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S]ft>TKUBKtt 5, 1907. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



IS 



Grotto of M. Rice & Co.» Convention Week. 



so-called red freesia, I can say that it 

 is as easy to grow as the freesia and as 

 positive to flower, and free, while the 

 bloom is brilliant and durable. Seed is 

 freely produced and self-sown seeds un- 

 der favorable conditions will, I believe, 

 flower the following season. In later 

 stages of growth the anomatheca will 

 enjoy even more copious watering than 

 the freesia. The flowering season is 

 from April to June, but it may be had 

 earlier. I can recommend it as a gem 

 for the amateur. Theo F. Beckert. 



CONVENTION VIEWS. 



The accompanying illustrations are 

 from photographs taken during the 8. 

 A. F. convention in Philadelphia. The 

 first view shows the grotto of M. Biee 

 & Co. This grotto was an artistic 

 triumph, every trace of the warehouse 

 being removed or hidden from the base- 

 ment by the really beautiful decorations 

 of beech and birch foliage over dra- 

 peries, with sweet scented pine, and 

 flowers on the tables. The second view 

 shows the store as you entered the office 

 on the right, the showcases and walls in 

 gala attire. 



In describing the grotto, Rice & Co. 

 say: "It was about eighty feet long, 

 the sides and walls bieing covered with 

 red rep cloth, covered with birch and 

 beech sprays, and pine branches. Each 

 side of the grotto was divided by 

 wicker decorating screens into six booths, 

 the screens being decorated with birch 

 and beech sprays and natural flowers. 

 The center of the grotto was arched 

 from booth to booth. The whole 

 effect was certainly very fine, and was 

 favorably commented on by some of the 

 best decorators who visited Philadel- 

 phia. Each booth contained a table at 

 which foqr or five persons could be com- 

 fortably seated, and was decorated with 

 a vase of fresh flowers, which were 

 changed daily. The grotto was opened 



every day from Tuesday until Friday, 

 from 9 a. m. until 9 p. m., and refresh- 

 ments were served to over 600 people. 

 ' ' The store was handsomely decorated 



with many novelties, showing the 

 florists how same could be used to good 

 advantage. ' ' 



ASPARAGUS SF^ENGEHI. 



Will Asparagus Sprengeri grow suc- 

 cessfully planted in a solid bed between 

 rows of sweet peas? HoW can I grow it 

 best, in benches or solid beds? B. S. B. 



Asparagus Sprengeri will grow well 

 either in solid beds or in benches. The 

 latter give more sprays during the win- 

 ter and are, therefore, to be preferred. 

 We have never seen Sprengeri grown be- 

 tween sweet peas. The temperature 

 would be a little low. Sweet peas prefer 

 45 degrees to 48 degrees at night in win- 

 ter, while the Sprengeri will do much 

 better if kept 5 degrees to 10 degrees 

 warmer. If you care to try the experi- 

 ment, however, we think you will have 

 fair success until the sweet peas grow 

 tall enough to shut out the light too 

 much. We are afraid many of the sprays 

 would be trampled upon in giving the 

 sweet peas the necessary attention. 



Why not try double or single violets 

 between the pweet peas? These could be 

 pulled out in early spring. They would 

 give you a nice lot of flowers all winter. 

 It will be more satisfactory to grow the 

 as]iaragus in benches by itself. C W. 



Highland, III. — Since the retirement 

 of Joseph Widmer last October, the busi- 

 ness has been in charge of his son, Mau- 

 rice F. Widmer. 



Plainview, Tex.— H. W. Wright, for- 

 merly of Amarillo, Tex., has removed to 

 this place and will continue in business 

 here. 



View in the Store of M. Rice & Co., Convention Week. 



