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34 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



July 18, 1907. 



V^etaMe Forcing. 



The public, in localities where leaf 

 lettuce is generally grown, is becoming 

 educated to the superior eating quali- 

 ties of the heading varieties. The buy- 

 ers who think leaf lettuce is only good 

 for garnishing are becoming more nu- 

 merous every day. 



FIRMING LETTUCE SOILS. 



Some lettuce soils should be thorough- 

 ly firmed before planting, especially a 

 soil made of sods and enriched with 

 manure for several years. That is, if 

 you do not change the soil every few 

 years. I like an old soil better than a 

 new one if it is kept clean by sterilizing. 

 It grows heavier lettuce. 



Several years ago I planted my houses 

 to lettuce, but it did not grow. The soil 

 was so light that water went right 

 through it and the soil was dry a day 

 after watering and I was obliged to 

 water every day. After the lettuce had 

 been planted two weeks I went over it 

 with my feet, both ways, and tramped it 

 thoroughly, and then watered it and in 

 a few days after you could see it was 

 beginning to grow. The lettuce was 

 planted eight inches apart each way and 

 tramping did not hurt it. For me, firm- 

 ing the soil is one of the necessary op- 

 erations of lettuce growing. 



One bed showed this decidedly last 

 winter. One side of it had been walked 

 on for some time before planting, while 

 the other side was under the glass and 

 was not firmed thoroughly. The side 

 that was walked on grew lettuce nearly 

 twice as heavy in the same time as the 

 other side. 



It is not likely that all soils need to 

 be firmed for lettuce, but if you have 

 any diflSculty in getting it to start off 

 well, firm a small space and watch the 

 result/ B. H. Thoene. 



STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 



Runners for propagation are allowed 

 to root in the soil adjoining the plants. 

 It should then be seen to that the soil 

 is in condition for the roots of the run- 

 ners to enter into freely, and if the soil 

 is kept somewhat loose or moist this will 

 the more readily be effected. A small 

 stone placed over the runner will induce 

 it to seek the earth and to root more 

 quickly than if it were left alone. As 

 soon as the young plant which was lately 

 a runner has developed a few leaves, the 

 runner from it should be stopped in or- 

 der to strengthen the plant. 



When good plants are especially desir- 

 able, it will be well to allow only one 

 plant to develop from a runner. It can 

 easily be seen that if the runner is 

 stopped when one plant is formed, that 

 plant, by reason of receiving so much 

 nourishment, will succeed better than if 

 others were allowed to go ahead and 

 draw from it as well as from the source 

 of its own supply. 



As a preliminary step to the obtaining 

 of plants for forcing, 3-inch pots should 

 be filled with good soil and then sunk 

 nearly to the rim in the soil near to the 

 plant from which the runners come, and 

 when the bud at the first joint of the 

 runner has developed a few leaves it 

 should be pressed closely down onto the 

 soil in the pot and kept there by means 

 of a hooked peg or a clod. Just as in 



500,000 FIELD-GROWN 



CELERY PLANTS 



Livingston's Snow Wlilte. Golden Self-Blanchlns:. Giant Pascal, 

 Gold*n Hsart and Perle L.e Grande. To reduce surplus stock we offer, 

 subject to UDsold at $2.00 per lOOO; 10,000 or more $1.75 per 1000. Larger quan- 

 tity, ask for price. /' 



Also FIKLD-6ROWN CABBAGE and CAULIPLOWCR PLANTS. 

 Ask for special price list. Mention quantity needed. 



LIVINGSTON SEED CO., - COLUMBUS, OHIO 



Mention The Reylew when you write. 



A BED OF MUSHROOMS 



Raised from my Spawn, will bear lonKer and yield better than from an.r other variety of 

 Spawn. This Is proven by facts. Full particulars and information how to succeed In mushroom 

 raising free. We warrant you If usinr our method of growing- mushrooma that all will go well. 



KNUD 6UNDESTRUP, fp'-.'Jir.- 4273 Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 



Mention The Review when yon write. 



BELERY IBUIKTS 



500.000 NOW BKADT 



These plants are grown by Improved methods. 

 They are larce and stocky, with a mass of fib- 

 rous roots ready to take bold at once. They are 



ALL TBANSPLANTBD PLANTS 



from the greenhouses to the field. They are far 

 superior to any grown In the ordinary way. 



