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JtJNB 11, 1»08. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



A Corner in the Den of Frank Faulk, Allegheny, Pa« 



long dry spells and occasional torrential 

 rains. It is specially necessary after 

 the latter to ply the cultivator to hold 

 the moisture in the ground. 



The growing season is a short one, and 

 to make the most of it we must keep 

 insect pests in check and tickle tha sur- 

 face soil frequently. While the culti- 

 vator will suffice for most of our crops, 

 it will be necessary to do some hand 

 weeding where weeds are near the plants, 

 and the hoe can be used advantageously 

 where rows are too closely placed to 

 admit the use of horse or even hand 

 cultivators. 



Beddine Out Aftermath. 



It is usually well along in June before 

 bedding out is really over. Owing to 

 the warm May, work is more advanced 

 than usual in this important line. As 

 batches o^ various bedding plants be- 

 come thinned out, place them together 

 to economize in watering. Do not throw 

 the empty pots on or under the benches. 

 Keep them cleared away and stack them 

 neatly for future use. 



Your own bedding out should be com- 

 pleted before this time. Nothing adds 

 more to the appearance of a commercial 

 establishment than nicely planted beds of 

 cannas or geraniums on a neatly trimmed 

 lawn. 



Probably you may have a miscellaneous 

 assortment of foliage plants of rather 

 inferior quality to attract customers' 

 eyes, such varieties as ficus, crotons, dra- 

 caenas, pandanus, aspidistras, etc. These 

 will make a nice mixed tropical bed. 

 A few fancy-leaved caladiums, curculigos 

 or ophiopogons will also work in nicely 

 and any left-over alternantheras will do 

 well as a groundwork. A hosing over on 

 warm evenings will benefit such a bed 

 greatly, and it is surprising how attrac- 

 tive it will be all summer. 



Brief Reminders. 



Make a final sowing of asters and 

 stocks for fall flowering in the open. 



For fungous growths on outdoor crops 

 use Borcleaux mixture. This is easily 

 made. Slake four pounds lime slowly 

 in a tub; dissolve six pounds sulphate of 

 copper (blue vitriol) in another tub. 

 When both are cold, pour together in a 

 barrel. Add water sufficient to make 

 fifty gallons and mix thoroughly. Use 

 some Paris green in the mixture for 



leaf-eating insects. Eight ounces per 

 barrel will suffice, or three pounds arse- 

 nate of lead. 



Get the little cuttings of "geraniums 

 for winter blooming potted off at once 

 and grow along in a light, sunny house. 



Put stakes to the fuchsias for late 

 summer blooming before they become 

 twisted. Pinch out the tops and remove 

 all flower buds for some time. 



Order lumber for bench repairs with- 

 out delay. There i^ usually a good deal 

 of this work to do and the sooner it is 

 finished the better. 



Pot along young seedlings of Dracaena 

 indivisa. These will do well outdoors 

 if stood on a bed of cinders. 



Choose cool evenings for fumigating 

 the houses, especially if they are to 

 be left closed all night. 



In bedding out during dry weather, be 

 sure the balls of all the plants are well 

 soaked before planting. 



Put supports to tuberous rooted be- 

 gonias before they come into flower, as 

 the shoots are easily broken. 



CREOSOTE IN GREENHOUSES. 



With reference to the use of creosote in 

 greenhouse construction, as discussed in 

 the Keview of June 4, page 10, I en- 

 tertain the same ideas as are there ex- 

 pressed by the John C, Moninger Co. 



My opinions are supported by the re- 

 sults of disastrous experience which came 

 under my observation several years ago. 

 Houses in which roses and carnations 

 had been grown for several years had a 

 portion of one of the partitions treated 

 with a wood preservative containing cre- 

 osote, and not until the lumber so treat- 

 ed was removed was it possible to grow 

 either of the crops for which the houses 

 were designed and for which they had 

 for several years been successfully used. 



I do not think it safe to use creosote 

 in houses to be used for either roses or 

 carnations. Other plants may be able 

 to withstand it, but I consider it risky 

 business. L. C. Corbett. 



OPPORTUNE TIME TO AGITATE. 



Two frightful gas accidents have oc- 

 curred within the last ten days, here in 

 Chicago. The deadly gas fumes claimed 

 eight human lives as victims. Is it not 

 a good time to agitate in favor of the 

 use of electric lights, to supersede gas? 

 Every florist should do this, for what 

 would improve house conditions for plant 

 life more than the abolition of gas fumes, 

 obnoxious to both plants and people? 

 It will be .a prosperous day for the flo- 

 rists when house plants can be made to 

 flourish with people in general, for then 

 will they buy cheerfully and bountifully. 

 A long step in that direction will be 

 taken when gas has been expelled. 



Anna Grace Sawyer. 



PLANT FOR NAME. 



I am sending you a flower, with foli- 

 age, which I would like to have you 

 name, if it has any commercial value. 



J. H. P. 



It is a variety of franciscea, of little 

 commercial value. 



WiLDWOOD, Pa. — E. J. Hamilton is 

 building a conservatory at Cape May 

 Court House, N. J. 



A Corner in the Den of Frank Faulk. Allegheny, Pa. 



