30 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



JANUABY 27, 1910. 



this item of culture, but wish to empha- 

 size the necessity of the use of the Bor- 

 deaux mixture promptly on the establish- 

 ment of the plants. Generously applied, 

 and given once thereafter every three or 

 four weeks, it not only acts as a pre- 

 ventive of spot, rust and other minor dis- 

 eases, but of stem-rot as well. 



By beginning in August with a weekly 

 spray of Nicoticide and continuing 

 throughout the year, we keep down aphis 

 and also rid our plants of thrips. Red 

 spider is controlled by an occasional ap- 

 plication of salt water, together with 

 syringing under high pressure on bright 



days. 



The antiquated proceeding of mulchmg 

 heavily in late summer or autumn has 

 given w^y to light top-dressings, through 

 which the surface of the soil is always 

 pliable and open to the free air, thus 

 preventing any tendency toward souring. 



Lime, wood ashes, sheep manure and 

 pulverized cattle manure, alway.J applied 

 sparingly, constitute the menu for our 

 plants after they are "up and doing." 



Plenty of fresh air, whenever it is pos- 

 sible to admit it, insures a healthy, free- 

 growing plant. 



Not until October and November do 

 the plants throw character blooms, but 

 if by January 1 each plant does not 

 show several blooms cut, something is de- 

 cidedly wrong, either with the variety or 

 with the culture given. 



In regard to new varieties: We need 

 them and they are interesting, and we 

 must not forget that every variety that 

 we grow was once an untried novelty; 

 but it behooves every general grower to 

 ascertain, as far as possible, the exact 

 value of a new one before displacing an 

 old one to make room for it in quantity. 

 This national meeting is of inestimable 

 value to carnation growers, in that it 

 shows just how well the standard varie- 

 ties are holding their early vitality and 

 position, and just what new sorts are 

 surpassing their seniors in brilliance of 

 color, perfection of form and in size. 

 Only the finest and most productive sorts 

 can in this day and time pay for stand- 

 ing room in the modern, up-to-date 

 greenhouse. 



I thank you for your attention. 



THE PEOPLE'S FLOWER. 



[A paper by H. W. Breltensteln, of PltU- 

 burg Pa., read before the American Carnation 

 Society at the Pittsburg convention, January 

 26 and 27, 1910.] 



Flowers are not more a luxury in 

 modern life than are good clothes, com- 

 fortable homes and the many things in 

 daily use that place living above an 

 existence. 



There is probably . no normal human 

 animal without an inherent tone of the 

 beautiful, and this quality finds no com- 

 moner expression than in a fondness for 

 flowers. The indulgence in this expres- 

 sion, it must be conceded, is primarily a 

 matter of cost. He of limited means — 

 and he is legion — must have value re- 

 ceived, whether it be in color, for cheer 

 in dull environment, or in fragrance, to 

 stimulate the senses, being reminiscent 

 of a happy yesterday or mayhap leading 

 to anticipations of the morrow, and the 

 influence is only for good. 



Nevertheless, it must not be a "flower 

 for a day. ' ' The carnation has been the 

 people's flower. Its beauty and fra- 

 grance appeal to the senses, and its cost 

 places it within the means of all having 

 more than enough for the common neces- 

 sities of life. Then there is also its 

 hardiness, giving prolonged pleasures. 



!• It Losing lU Popularity? 



Mark well the assertion, "It has been 

 the people's flower." Perhaps it still 

 is, and maybe shall so remain; that, it 

 seems, is "up to you." 



From observation, it seems to lose in 

 popularity. Whyt Certainly not be- 

 cause it is less beautiful. What is the 

 answer? Is it not because it becomes 

 more and more ephemeral each year as 

 it loses its hardihood, as well as its fra- 

 grance, and gains nothing in beauty? 



Admitting that it grows larger, size 

 alone is not beauty, and bulk at the 

 sacrifice of natural charms does not hold 

 the affection of the people. Might it not 

 be well to consider what qualities are 

 most essential to the pleasures of the 

 consumer, without which all else would 

 be in vain? 



Color we have, and, from a decorative 

 point of view, no flower offers more. If 

 given the proper treatment, one can ob- 

 tain from the most gorgeous to the soft- 

 est tones; but now is perhaps the best 

 time to make the one exception: We 

 need yellow, now come to its own in 

 popularity, and deservedly so, as no color 

 diffuses more warmth, and nature uses it 

 profusely. 



The Need of Nattiralness. 



One essential feature to a more gen- 

 eral use of the flower is naturalness. 



One cannot obtain a very artistic ar- 

 rangement without more natural environ- 

 ment; hence the obvious need of carna- 



tion foliage, with which the flower, for a 

 table decoration (perhaps its greatest 

 use other than for memorial purposes), 

 would be incalculably enhanced. It would 

 also be more effective for personal adorn- 

 ment and for favors. A full bouquet, 

 with their warmth of color .relieved by a 

 touch of foliage, makes an adornment 

 any lady would be pleased to accept and 

 proud to wear. 



Simplicity is the keynote of art. Be 

 it in music, painting, sculpture, archi- 

 tecture or any other branch,, its highest 

 expression is faithfulness to Nature as 

 she reveals herself. 



Where are the monster chrysanthemums 

 that were a fad some years since? They 

 are replaced by the smaller and more 

 natural ones, having more uses. 



What rose has won favor more than 

 the semi-single, fragrant, hardy ones? 

 The American Beauty is a notable ex- 

 ception, not for the beauty of its color 

 so much as for fragrance, and especially 

 endurance. 



A DOG SHOW WINDOW. 



The accompanying illustration is re- 

 produced from the photograph of the 

 dog show week decoration in the window 

 of W. J. Palmer & Son, Buffalo. The 

 lady was borrowed from an adjoining dry 

 goods store ; the dog was made on a wire 

 frame, and entirely of violets. The other 

 features of the decoration were changed 

 daily. 



A Window Decoration for Doj; Show Week. 



BOSTON. 



The Market. 



Trade is inclined to sag a little now. 

 With warmer weather, flowers are much 

 more abundant, except in the case of 

 roses, which are in moderate supply, most 

 of the houses being off crop at present. 

 Of Beauty, Killarney and Richmond there 

 is no overplus; in fact, all roses, even the 

 short-stemmed ones, are selling well. Car- 

 nations hang fire somewhat and are in 

 heavier supply. Prices have, however, 

 held up well so far. "Violets are down 

 in price, the bulk going now at 50 cents 

 per hundred, with fancies at 75 cents. 

 Sweet peas are improving and a good de- 

 mand exists for them. Easter lilies are 



rather scarce and such as come in are 

 easily disposed of. The same holds true 

 of callas. 



Cattleyas are now more abundant and 

 softening somewhat in price. There has 

 been an extra strong call for these during 

 the present winter. Marguerites, both 

 yellow and white, sell readily; so, also, 

 do freesias, if of good quality. The va- 

 riety Purity now holds the premier posi- 

 tion in this market. Pansies, wallflowers, 

 English primroses and sweet-scented yel- 

 low jonquils are more plentiful, and quite 

 a few calendulas and bachelor's buttons 

 are seen. Dutch bulbous stock is more 

 abundant and lower in price. Golden 

 Spur, in narcissi, and La Seine, among 

 tulips, continue leaders. There is a par- 

 ticularly good call for asparagus and 



. I £.. — «.: 



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