Mabch 26, 1908. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



15 



ply of mineral plant food, but seem- 

 ingly there are in it also forces, not yet 

 understood, that exert a powerful in- 

 fluence on the habits of the plant, con- 

 trolling to a great extent its thrift, 

 characteristics and fruitfulness. And 

 the effect of this influence appears 

 whether the plant is cultivated for its 

 foliage, its flowers or its seed. 



In a change of environment may or 

 may not be included a change of cli- 

 matic conditions. A change of soil- 

 type alone has been shown to be quite 

 suflicient to bring about changes in the 

 plant that in many instances are so 

 marked as to greatly affect many va- 

 rietal characteristics. 



If with our field and garden crops, 

 where the climatic influences have nec- 

 essarily such a wide variation, the soil 

 proves itself to be so important in main- 

 taining varietal characteristics and 

 habits, is it not reasonable to suppose 

 that with indoor conditions, where these 

 factors are under control, the relative 

 influence of the soil is increased? 



From my own observations and from 

 the testimony of others, I believe this 

 to be the case. 



It is this phase of soil adaptation that 

 concerns the indoor grower and which is 

 now being investigated, particularly in 

 regard to the soils used in the produc- 

 tion of the different varieties of carna- 

 tions and roses. 



The Unifonn Indoor Climate. 



In our modern greenhouses we have 

 eliminated climatic variations. We con- 

 trol the temperatures by the turn of a 

 valve. Rainfall is displaced by the 

 hose. Ventilation is accomplished with- 

 out subjecting our plants to damaging 

 winds. In short, it is our business to 

 provide the most suitable climatic con- 

 ditions for the development of our 

 plants. 



It is clear, then, that the only change 

 in environment given the plants in a 

 house where light, loamy soil is used, 

 compared with one in which the benches 

 are filled with a clay soil, is the soil it- 

 self. 



Yet with this difference in the soil 

 only, we frequently observe that there 

 is a considerable variation in the size, 

 brilliancy of color, and other characters 

 of the bloom of the same variety. 



A visit to the flower markets of our 

 large cities affords many illustrations 

 of these differences, when the products 

 of the various establishments are seen 

 side by side. 



It is not to be expected that the soil 

 adaptation is equally well defined with 

 all varieties. Some, being more fixed, 

 ofter a gfreater resistance to change 

 than others; nor should we expect to 

 find the modifications that arise to be 

 always in the same direction. 



Not only in the character of the 

 bloom may the influence of the soil ap- 

 pear, but in many cases it will be found 

 to affect the habit of the plant itself. 

 It does so in the field with outdoor 

 crops, and it is reasonable to think that 

 it exerts a similar influence on plants 

 grown under glass. 



Soils Used by Rose Growers* 



A partial examination of the soils 

 used by a few of our rose growers has 

 already been made, and it discloses the 

 great variety of soil-types that are be- 

 ing used in the production of this crop 

 alone. Ranging in texture from dense 

 clay loams to porous, sandy loams. 



Entrance to the Virgin Establishment, New Orleans. 



practically all intermediate grades are 

 represented. Yet in many instances 

 two very widely differing soil-types are 

 being used for the production of the 

 same variety, resulting perhaps in a 

 depreciation of the quality or quantity 

 of bloom of one variety or the other. 



I have recently visited a rose house 

 where I found one of the most popular 

 varieties giving such poor results that 

 its cultivation is to be abandoned after 

 this season. In this instance the size 

 of the blooms was materially affected, 

 though in other respects the general ap- 

 pearance of the plants was comparable 

 in every way with those of the other 

 varieties grown. 



A recent experiment carried on to de- 

 termine the effect of various fertilizers 

 on carnations is particularly interesting 

 when viewed from the standpoint of 

 soil adaptation. 



In this experiment two soils were 

 used, various fertilizers being applied 

 to each, comparison being with the spils 

 to which stable manure alone was 

 added. As it is no part of my present 

 purpose to discuss the relative effi- 

 ciency of fertilizers, I will consider 

 only the results obtained from the use 

 of stable manure. These soils were 

 planted to four varieties of carnations 

 of undoubted merit, and they were 

 grown in a range of three even-span 

 houses, without interior walls, making 

 it practically one house. Particular at- 

 tention was paid to the maintenance 

 of favorable conditions, so that the only 

 point of difference was in the soil in 

 which the plants were grown, the same 

 number of plants of each variety being 

 grown in each of the soils used. 



Results of Experiment. 



Enchantress gave only 85 per cent 

 as many blooms on soil No. 2 as on 

 soil No. 1, Lawson 87 per cent and 

 Craig but 78 per cent on the correspond- 

 ing soils. Peary somewhat reversed 

 conditions, and on soil No. 2 produced 

 4 per cent more blooms than on soil 

 No. 1. 



We have, then, three varieties out of 

 four that showed a very decided falling 

 off accompanied by a difference in soil 



only — all other conditions being the 

 same. In one case the results are to all 

 intents equal in each soil. Now, I take 

 it that such results are not due to 

 chance. There must be a reason. And 

 I do not think it too much to offer the 

 difference in soils as this reason. 



Lawson, Enchantress and Craig found 

 one of the soils far more adapted to 

 their special requirements. With Peary 

 the reverse was true, though the adapta- 

 tion was not so marked. Nor is thisT 

 illustrative of adaptation of soils to a 

 whole race of plants, but to specific va- 

 rieties. 



It shows, also, the impropriety of at- 

 tempting to draw definite conclusions 

 as to the relative merits of different 

 varieties, unless it can be shown that 

 the soil-type is equally well adapted to 

 all of the varieties grown. It is, how- 

 ever, in determining the varieties that 

 will likely prove most remunerative to 

 the individual grower that such tests 

 have their real value. For with a single 

 bench, in one season, information of 

 vast importance for his future guidance 

 is readily obtained. 



Just what determines the peculiar fit- 

 ness of a soil for the growth of certain 

 plants or varieties of these plants is yet 

 to be determined. 



(Concluded on page 88) 



VIRGINS BOWER. 



There is hardly any florist in the large 

 cities of the country who does not know 

 U. J. Virgin, of New Orleans, and those 

 who are regular attendants at the con- 

 ventions of the trade societies seldom 

 fail to find the Crescent City florist 

 among those present. To those who 

 know Virgin, the accompanying illus- 

 tration will have special interest, for it 

 shows the entrance to his greenhouse 

 establishment. The building in the cen- 

 ter is potting-shed and boiler-house. At 

 the left is a house of Easter lilies, and 

 on the right a house of palms. Richard 

 Eichling, who has charge of the green- 

 house end of Mr. Virgin's business, 

 stands on the right in the picture. The 

 object in the center indicates that vis- 

 itors are expected. 



