1130 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



Mauch 15, 1906. 



Since the Dayton meeting the commit- 

 tee lias sent ont another call for sub- 

 scriptions. 



Outdoor Trade Display. 



The executive committee of the Society 

 of American Florists has arranged for 

 an outdoor trade display in connection 

 with the annual convention to be held 

 in Dayton, O., next August. The pa- 

 vilion in which the meetings and cus- 

 tomary trade exhibit will be held is ad- 

 vantageously situated in a large fair 

 ground which is well adapted for out- 

 door j)lanting. Plans and diagrams are 

 being prepared and will shortly be dis- 



tributed. In the meantime the secre- 

 tary would like to hear from parties 

 who are disposed to take advantage ot 

 this excellent opportunity to make a dis- 

 play of hardy or tender material in a 

 community widely interested in the sub- 

 ject of garden adornment. Applications 

 are already in hand for large spaces for 

 the exhibition of cannas, Baby Rambler 

 roses, phloxes, asters, hydrangeas, tuber- 

 ous begonias, althaeas and fancy coni- 

 fers. As the time is short for the prepa- 

 ration of the ground and planting, a 

 prompt response to this announcement is 

 urged. Information sheets and entry 

 blanks will soon be ready. 



Wm. J. Stewart, Sec'y. 



Smilax or asparagus, when in bloom, 

 is especially inviting for a shower bou- 

 quet. Less ribbon and flowers are 

 needed while these dainty flowers dot the 

 vines. 



Wash off some fine specimens of Dutch 

 hyacinths in bloom and replant into a 

 rose bowl or fish globe with pebbles and 

 shells. Add a cyperus, also cleared of 

 the soil, and set among a table or win- 

 dow of the same plants potted. 



One * ' different ' ' arrangement will 

 often go far toward establishing a rep- 

 utation. Gertrude Blair. 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



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SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. 



Speaking of centerpieces, try two or 

 three cyclamens of good size in full 

 bloom, white or white with violet tints 

 as a center. Remove from the pots and 

 bed into sphagnum. Fill in the rest of 

 the space of the frame Avith sphagnum 

 and cover with sheet moss or ferns laid 

 flat. Stem long-stemmed single or double 

 violets in groups of five or six to half a 

 matchstick and fill around the cyclamens 

 with plenty of violet foliage and some 

 fluffy green to fall out on the table. 

 The group of violets surrounded by their 

 own foliage will resemble violet plants 

 in bloom and the whole piece will be a 

 fresher suggestion than all cut flowers 

 could ever be. 



Another favorite centerpiece is com- 

 posed of all green except the border. 

 Sharpen three or four dozen Sprengeri 

 sprays and set in a group in the middle 

 of the centerpiece, in sphagnum. Let 

 the sprays fall outwards, towards and 

 over the edge. Stem spring flowers and 

 dot around the edge through the green, 

 not very thickly. Sweet peas, tulips, 

 carnations, half blown roses, violets and 

 freesias are all good for this purpose. 



At another time set in a good gen- 

 erous group of some of the interesting 

 narcissus family or two or three kinds 

 together, Von " Sion, poeticus. Golden 

 Spur, Incomparabilis and jonquils, and 

 plant a heavy border of Sprengeri all 

 around, covering the edge. A cluster 

 of white or purple lilacs with a few 

 poeticus interspersed would make a good 

 combination. Richmond or Liberty 

 roses and poeticus are good, also. 



In some such situation use Azalea 

 mollis and deep violet Dutch hyacinths, 

 having the hyacinths planted and the 

 azaleas cut. A liberal use of feathery 

 green, preferably asparagus, will be the 

 best for additional foliage. 



White lilacs and shades and tints of 

 violet Dutch hyacinths make a pleasing 

 combination for a funeral spray. The 

 hyacinths furnish the richness and mass 

 to the spray, while the lilacs lighten and 

 touch up the outline. This style of spray 

 should have heavy, large ferns for a 

 background. 



Use nothing fancy, fussy or compli- 

 cated for funeral work. If two kinds of 

 flowers, or two colors of one flower, let 



the tie match the lighter color. If the 

 spray be of one kind and color of flower, 

 it is in good taste to introduce another 

 harmonious color in the tie. For a spray 

 of Enchantress carnations try a tie of 

 nile green chiffon or Florida moss. This 

 green is also suitable for white or light 

 tints and crimson. For a large cluster 

 requiring a wide tie, put chiffon over a 

 satin ribbon of the same width and much 

 darker shade. Once in a while throw 

 one of the flowers used in the spray 

 back over the tie or draw it down tight 

 into the knot. 



The chiffons will not bear tying as 

 ribbon will. Catch the loops and bows 

 in place with the hand, fasten them in 

 place with baby ribbon and tie around 

 the stem with the same, leaving all the 

 chiffon flying over the stems. 



A WILCOX WORK. 



The accompanying illustration is from 

 a photograph taken at Council Bluffs, 

 la., of a funeral piece made by J. F. 

 Wilcox for the obsequies, at Dubuque, of 

 David B. Henderson, formerly speaker 

 of the House of Representatives. The 

 piece was a token of esteem from the 

 Iowa delegation in Congress and was or- 

 dered by Senator Allison by wire. The 

 nature of the piece was left entirely to 

 Mr. Wilcox. 



The design chosen was a crescent 

 wreath on a base and was seven feet 

 high and fiv6 feet in width. Across the 

 top extended a graceful crescent wreath 

 of Bride and Bridesmaid roses, lilies of 

 the valley and asparagus. Below and in- 

 side of the wreath was a large panel of 

 green, embedded in which was a flag 

 composed of red and white carnations 

 for the stripes, while stars composed of 

 lilies of the valley shone from a deep 

 blue field of violets. Beside the flag 

 was a gavel of Enchantress carnations. 

 A long bow of black silk ribbon hung 

 from the handle of the gavel. Below the 

 panel was a base of galax leaves, calla 

 lilies and Bride roses. 



Mr. Wilcox went personally to Du- 

 buque to see the piece safely delivered 

 and was pleased that it was easily the 

 most striking set piece among one of the 

 largest displays of funeral flowers ever 

 seen in the west. 



MULCHING. 



As the season advances when we may 

 expect a longer duration of sunshine 

 and of more intensity, we should, in 

 order to take care of the feeding roots 

 which will now incline to approach the 

 surface, and also to supply those ele- 

 ments which have become exhausted, 

 renew the supply so that the stock may 

 have a store at hand to furnish nour- 

 ishment to the spring growth which is 

 now due. 



The essential elements are nearly all 

 found in their proper proportions in a 

 mulch consisting of two-thirds decom- 

 posed cow manure and one-third good, 

 fresh, fibrous loam. This should be well 

 pulverized and thoroughly incorporated 

 and spread on the bench about one to 

 one and one-half inches deep. 



Great benefit can be derived by giving 

 the bench a sprinkling of bone meal pre- 

 vious to applying the mulch. 



As the mulch has a tendency to absorb 

 moisture, giving the bench a wet appear- 

 ance, it is well to make a daUy exami- 

 nation of the soil, as often the soil may 

 be very dry while the mulch is wet. 



With the increase of sunshine we will 

 also have an increase of insect pests and 

 care should be taken that those spring 



