152 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



JUNB 7, 1900. 



there and where the tiles rest on soil. 

 Our attention has been drawn to it, and 

 we have frequently noticed it where a 

 «mall piece of bench was carried over 

 «ome stone or concrete floor. 



We have found the bed which I have 

 «ndeavored to describe as near the ideal 

 as possible, convenient to work, lasting, 

 and not expensive. If the crops on it 

 are not ideal we are convinced we must 

 *ook to some other cause than the con- 

 titruction of the benches. 



William Scott, 



• i^f^— I 



BITUMINOUS MINES RESUME. 



The strike of the Illinois coal miners 

 terminated May 31 as the result of an 



agreement effected by the joint scale 

 committee of miners and operators. In 

 substance the agreement provides that 

 the 1903 scale of wages shall be paid 

 the miners and that the cost of shot 

 firers and inspectors shall be assumed by 

 the miners, and in case of any new legis- 

 lation enacted which shall affect the 

 equity of the agreement the party which 

 is injured by the legislation shall be re- 

 imbursed by the other party to the joint 

 agreement. The agreement is to con- 

 tinue in force for two years. 



T])| Mnes resumed operations on Mon- 

 day and soon all Wni^ oe working at full 

 capacity, although there is no immediate 

 need for coal. The prospects are that 

 coal can be laid in cheaply this summer. 



* y^ ^ 



^ n' CAHRYING ^TOCK OVER. 



Aa soon as the plants have acquired 

 the proper condition of ripeness, all the 

 email, blind wood should be cut out and 

 the stronger shoots cut back to at least 

 four eyes. As much of the top soil 

 should be removed as can be done with- 

 out injuring the roots, and the surface 

 ^ven a sprinkling of air-slaked lime. 

 The bed should then be refilled with a 

 good, rich' mulch and given a thorough 

 soaking. 



The house temperature should,, be kept 

 aa near 55 degrees as the weather will 

 allow, and the plants should be frequent- 

 ly syringed '6nt|i;l||>ot action agaii} com'", 

 meaces, wh^if qiure water m^^ ftoer \;fe'n-* 

 tilation can be given. ^ • (£ 



By tying the stronger growths in a 

 fiorizontal position the buds, which are 

 at the base of the stem and in a dormant 

 state, will be encouraged to break and 

 tform nice shoots. 



Aa the young leaves develop and the 

 ^oung growths begin to reach, ventila- 

 tion should be given freely and ordinary 

 'watering resumed. 



During the whole process of ripening, 

 preparing and restarting the plants, 

 great care should be exercised in ad- 

 ministering ventilation and giving the 

 requisite quantity of moisture to the 

 liouse without direct application to the 

 roots. 



In ventilating the sashes should be 

 raised a little at a time, never so much 

 as to perceptibly reduce the temperature, 

 *nd should be lowered during the after- 

 noon with the same care; that is, never 

 Bower the ventilating sash so much at 

 ««c« as will have a tendency to raise 

 the temperature of the house. 



While the plants require a good deal 

 «£ moisture, the roots being in a semi- 



dormant condition do not require much 

 water after the first soaking until there 

 are very evident signs of renewed root 

 activity. 



No effort should be made to push the 

 plants along by feeding or otherwise 

 until they have developed a good crop 

 of leaves and young wood of good sub- 

 stantial quality. Bibes. 



FUMIGATING WITH ARSENIC 



We have noticed some comment on 

 fumigating with" arsenic. Can you ad- 

 vise us in what quantities this should be 

 used and whether or not it has ever 

 been successfully used for leaf rollers on 

 roses! L. W. H. 



Regarding the merits of arsenic as a 

 fumigant to be applied to rose houses 

 and the quantities to be used for de- 

 . Iptroying the leaf roller, I have made 

 jf 'ddme care|^ research avtto its properties 

 wnen so i^^ied and the best and easiest 

 methods of so applying it. 



The question of whether . it would 

 benefit the rose grower and be of prac- 

 tical use to him in exterminating insects 

 is, so far as I can learn from inquiries 

 among the most advanced in the craft, 

 an unknown field. That the deposit left 

 on the leaves of roses from properly 

 sublimated arsenious acid (the common 

 white arsenic of commerce) would be 

 fatal to chewing insects there can be lit- 

 tle doubt, but some of our worst enemies 

 belong to the class called suckers, that 

 derive their sustenance from the sap of 

 the plant and consequently can not be 

 reached through their stomachs. 