__VABI BTI«8- Wlilte Plume. Golden Ball 

 Blanoblns (from French-grown seed), Per- 

 teetlon, Heartwell, Giant Pascal, Golden 

 Heart Giant, Pink Plume, Winter Queen, 

 Fin de Blaole. Snow WlUte and Giant Cel- 

 erlao. PriceB-250. 80c; 600. $1.50; 1000, $2.50; 5000 

 and over, $2.00 per ICOO. Cash with order, please. 



W. B. Du Rie, Rahway, N.J. 



Mention The Review when yon write. 



the case of ordinary runners, the runner 

 from the plant in the pot should be 

 stopped in order to give all the avail- 

 able nourishment to the plant wanted 

 for future crop. D. M. 



GRAPES. 



If there is one period, more than any 

 other, at which great care is necessary 

 in grape growing under glass, it is when 

 the fruit has just begun to change color. 

 Then the last opportunity is afforded to 

 help the vines to produce fruit to perfec- 

 tion. If, at about this time, the inside 

 border is in a state warranting the ap- 

 plication of water, it will benefit the 

 vines and ultimately the fruit, if they 

 are given liquid manure, and after its 

 application a liberal quantity of clean 

 water. This watering, if done thorough- 

 ly at this stage, should be sufficient un- 

 til the crop is cut. A constant circula- 

 tion of air is essential for the well-doing 

 of grapes at this stage, but always guard- 

 ing against violent draughts and very 

 low temperatures. To prevent -the latter 

 contingency, a little fire heat will be 

 desirable, and will also aid the circula- 

 tion of air when much ventilation cannot 

 be given without it. 



When water is withheld absolutely 

 from vines, red spider, if anywhere pres- 

 ent, will soon make its appearance easily 

 noticeable, and in order to prevent its 

 ravages as much as possible the paths 

 should be frequently sprinkled, which op- 

 eration will in no way injuriously affect 

 the fruit if ventilation is properly at- 

 tended to. 



There is no condition more injurious 

 to grapes than a closed up house during 

 the night and allowing it to remain so 

 until well on in the morning, as we oc- 

 casionally see done. It may often be 



Vegetable Growers Should 



Send 5 Dollars 



for a swivel wheel and 20 H-lnch nozzles. It will 

 fit a run of 100 feet of pipe and give you a chance 

 to try for yourself the Wlttbold Waterlnc 

 Sretem, or send for circular of testimoniali. 



The Wlttbold Nossle, for ^-Inch hose .$1.00 



The Special Boss Nosale 1.00 



Louis Wittbold, 1708 N. Halsted St., Chicago 



Mention The Review when yon write. 



Lambert's Pare Ciiltvre 

 Mushroom Spawn 



Produced by new grafting 

 proceaa from selected and 

 prollflc specimens, thor- 

 oughly acclimatized. 

 Has never failed .to run 

 Sold by Leading Seedsmen. 

 Practical instructiona on 



"Maahroom Culture" 

 mailed free on application. 



American Spawn Co. 

 St. Paol, Bllna. 



Mention The Review when yon write. 



Sl[ianer's Irrigation. 



For greenhouses, gardens and lawns. 

 Latest improved gasoline pumping out- 

 fits at low price. Estimates furnished 

 on request. Address, 



C. W. SKINNER, Troy, O. 



Mention TTie Review when you write. 



that in the morning the temperature of 

 a grapery is lower than that of the 

 outside air; this is accounted for by 

 the shade afforded by the foliage; but 

 if air is admitted the temperature in 

 the house will not go down, as it would 

 seem some suppose, judging from their 

 delay in ventilating. D. M. 



ROOF LADDER. 



Is there a movable ladder or any other 



device that florists use to go onto the 



roofs of connected greenhouses where the 



bars used are twenty feet long or over? 



W. E. B. 



We know of no movable ladder to be 

 used in repairing greenhouse roofs. All 

 the growers, as far as we know, use an 

 ordinary plank, with strips nailed across 

 to rest on the bars, which seems to give 

 entire satisfaction. 



Norwich, Conn. — The New London 

 County Horticultural Society had a suc- 

 cessful rose show July 2 and 3. Many 

 of the private estates, and some com- 

 mercial men, were exhibitors. 



