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December 9, 1909. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



23 



A House 32x220 Feet Devoted EDtirely to Cyclamen by Robert Craig: Co., Philadelphia. 



CYCLAMEN AT CRAIG'S. 



The accompanying illustration is from 

 a photograph made November 30 at the 

 establishment of Robert Craig Co., Forty- 

 ninth and Market streets, Philadelphia. 

 It shows a house 32x220 devoted to 

 cyclamens. The illustration will serve 

 to give an idea of the size of the stock. 



When the Craig Co. takes up a spe- 

 cialty it is grown in quantity, and the 

 illustration will serve to give some idea 

 of the quantities in which the cyclamen 

 is handled as a Christmas specialty, but 

 gives little indication of the perfection 

 of the plants. It is said that Craig's 

 cyclamens never were finer than this sea- 

 son. 



Other photographs accompanying this 

 one, which unfortunately the large holi- 

 day demands upon space made it impos- 

 sible to reproduce, show a house of poin- 

 settias also in fine shape, and some 

 specimen plants of crotons, Lorraine be- 

 gonias and some of the ferns largely 

 grown at Craig's. These are Scottii, 

 Todeaoides and Amerpohlii. The Lons- 

 dale type of Lorraine begonias is in 

 favor at Craig's. Crotons are probably 

 more largely grown in this establishment 

 than m any other in the United States. 

 The variety Edwin Lonsdale is one of 

 the best. It is said that Craig's propa- 

 gates 5,000 crotons per month. 



HOLIDAY PLANTS IN CHICAGO. 



A canvass of the largest growers of 

 ? ? !u^° a°f^ about Chicago reveals the 

 lact that on some lines there is an abun- 

 dance, while in others there is a scarcity 

 and on still others a fair supply only. 



Azaleas and poinsettias, the two 

 ^hnstmas leaders, are the most abundant, 

 perhaps, and this fact alone is sufficient 



J,l«nf«"/°\r^^^'""S ^ g««<i t^ade in 

 a mnL^'"' -^^^ holidays. It also means 

 nrff- ^^""^^^ **«^P i° "material for dec- 

 orating florists' windows and giving the 



desired holiday air to the houses devoted 

 to selling plants and flowers, either 

 wholesale or retail. Upon these two 

 Christmas plants so much of the sale of 

 other plants depends that their condi- 

 tion at this time is an all-important 

 factor. 



When the azalea stock was received 

 from Belgium last fall, its condition was 

 not promising and there was every ap- 

 pearance of difficulties ahead for the 

 grower. So fast did the buds develop, 

 however, that with mild heat many plants 

 were in bloom for Thanksgiving and they 

 will require little, if any, forcing to get 

 plenty of the early varieties in readiness 

 for the holidays. 



Poinsettias also will be plentiful and 

 in excellent condition. While it is al- 

 ways hard to foresee how many any 

 man's trade will demand, it is expected 

 there will be enough to go around, though 

 it is taking long chances to put off orders 

 till late. It is a conservative estimate to 

 place the supply fifty per cent ahead of 

 last year, but the demand for poinsettias 

 is also steadily increasing. 



Cyclamens are certainly in fine condi- 

 tion, but the number ready for Christ- 

 mas is only fair. Chicago growers are 

 giving special attention to this plant and 

 grow only the best strains, as it is not 

 a case of how many, but of how fine a 

 plant with how beautiful a bloom they 

 can produce. The colors are certainly 

 charming. 



Primula ob^onica seems to be in fair 

 supply also. This plant has hardly 

 enough color to suit the public generally 

 at this season, though many prefer it for 

 its dainty appearance. 



Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, that beau- 

 tiful but fragile holiday plant, is not 

 found in such quantities on the florists' 

 benches as is desirable. It is a beautiful 

 plant for this season and sells well for 

 the home trade, but is not one of the 

 best shippers, as it breaks too easily. 



Unless stock is secured early, 'many are 

 bound to be disappointed, for the quan- 

 tity is quite limited. 



Berried plants are in fair supply. 

 There is a good stock of Christmas pep- 

 pers in all sizesj' Solanums, or Jerusalem 

 cherries, are only in fair supply. Ar- 

 disias and aucubas will be limited, 

 though the local demand never runs heavy 

 and probably the supply will be suffi- 

 cient. Stock of Pandanus Veitchii is to 

 be found in quantity, especially in the 

 small and medium sizes, rich pot plants 

 being especially abundant. They are 

 well colored and make attractive plants. 



Among the fancy leaved plants are 

 Draceena Massangeana and fragrans, 

 good stock and plentiful. Draca;na ter- 

 minalis is also abundant and usually 

 well colored. 



A splendid stock pf the ever favorite 

 Bostons and Whitmani, also palms, 

 araucarias and other green plants, are 

 to be had in splendid condition, and a 

 good green plant is bound to sell at any 

 season of the year. Jas. G. Hancock. 



EocKLAND, Me. — Charles T. Spear, the 

 Middle street florist, has opened a store 

 on Main street, near the corner of Elm 

 street. 



Denver, Colo. — The Scott & Martin 

 Floral Co. has been incorporated, with a 

 capital of $2,000, by Irene S. Scott, 

 Harry D. Martin and J. E. Robinson. 



Jackson, Miss. — W. J. Brown, whose 

 fine rose gardens were recently referred 

 to in the Review, is planning to build a 

 range of greenhouses on the large tract 

 of ground which he owns in the outskirts 

 of town. He will also increase the area 

 devoted to the growing of outdoor stock 

 especially roses, and will use^ his best 

 efforts to build up a large general trade. 

 Mr. Brown is deputy clerk of the Su- 

 preme Court. 



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