256 



The Weekly Florists' Review^ 



Deckmbeu 14, 1905. 



Seed Trade News. 



AMERICAN SEED TRADE ASSOaATKM. 



Pres., W. H. Qrenell. Saginaw, W. S., Mlcn.j 

 Wrat Vlce-Pres., L. L. May, St. Paul; Sec'y and 

 Treas., C. E. Kendel, Cleveland. The 24th annual 

 meeting will l)e held at San Jose, Cal., June, 1906. 



W. H. Grenell, 



Visited Chicago : 

 Saginaw, Mich. 



Holly of a nondescript quality is ex- 

 ceedingly plentiful in many cities, and 

 low quotations are in order where no 

 guaranty is required. 



The onion set situation is in a state 

 of coma. After January 1 a revival will 

 take place and, as the supply is much 

 below what is ordinarily in storage at 

 this time of the year, a profitable busi- 

 ness in this commodity is looked for 

 when the season arrives. 



When no recognition is given at Wash- 

 ington, D. C, to a petition duly signed 

 by the weightiest names in the seed 

 trade, it looks as though the seed indus- 

 try is shy on votes. The most enthu- 

 siastic free-seeder of all the politicians 

 cannot deny that the seedsmen have a 

 full sized grievance, and the only reason 

 their kick won't register is because it 

 don't hit the right spot. 



Reports are that the pea situation, 

 although fairly well known and pretty 

 thoroughly adjusted, is far from satis- 

 factory. Many of the growers are short 

 on varieties that are commonly plentiful. 

 A short crop on such sorts as Alaska, 

 Horsford and Abundance is so unusual 

 that the average buyer is skeptical about 

 it, and lays it up against his grower 

 when he gets less than he expects. In 

 some localities, where the rule is that a 

 good crop may be relied upon, the short- 

 age is the heaviest. 



It ts reported that aside from peas, 

 beans and onions, the seed crops generally 

 are up to requirements and a normal 

 condition prevails. Cucumber and other 

 vine seeds, as well as sweet corn, are in 

 fair supplv. The self blanching celeries 

 are not so 'plentiful as the demand would 

 warrant, but no serious shortage has yet 

 developed. The market gardener's 

 strains of such crops as endive, kohl- 

 rabi, corn salad, etc., are sufficient, but 

 some popular strains of cabbage are 

 short and the high prices that are likely 

 to rule for cabbages before spring will 

 make the seed demand greater than 

 usual. 



Present reports are to the effect that 

 beans are nearly all delivered at the 

 growing stations and that the crop on 

 the whole is quite disappointing. The 

 only saving thing is that a good crop in 

 one section makes up in part for a fail- 

 ure in another. Those who do not con- 

 fine their growing to one locality are bet- 

 ter off than the competitor who does. 

 Some of the green-podded sorts have 

 fallen down in many sections just as 

 badly as the wax varieties. Milling and 

 picking reduces the product below the 

 dockage taken for shrink at the time of 

 delivery; this decreases the profits to 

 the grower, who at best can only ship 

 half the quantity he has orders for. 

 There is always a suspicion that some- 

 body has a lot laid away for an emer- 

 gency, but this does not help matters, 

 and usually there is little in it. 



NEW SWEET PEAS 



•^ 



EVELYN BYATT 



A GORGEOUS 

 NOVELTY 



The most gorgeous colored Sweet Pea yet introduced. It may be termed a self Oor^eous, 

 having a rich orange salmon standard, and falls or wings still a trifle deeper color, giving a 

 rli'h, fiery orange or deep sunset color to the whole flower, very striking and unique. It has 

 caused quite a sensation wherever shown during the past year. 



PHYLLIS UNWIN 



A GIANT 

 NOVELTY 



I 



I 



Color a deep rosy carmine self, the same form as GLADYS UNWIN, with the prettily waved 

 and bold standard of that variety, but a little larger, producing 3 to 4 flowers on a stem. It 

 is quite sunproof and perfectly fixed. The stems are long and stout, and it may be described 

 as A OIAVT IN EVBBT WAT. 



