81 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



iUv 31, 1900. 



florists, quite superseiling the single 

 white azalea for cut flower work; re- 

 quires very little attention antl is very 

 easily flowered, yet commands the very 

 highest market prices, and the demand 

 for cut spikes is always greater than 

 the supply. Another very inijMrtant 

 point is that the bulbs grow and increase 

 well. The beautiful snow-white flower, 

 purer than the purest, strongly appeals 



to large 'cut' growers, and the Amer- 

 ican, Belgian, l)ntch, south of France 

 and Channel Island growers should give 

 this very valuable acquisition a liberal 

 and careful trial. All our clients who 

 bought a few bulbs to try last year have 

 ordered a larger stock this peason. All 

 provincial florists who cut for orders as 

 required, should undoubtedly have a 

 supply. ' ' 



CARRYING STOCK OVER. 



During the last few weeks, I have re- 

 ceived several inquiries as to the best 

 method of carrying stock over a second 

 season, anil as the time is approaching 

 when preparations should be commenced 

 if this method of culture is to be 

 adopted, a few timely hints may be of 

 some interest. 



This method of culture is becoming 

 more popular every year, and from the 

 success attained by many of the most 

 promi'nent growers during the past few 

 seasons there is little doubt but that it 

 will become more popular still, as we 

 master the intricacies of this method. 

 During the early spring 1 had the pleas- 

 ure of visiting some of the larger estab- 

 lishments where this method was in 

 vogue. Some of the stock was even in its 

 fourth year, and the results obtained 

 were grand. Some houses of Liberty in 

 their fourth year were the finest of that 

 variety 1 have ever seen, and these in 

 solid benches, too. The Brides and 

 Maids which were subjected to this 

 method certainly produced some wonder- 

 fully handsome blooms, with stems three 

 and one-half feet long, strong, stiff" and 

 erect, with foliage that could not be 

 surpassed. 



To derive the full benefit from this 

 method of culture, preparations should 

 be commenced in June or early in July, 

 so that the plants may not have their 

 growing season curtailed. This is fre- 

 quently delayed till late in the fall or 

 until the young stock commences to give 

 a crop, leaving no time for the stock to 

 get into cropping condition before the 

 dark weather commences. This, meta- 

 phorically speaking, gives this method 

 of culture a black eye, as it requires 

 from three weeks to a month, accord- 

 ing to the weather between the time of 

 giving them a rest and starting them up 

 again. 



By gradually reducing the supply of 

 water to the roots, they will begin to 

 ripen both wood and foliage, and stop 

 makinjEf nt>w wood. While this is being 

 done; the houses must be thoroughly , 



ventilated both night and day, and the 

 temperature kept as near 56 degrees at 

 night as the season will permit. The 

 syringe nuist also be kept going as fre- 

 quently as before, because allowing the 

 foliage to become a prey to red spider 

 does not in any way help the ripening 

 process, and has a very weakening effect 

 on the plant, by abruptly checking root 

 action. Yet, how often do we see a 

 house during this stage entirely neglected 

 in this respect! 



The soil in the bench must not be al- 

 lowed to become so dry as to cauMe tt-e 

 young wootl to wilt or to cause the plants 

 to shed their leaves. If the plants are 

 on table benches and the weather is 

 warm and bright, the ripening process 

 may be completed in three weeks, if in 

 solid benches it will require from a week 

 to ten days longer, even in the brightest 

 kind of weather. RiBKS. 



CONVENTION PREPARATIONS. 



The accompanying illustration shows 

 the pavilion at the fair grounfLs at Day- 

 ton. O., where the S. A. F. trade exhibit 

 will be staged August 21 to 24. The 

 building is octagonal, two stories in, 

 height, with four entrances to the lower 

 floor and two stairways to the upper 

 floor. Horace M. Frank, superintendent 



of the trade display, reports considerable 

 space alrea<ly spoken for. The charge 

 is 25 cents per square foot for all. space 

 less than twelve feet; more than twelve 

 "and less than fifty feet, 21 cents; more 

 than fifty and less than 100 feet, 19 

 cents; 100 fpet or more, 18 cents; no 

 entry to be accepted for less than $2. 

 The rules provide: 



KxliIbitoi'H showing novelties or Improved de- 

 vices which thev wish to have examined by the 

 judges tor such" special notice or award as tliey 

 may be deemed worthy of. shall make an Item- 

 ized entry thereof with the superintendent lu 

 advance. 



The |)re8ldeiit shall appoint, not less than one 

 month In advance of the convention, three 

 Judges who shall receive for their services such 

 remunoriitlt'n as the executive board may deter- 

 mine. They shall examine specially entered ex- 

 hibits and' make detailed report thereon promptly 

 to the secretary on the afteruwin of the ttrst 

 day of the convention. * 



For exhlbltt; deemed worthy thereof dlploniMS 

 of three grades may be given, as follows: Cer- 

 tlflcate of merit, honorable mention, highly 

 commended. 



No distinction as "first," "second." "best." 

 or "largest," or other mention Indicating com- 

 parisons with other exhibits shall be made, ami 

 diplomas nf eipial value nuiy be awarded to 

 several exhibits In the same class. 



This year the trade exhibition is to 



remain open while the convention is in 



session and there is to be a large addi- 

 tional display planted outdoors. 



AMERICAN TULIPS. 



It is only a question of time when 

 America will produce a considerable pro- 

 portion of the bulbs now imported from 

 Holland for forcing apd outdoor plant- 

 ing. It has been fully demonstratetl that 

 good bulbs can be grown in the county 

 of Whatcom, in the state of Washington, 

 where the work of Georgs Gibbs and sev- 

 eral other growers has been attended by 

 signal success. It only remains for the 

 commercial features of the industry to 

 be developed and established upon a 

 profitable basis. 



The accompanying illustration is from 

 a photograph of macrospeila tulips from 

 bulbs grown by Mr. Gibbs and flowered 

 on his grounds this season. He reports 

 phenomenal increase in tulip bulbs 

 planted and not moved for three yenrs. 

 Not only do tulips thrive under the soil 

 and climatic conditions in Whatcom 

 county, but hyacinths, narcissi, crocus, 

 candidums and many other things give 

 quick results in bulbs of a quality not 

 ex<;elleil elsewhere. Mr. Gibbs is the 

 pioneer bulb grower of western America. 

 He has been at it fourteen years and 

 has a splendid location, less than a mile 

 from the Clearbrook railroad station. 

 He several times has sent exhibits of 



Pavilion at Fair Grounds, Dayton, where S. A. F. Trade Exhibit will be Held. 



