The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



FKBtfUAHY 25, 1009. 



Winter Scene at Grounds of Z. G. Simmonst Kenothat Wis. 



SUMMER AND WINTER. 



These illustrations, from photographs 

 taken on the jj^rounds of Z. G. Simmons, 

 Kenosha, Wis., might almost be entitled 

 "Before and After," although they do 

 not show the same views. One picture 

 shows a garden path before frost cut 

 down the plants; the other is a typical 

 winter scene. 



J. H. Wilcott, who is gardener for Mr. 

 Simmons, describes the garden scene as 

 follows : 



"A sort of pergola of rough cedar 

 posts was constructed, about ten to 

 twelve feet wide and ten feet high, with 

 a 'gravel path three and a half feet 

 wide, and then a strip of sod fifteen 

 inches wide on each side the whole length 

 of the path. Grapevines, hardy climbing 

 roses and clematis are planted at the foot 

 of the posts. The arch across the path 

 is covered with bittersweet that has been 

 fed liquid manure and attained this 

 growth in two years. 



".Beginning at the arch on both sides 

 is a wall or hedge of privet, kept square- 

 trimmed, four feet or so high. Then the 

 pergola begins and runs down the gar- 

 den. Hollyhocks in various colors are 

 planted at some of the posts and lark- 

 spur at the others in large .clumps. 

 Hardy roses form the background and 

 Lilium candidum, foxglove and (^anter- 

 bury bells are in front of these on both 

 sides. Next to the grass sod comes a 

 long row of pansies in all colors, alter- 

 nating with sweet alyssum. Later in the 

 season the pcen^ i^ changed with gladioli 

 and cardinal flowers, also tiger lilies 

 filled in here and there with cannas of 

 the taller kinds placed between the roses, 

 making the path in fall show a red and 

 white effect. 



' * The other picture shows how a place 

 in town may be beautiful both winter 

 and summer. One year before this place 



had only two large trees on it. All the 

 rest are forest trees moved and success- 

 fully reestablished. There are thorn- 

 apple trees, wild crab-apple and dog- 

 wood, also a few black cherry. My 

 method is to save the roots about two 

 and a half feet around the tree and in 

 transplanting I place them about eight 

 inches lower than they were before, giv- 

 ing them plenty of water the first year. 

 With the shrubbery, the site now is at- 

 tractive winter and summer." 



PRACTICAL VIOLET CULTURE. 



I wish to grow both single and double 

 violets. I have Professor Galloway's 

 book. He advises inside culture exclusive- 

 ly. He also advises the use of cyanide 

 gas. Do those who make money grow- 

 ing violets year after year follow these 

 methods? Would you kindly give me 

 some good common sense advice on this 

 subject as early as possible? When is 

 the best time to buy stock, and what 

 is the most pracjical way to handle both 

 single and double varieties? 



G. A. T. 



The many successful growers of double 

 violets in the Rhinebeck section of New 

 York grow their plants in beds or benches 

 all the time. As s\ rule, however, the 



sashes are removed from the houses dur- 

 ing the summer months. Excellent double 

 violets, however, can be grown by set- 

 ting the plants out in the field in early 

 May, lifting them not later than Septem- 

 ber 1. 



In the case of singles, it would be a 

 mistake to grow these inside. The result 

 would be an excess of foliage and little 

 flower. The largest and most successful 

 growers of singles propagate their stock 

 in early spring, when the plants are 

 done blooming, plant out in the fields in 

 May and do not lift and house until the 

 plants have been exposed to a little 

 frost. If lifted before freezing weather, 

 the plants will produce an abundance of 

 foliage and few flowers. 



With double violets, culture in the 

 beds all the time, or early lifting," is 

 desirable, on account of the spot dis- 

 ease,* which annually wipes out many 

 a grower's stock. The single violets are 

 now much more grown than the doubles, 

 and are little subject to disease. Prin- 

 cess of Wales is the standard variety; 

 one or two newer sorts are also now 

 offered. 



Purchase your stock in early April, 

 grow in flats in a cool, light house until 

 early May, then plant out in rows two 

 feet apart. Allow one and one-half 

 inches in the rows for the singles and 

 six to eight inches for the doubles. Keep 

 them well cultivated all summer. Cut 

 _off any runners as they appear. House 

 your doubles not later than September 

 1 and your singles a month later, unless 

 you expect sharp frost before that time. 

 A night temperature of 40 degrees suits 

 violets. 



Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas 

 is used by a large number of violet 

 growers. This is a dangerous fumigant, 

 however, and you would do well to read 

 up articles in past numbers of the Review 

 before using it. Once you have ascer- 



