of cucumbers, so that 

 a few plants could be tried in the 

 cucumber house. Where the greatest 

 difference comes in is at the setting 

 stage. Cucumber flowers can he set ar- 

 cording as they appear, but with melons 

 it is necessary to wait until eight or ten 

 flowers can be had at one time or, if 

 one or two only are set at one time, 

 they will run away with the strength of 

 the plant and it will be hard to get 

 others to set and even if they do set 

 they will not swell if one or two others 

 have the lead. It is also necessary to 

 support the fruit by a network of cords 

 or some such device, as they get too 

 heavy for the stem and would break 

 away unless artifieial support was 

 given. 



Regarding variety, I prefer those of 

 European origin. Some good growers 

 have told me that they were successful 

 in forcing Emerald (Jem, but I have 

 never been able to obtain good flavor in 

 this when forced. The best flavored 

 varieties I have trieil are Royal Favorite 

 and Frogmore Scarlet, both of English 

 origin ami are good, free setters and 

 healthy growers. Royal Favorite is the 

 larger of the two, is nearly round in 

 shape, closely netted and a beautiful 

 fruit when well finished. Frogmore 

 Scarlet, though not so large, matures 

 earlier, is also a beautiful fruit, of a rich 

 orange yellow when finished, though not 

 80 closely netted as the Favorite. A 

 number of varieties of this class are in 

 existence, but the above named ;tre the 

 best I have tried. W. S. Croydon. 



WITH THE GROWERS. 



J. M. Gasser Co., Cleveland. 



This company's plant at Rocky River 

 comprises nearly 300,000 feet of glass 

 and one always finds something of in- 

 terest Mr. Anderson, the genial man- 

 ager of the plant, was our escort. The 

 orchid and fern house was the first. 

 Quite a number of cattleyas, oncidiums 

 and cypripediums were in prime condi- 

 tion, as were also some fine Boston ferns, 

 Pandanus Veitchii and Dracaena ter- 

 minalis. 



Carnations were next. A large area 

 is devoted to this flower aud as a whole 

 the stock looks remarkably good. Law- 

 son predominates and at present the 

 house is a field of butl and bloom, hav- 



Tower and Tank at J. M. Gasser Co.'s. 



ing been just right for Christmas. There 

 is also a house of Enchantress with 

 stems from two to three feet long and 

 blooms of i)erfect color. Gov. Wolcott 

 is not doing as well this year as last, 

 being a trifle slow. White Cloud is still 

 grown and more space will lie occupied 

 hy this variety next year. Moonlight 

 arul Vesper are bsdng tried on a limited 

 scale and up to date are doing nicely. 

 In red, Mrs. Potter Palmer has done 

 well to date. Apollo is too small. Crane 

 does not do well here. Kstelle gives 

 goo<l results. Flaminjjo is somewhat 

 diseased, but is a gran<l, good flower 

 with stems nearly three feet long. They 

 will propagate from healthy stock and 

 try it again. In crimson Harry Fcnn 

 leads them all. Several of the latest 

 introductions will be planted, including 

 P"Hancee, White Lawson and others. Mr. 

 (rasser is sorry Hoht. Craig is not out 

 for the coming season. 



A larger si)ace is devoted to the rose. 

 Many varieties are planted and most of 

 them look healthy and vigorous. Beau- 



ties are planted in limited quantities 

 and at present are off crop but growth 

 is strong and heavy. Maids and Brides 

 were started late after resting, and are 

 just in their first growth. Perle is in 

 fine condition, being full of strong, red 

 growth but not in heavy crop at present. 

 Mme. Chatenay is one mass of buds, al- 

 though Mr. Anderson says it is off crop. 

 What a magnificent grower it is! Lib- 

 erty is completely off and is considered 

 too slow. Gen. MacArthur resembles 

 Perle in growth, being an exceptionally 

 vigorous variety, and does best at from 

 50 to 54 degrees. Meteor has been 

 dropped altogether. A house 300 feet 

 long devoted to Kaiserin is still pro- 

 ducing some very fine flowers. 



A large space is occupied by mums 

 during the summer, being followed by 

 lilies, azaleas and bulbous stock. A house 

 of poinsettias for cutting with stems 

 ten feet long was just right for Christ- 

 mas. Lorraine begonias and cyclamen 

 are also grown and are looking quite 

 good. 



It is said that another range will be 

 added to this one either this or next 

 year, as they are unable to meet the 

 increasing demand for their shipping 

 trade. 



The Gasser Co. has a water supply 

 at this place from a 15,000 gallon tank 

 elevated sixty-three feet on an all iron 

 tower. It was built by the W. E. Cald- 

 well Co., . Louisville, Ky. 



Forest City. 



NEW YORK FLORISTS' CLUB. 



Monday evening, January 9, the first 

 meeting of the New York Florists' Club 

 for 1905 took place at the club's parlors 

 and an enthusiastic crowd welcomed the 

 beginning of what promises to be a most 

 successful year. Vice-President Butter- 

 field introduced the newly re-elected 

 j)resident, Frank E. Traendly, who re- 

 ceived a most cordial greeting and re- 

 sponded with an address as follows: 



President's Address. 



I tliHiik you liciirtll.v for the iimrk of i-on- 

 lldeuce jou havi' shown b.v ri'-elec-ting uie to 

 the olHce of liiexiileiit for the ensuing year. 

 Well iitteiided lueetlngH, ii lilH>rul re8iK>n8e to 

 our InvitationH to all who might have some- 

 Ihing to show on the nights set a|mrt for 

 sptH-lal exhibits; gotxl work by the dlfterent 

 couiuiittees— all these have contrlbuteil to make 

 the past year suiieseful. That the name fa- 

 vorable coiMlltl"ii8 may bo with us (luring the 

 year to couie is my eanu'st liope. 



The club is tu m flourishing coiulition and 

 the treasurer's rejwrt will 8h«iw a growing sur- 

 plus, as the following extract proves: 



Cash balance January 1. 1!»04 | 911. aT 



Cjish biilunce January 1. 1!K)5 1.226.52 



The membership is at present about 200, of 

 which 147 are in gtHul standing, thirty-two 

 owe one year's dues and eighteen have received 

 a tinal notice to make good their Indebtedness 

 ;it once. These flgures may seem to coni- 

 piire unfavorabl,v with last year's reiwrt. but 

 the list of delinquents has been gone over 

 by the board of trustees and a goo<l deal of 

 deadwood dropped from the roll. It is pr<)p<>r 

 at this time to say to proposers of new mem- 

 liers that the initiation fee of $.•} must be 

 handed in to the secretary with every projK)- 

 sltion before a name can l>e presented to the 

 <lub. 



I recommend a repetition of last year's pro- 

 gram to arrange for special exhibitions on 

 HfHted nights during the year, l>eginning with 

 ciirnatlons at the February meeting. It W(uild 

 tend to Inen'Hse Interest and make these nights 

 still more attractive If we could have a paper 

 read by a specialist on the principal exhibit of 

 the evening. 



I hesitate to refer to a revision of the rules 

 governing the committee on award, but I 

 have heard suggestions fliat the rules might 

 t»e improved. I think, however, that matter 

 may safely be left with the committee, and 

 if It sens fit to make recommendations the 

 ilnb will consider them. 



The hoti8«' committee seems to have mnde 

 Itself Indispensable and a fair appropriation 

 for this year Is advisable. I rocommencj that 

 the committee make arrangements for a la- 

 i"os' iifeht for the February meeting and pro- 

 vide proper entertainment. If agreeable to the 



