llARCH 12, 1908. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



Grounds of L L. Pillsbury, Galesburs;, IIL 



ground glass to shade greenhouses, and 

 with success. Why is it not tried now? 

 At least, I have never seen any. 



My present houses run east and west, 

 and it gets so hot in the middle of the 

 day, even with all ventilators open, that 

 we often have 90 degrees. So I am 

 thinking of using larger glass, 16x18 or 

 16x24, and running the houses north and 

 south. What do you think of this, for 

 the Kentucky climate? G. O. K. 



Solid benches, such as you have 

 planned, have been tried frequently; in 

 fact, I have had them under my per- 

 sonal care, and in every case have had 

 poor results as compared with table 

 benches. This burying of the radiating 

 pipes is a great waste of material and, 

 besides, is not good for the plants. 



Solid benches for summer blooming 

 are very desirable, as the roots can get 

 down into the cool soil, but when results 

 are wanted during winter, table benches 

 are more suitable, as the heat can be 

 controlled and diverted to where it is 

 wanted. 



During the heat of summer it is al- 

 ways best to shade carnations, but this 

 shade must be temporary and of such a 

 nature that it can be easily removed. 

 Hence the discontinuance of ground glass 

 for this purpose. Boses need no shad- 

 ing; plenty of fresh air and abundance 

 of water during the summer will be am- 

 ple protection. 



For roses and carnations, crops which 

 are most valuable in winter, east and 

 west houses — that is, houses having a 

 southern exposure — are certainly prefer- 

 able. For bedding stock and some kinds 

 of pot plants, north and south houses are 

 suitable. Bibes. 



ENGLISH IVY. 



It is surprising how varied the use- 

 fulness of English ivy is. The mistaken 

 idea that it is mainly serviceable as a 

 climbing plant under favorable condi- 

 tions is fast losing credence, and the 

 sterling merits it possesses for various 

 forms of outdoor decoration are be- 

 coming fully recognized. Masses of vege- 

 tation are desirable where conditions 

 make them well nigh impossible; for 

 instance, underneath the shade of large 

 trees, where even grass will not grow. 

 When goil has been prepared and young 



ivy out of 3 V^ -inch pots is planted quite 

 closely in such places the effect is pleas- 

 ing. There may be occasion to plant a 

 narrow border along a walk or roadway, 

 where the nature of the surroundings are 

 such as to preclude flowering plants, as 

 well as plants of upright habits of 

 growth. For such purposes English ivy 

 is admirably suited. In sunken gardens 

 and in connection with lily ponds, the 

 extensive use of English ivy will not fail 

 to give satisfactory results. M. 



AN APPEAL TO THE SHIPPERS. 



In regard to N. E. De Golier's re- 

 marks, which appeared in the Keview of 

 February 27, on the subject of "The 

 Special Plant Rate," may I be allowed 

 to give my experience? As the Review 

 has done so much for the trade in gen- 

 eral, the publishers will doubtless wel- 

 come such suggestions as will help to im- 

 prove shipping methods, for the welfare 

 of both the shipper and the buyer. As 

 a man in the florists' business, with a 

 small plant and considerable trade, sell- 

 ing much more than I can grow, I am 

 compelled to get two-thirds of my stock 

 by express, and there is, as Mr. De Golier 

 says, continual trouble on account of 

 overcharges. For example, I will give 

 my experience during the last month, 

 only to show how the express companies 

 treat the buyer, or receiver, of the plant 

 shipments. During the twenty-nine days 

 of February I received eleven shipments 

 of plants and bulbs, from New York, 

 Philadelphia, Pittsburg, St. Louis, Bos- 

 ton, Springfield, 111. ; Springfield, 0., and 

 Little Silver, N. J., and nine out of the 

 eleven were overcharged. Only two ship- 

 ments, one from Philadelphia and the 

 other from Springfield, O., were correctly 

 charged. The driver himself remarked, 

 when delivering the shipment from 

 Springfield, O., to which the sender had 

 attached a label showing the weight and 

 express charges: "This is the only cor- 

 rect way to bill shipments. But," he 

 added, "the express company does not 

 like it very well, for good reasons. ' ' 



Now, when you consider that the driver 

 or delivery-man cannot reduce over- 

 charges, then the only way to do is to get 

 a receipt for your charges paid, with the 

 number of pounds, class of goods, etc., 

 and then go to the express company per- 

 sonally and get your return of over- 



charge. This, in the busy season, occur- 

 ring once or twice a week, makes con- 

 siderable extra trouble. I. for one, have 

 resolved that in the future I will buy 

 where I am sure of correct shipment. 



I am writing this in the hope that the 

 wholesale firms, when they see how much 

 unnecessary trouble we retailers have, 

 will take action accordingly, by adopt- 

 ing and filling out a label similar to the 

 one printed in the Review of February 

 27, page 78. Michael Mandl. 



FACTS ABOUT THRIPS. 



We would like to know something about 

 thrips. Perhaps the entomologist at some 

 of the experiment stations can give UB 

 the informatiqn. Where do the thripa 

 lay their eggs? How long does it take 

 them to hatch, and how long to mature 

 after hatching? W. B. D, 



Thrips lays its eggs beneath the epider- 

 mis of the green parts of plants. On the 

 rose and carnation the eggs are laid in 

 the inner surface of the calyx, usually be- 

 fore the flower opens. The growing 

 shoots of the carnation are also places 

 sought for in depositing eggs. The eggs 

 are deposited anywhere in the tender 

 green tissue of vegetable plants. The 

 eggs are colorless, bean-shaped, delicate 

 structures and may be seen as lignt-col- 

 ored spots in the dark green color of thin 

 leaves, if held up to bright light. So far 

 as known to the writer, the number ot 

 eggs laid by a single female thrips has 

 been observed only for one species, in 

 which case the number was fifty to sixty. 



The time required for the hatching of 

 the eggs varies with the species of thripa 

 and with the weather conditions. In the 

 case of Thrips tabaci, or onion thrips, 

 which has been found to be the most com- 

 mon species of thrips in greenhouses at 

 this season, the time required varies from 

 four to seven days. In hot, dry summer 

 weather outdoors, the eggs hatch in from 

 three and one-half to four days. The 

 life history of other species is being 

 worked out and will be published later. 



The above-named species matures in 

 about four weeks in greenhouses in win- 

 ter, while in summer only sixteen days 

 are required. The larvae, upon hatching, 

 push their way to the surface through the 

 slit made for the reception of the egg. 

 The young insects resemble the adults in 



K 



