March 8, 1906. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



J057 



Typical Examples of the Popular "Armfur Bouquets, Capable of Many Variations. 



she was in this business, has undergone 

 some changes. One design was made of 

 lilac, all the clusters of flowers being 

 arranged lightly in a drooping position. 

 Instead of small flowers being wired onto 

 smilax or asparagus, most of the de- 

 signs had flowers hanging down natu- 

 rally on their own stems. The erect 

 bouquets are by no means extinct. Roses 

 arranged loosely on their own stems witli 

 good foliage made up in a conical or 

 pyramidal shape are popular. The 

 wands, or walking sticks trimmed witli 

 flowers and ribbons, was a novelty 

 noted. These are very convenient and 

 pretty for bridesmaids. The lightly ar- 

 ranged baskets are also in use and pre- 

 ferred by many to the ordinary bouquets. 

 For many years past the firm of Robert 

 Green has sustained a high reputation 

 for creating new and artistic designs in 

 floral work. Broad ribbons are still 

 much used for finishing off bouquets 

 and other floral arrangements, but the 

 cup-sliaped paper and lace arrangements 

 are quite out of date. 



hand and hang downwards. One or two 

 twine wrappings will hold all in place. 

 Before beginning to put the armful to- 

 gether remove all thorns and about half 

 the rose foliage. Carry lightly over tiie 

 left arm. The bunch illustrated is of 

 fifty full bloom Chatenay roses. 



The second bunch or armful shown 

 is of Timothy Eaton chrysanthemums 

 and, while it could not be reproduced at 

 present as represented, it can be used as 

 a smaller armful than the first in 

 American Beauties or other very large, 

 long-stemmed roses or lilies. They are 

 simply loosely laid over the arm of a 

 clerk and tied in the position which they 

 of tliemselvos assume. A smilax tie is 

 used here. It may be omitted or used, 

 according to fancy. If used, the strings 

 should be separated and used a little in 

 the sliowor effect without ribbon. 



Gertrude Blair. 



THE "ARMFUL" BOUQUET 



For debutante or wedding bunches, the 

 "armful" bouquet is quite popular. Se- 

 lect long-stemmed specimen flowers Avith- 

 out much extra foliage or any tie. Build 

 the bunch over the left arm, letting the 

 very longest rest on the arm and fall 

 over the elbow. Spread upwards, fan- 

 shaped, till a few strong stems stand up- 

 right against the person Avell up to the 

 shoulder. Fill up along the lower arm 

 and over the hand with shorter and 

 weaker stemmed till the bunch is full 

 enough for the loMer half to cover the 



VALLEY FOR STORAGE. 



The following letter is from George 

 Hanson, valley grower at the Dale Es- 

 tate, Brampton, Out.: 



In the Review of February 22 I find 

 E. Neubert's statement as to lily of 

 j the valley pips. I find hLs notes rather 

 I misleading. I suppose he is not taking 

 into consideration that in this country 

 wo have to place our valley in cold 

 storage on arrival in December. From 

 that time on most people call it cold 

 storage valley. We commence to use 

 this cold storage valley at the begin- 

 ning of January, and treat it as such up 

 to the end of March or beginning of 

 April. From that lime we commence 



to treat it as retarded cold storage val- 

 ley. 



It must be understood the process of 

 retarding commences at the time when 

 the valley in its natural course would 

 commence to grow. 



]\ly experience with valley pips with 

 an abundance of fibrous, bunchy roots is 

 quite the reverse of Mr. Xeubert's. I 

 have forced all kinds of valley pips, 

 such as were grown in heavy clay, in 

 heavy loam, in light sandy loam, in 

 black peaty soil and in black sandy 

 soil, with short stubby roots, short 

 bunchy roots, long trailing roots and 

 with abundance of fibrous bunchy roots, 

 and have found those last named give 

 far the best results as an early, mid- 

 season and autumn forcing variety, in 

 the hands of a man who understands 

 their treatment. 



Durijig the summer and autumn of last 

 year our valley was admired by all vis- 

 itors, among whom were leading florists 

 from the United States, who exclaimed, 

 "Simply perfection; the best valley 

 ever seen." We cannot sav the same 

 as :\Ir. Neubert, "20,000 to 30,000 a 

 day," but we do average about 5,000 a 

 day the year round. 



Air. Neubert says that "valley pips 

 with abundant fibrous and bunchy roots 

 are most adapted and appreciated for 

 Christmas and early forcing," but says 

 "they should not be used for cold stor- 

 age, for reasons which only the producer 

 of the crowns is able to explain." It 

 would be interesting if Mr. Neubert 

 would explain, for the benefit of the 

 growers on this side of the Atlantic why 

 su.ch stock is not fit for cold storage 

 purposes. 