Each of above novelties, $14.60 per 100 packets; 

 $1.76 per doz. (Retail, 86 cents). 



GLADYS UNWIN 



LAST YEARS' 

 NOVELTY 



I 



I 



This finest of all Fink Sw«et Peas we introdaced last season. It is a strlkingr 

 ^ , t and sterling' improvement, quite fixed and dletlnct, and a 



great acquisition for Cut Blooms. 



GLADYS UVWIXr has a very large and bold flower, not hooded, but with a very striking 

 upright crinkled or wavy standard, and broad wings. Color, a pale rosy pink. A strik- 

 ing feature is that about 75 per cent of the long flower stems are with lour blooms, which 

 is a most unusual thing in Sweet Peas. It was first raised four years ago, viz., in 1901, and 

 has kept perfectly true and fixed in character each year since and we have no hesitation 

 in saying it is a bona-fide departure in pinks. Por market growers especially it cannot be 

 surpassed, and is just the lovely pink color which is so much in demand. 94.60 per pound. 

 Vegetable and Flower Seed catalogues free on application in December. 



WATKINS & SIMPSON, 



SEED MERCHANTS 



12 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London, England 



J 



Cold Storase^Berlin Valley 



SPLENDID QUALITY FOB FORCING. 



$1.50 per 100; $13.00 per 1000; 2000 (case), $i',.oo. 



NEW 

 (BOP 



GBEENH0U8E 

 f GBOWN 



Asparagus Plumosos Nanus Seed 



Per 100 seeds, 60c; per 1000 seeds, $5.00. 



JAPANESE FERN BALLS 



6-lnch 20c each; $2.00 per doz.: $14.00 per 100. 



7-9-lnch....2.''K; each: $2..'J0 per doz.; $18.00 per 100 



Send for our SURFI.IIS LIST OF NARCISSUS — It will Interest you. 

 For New Crop Mammoth Verbena and Japan Lilies, see last week's Review. 



JOHNSON & STOKES, 217-219 Market Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



Mention The Reylew when yon write. 



There were 347 cases of valley pips 

 on the Hamburg boat arriving Decem- 

 ber S. 



C. L. Allen, Floral Park, N. Y,, lost 

 his wife December 2, aged 72 years. She 

 had been ill for some months. 



The Iowa Seed Co., Des Moines, la., 

 has a strike of compositors in its print- 

 ing department, called December 9, but 

 both its English and German catalogues 

 were all in type and will be out earlier 

 this year than ever before, as the press- 

 men are not affected. 



Bouquet green is selling at Chicago 

 at $8 and up. Dealers have not filled ad- 

 vance orders beyond half, if there was an 

 agreeable way of escape, for most early 

 bookings were at 4 to 5 cents per pound. 

 The supply has not exceeded sixty per 

 cent of the average year. Higher prices 

 may be expected on good stock, some lots 

 being fine and others very poor. 



Eugene Schaettel, of Vilmorin-An- 

 ilrieux & Co., Paris, sails for home today 

 on La Savoie. He has spent two months 

 visiting the leading seedsmen and reports 

 !i very optimistic feeling throughout the 

 trade. 



' ' Strains of com that doubtless had a 

 common origin have become so changed 

 that some of them have a growing period 

 of six months, reaching a height of eigh- 

 teen or more feet, while others ripen in 

 ninety days, having attained a height of 

 only two or three feet. These changes 

 are the result of selection, which is partly 

 natural and partly the work of man. By 

 selection a strain can be greatly improved 

 in production and at the same time 

 adapted to the soil and climatic condi- 

 tions of the locality in which it is being 

 improved. Because of differences in soil, 

 climate and length of growing season, 

 a corn improved in one locality does not 

 afford the best seed for localities which 

 are unlike it." 