It is possible that a fine deposit may 

 affect any of the insects by absorption 

 and thus set up a fatal irritation, but 

 these effects can also be accomplished 

 by the simpler and safer method of using 

 the acid in solution. 



According to some authorities arsen- 

 ious acid is entirely volatile at an in- 

 cipient white heat and if thrown on 

 ignited charcoal it emits a strong gar- 



licky odor, while in the British phar- 

 macopceia it is said to be entirely volati- 

 lized at a temperature of 400 degrees F. 

 Dr. Taylor, in his work on medical juris- 

 prudence, gives the subliming point at 

 370 degrees F., and Wm. A. Guy, who 

 has made careful experiments on the 

 volatility of various substances, states 

 that arsenious acid rises in vapor at 

 about 280 degrees F. On being heated 

 to about 424 degrees F. it is completely 

 volatilized without melting. 



To show how widely doctors can differ 

 on even such an easily settled dispussion, 

 the above statemei* were entirely dis- 

 proved by experiments made under the 

 direction of Prof. Mallet, of the Uni- 

 versity of Virginia. He succeeded in 

 fusing arsenic without difficulty, but 

 failed to pass it into vapor without fus- 

 ing. 



With arsenic in its various forms as 

 an insecticide there is a wide field, but 

 at the same time there is great danger 

 in volatilizing such a subtile poison and 

 it is only by a thorough knowledge of 

 the properties it assumes in its various 

 forms that can constitute safelly. Few 

 growers posses(9 4S\As knowledge ' and ex- 

 perimenting with such an agent may 

 place some of the growers themselves 

 in the same condition they would like 

 to put the pests of the rose houses. 



Bibes. 



PEONY PREMIUMS. 



The American Peony Society holds its 

 third annual meeting and exhibition at 

 Boston next week Friday and Saturday. 

 .Tames Wheeler has charge of the exhibi- 

 tion, at Horticultural hall. The pre- 

 mijftpi^ for commercial exhibitors are as 



fofloH: . ii%ttu> 



Largest and best collection of varieties, one 

 flower each, first premium $15, second $lu, 

 third $S. 



Collection of best twelve and most distinct 

 varieties, six flowers each, first premium $1*), 

 second |5. 



Best collection of varieties in various shades 

 of rose pinic, not less than three or mure than 

 six flowers each, first $10, second $5. 



Best collection of varieties, salmon or flesh 

 colored, not less than three or more than six 

 flowers each, first $10, second $.1. 



Best collectio^i of white varieties, not less 

 than three or more than six flowers each, first 

 $1<), second $5. 



Best collection of varieties, cream white and 

 light yellow, not less than three or. more than 

 ttian six flowers each, first $10, second $5. 



Best collection of crimson varieties without 

 stamens, not less than three or more than six 

 flowers each, first $10, second $5. 



Best collection of crimson varieties, with sta- 

 mens not less than three or more than six 

 flowers each, first $10, second $5. 



Best collection of tricolor ♦arl^tles* Including 

 flowers with guard petals, coUar^no 4nd center 

 petals of different colors, not less tlian three or 

 more than six flowers each, flrst $10. second $5. 



Best flft.v blooms white, first $10. second $5. 



Best fifty blooms pinli, any shade, first $10, 

 second |5. 



Best fifty blooms crimson, first $10. second $5. 



Special prize of the Bost.on Gardeners' and 

 Florists' Club, for best collection of six varie- 

 ties Introduced since 1800, one flower each, flrst 

 $6, second $4. 



There are also classes for amateur 

 growers and the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society also offers its regular 

 peony schedule of seventeen classes, in- 

 cluding the Kelway & Son silver gilt and 

 bronze medals for collection of eighteen 

 named varieties, single and double. 



The peonies in the New England 

 states are reported in excellent condition 

 and a splendid show is anticipated, with 

 numerous exhibits from a distance. 



GLASS MAKING GOES ON. 



The window glass factories of the 

 country will not shut down for the sum- 

 mer June 9, as recommended by W. R. 

 Hilton, president of the United States 

 Window Glass Manufacturers' Associa- 



