64 



The Florists' Review 



Skptbmbeb 17, 1014. 



Vegetable Forcing 



LETTUCE FOB CHRISTMAS. 



Can you tell me about when to sow 

 lettuce in a bench so as to have it for 

 Christmas? "What kind would you sug- 

 gest? What is the proper temperature? 



A. B. 



In order to have good head lettuce 

 for Christmas, sow the seed in a bed 

 or bench early in September. The night 

 temperature for lettuce in winter 

 should not be lower than 45 degrees, 

 or higher than 50 degrees. Some of 

 the most successful growers keep the 

 minimum as near 48 degrees as pos- 

 sible. Good forcing varieties are Hit- 

 tinger's Belmont, May King and Ar- 

 lington Forcing Tennis Ball. If your 

 customers prefer curled lettuce, you 

 will find Grand Rapids Forcing -and 

 Early Curled Simpson good. These come 

 in a little earlier than the regular head 

 lettuce. C. W. 



TOMATO TBOUBLES. 



What causes tomato blossoms to fall? 

 Also, what causes them to rot at the 

 blossom end after they have commenced 

 to turn red? F. A. P. 



When tomatoes make an extra rank 

 growth, due to an excess of nitrogen in 

 the soil, the buds and flowers drop 

 freely. This is especially true under 

 glass, where practically all plants are 

 more subject to certain types of diseases 

 than when grown in the open. Blos- 

 som-end rot is due to various causes^ 

 Usually it appears on plants which are 

 making a strong growth during damp 

 and sunless spells of weather. This 

 particular disease is more pronounced 

 outdoors than under glass. In green- 

 houses, tomatoes can be given the dry 

 atmosphere which they require; out- 

 doors contrary conditions often exist. 

 Clear away surplus growth and let the 

 fruits get more light. C. W. 



PITTSBUEGH. 



The Market. 



There is not much to be said about 

 business so far this month, not a single 

 aflfair of any kind having occurred in 

 the city that would call for any quan- 

 tity of flowers. There have been plenty 

 of outdoor flowers, although the bet- 

 ter varieties of gladioli are not so 

 abundant. It is a shame to have to 

 tell of the quantities of asters that 

 have been coming in, good, bad and 

 indifferent. Roses are not any too plen- 

 tiful and there are no carnations. White 

 chrysanthemums have made their ap- 

 pearance and from this time on we will 

 be able to have them. 



None of the retail stores seem to be 

 making any special effort; there seems 

 rather to be curtailing of expenses until 

 business starts up. 



Various Notes. 



David Frazer, gardener for H. C. 

 Frick, is seriously ill. He has been 

 confined to bed for several weeks. 



Miss Nellie 6. King, formerly with 

 Wm. M. Turner, has opened a store at 

 7141 Kelly street. Miss King is always 

 full of energy and business and her 

 friends are predicting her success in 

 her new venture. Clarke. 



WINTER-FLOWERING ORCHID SWEET PEA. "MRS. A. A. SKACH." 



My Original Winter -flowering Orchid or 



Spencer Sweet Pea 



revolutionized the cut flower market last winter. It has brought higher prices than 

 the best carnation, from the start to finish. They will be more sought for this year. 

 On account of the War, I will not take any chances to ship many of my foreign 

 orders. This will enable me to send all American orders in full of the following 

 varieties, besides having some to spare: 



Pink and White Orchid, White Orchid. Mrs. A. A. Skach (clear 



pink), Orchid Beauty (dark rose), Venus (white, pink blush), Mrs. 



M. Spanolin (white), Mrs. Jos. Manda (light pink), all, I oz., $4,00. 



Lavender Nora, the best and largest clear lavender in cultivation. 



1 oz., $1.50. 



Winter-flowering Spencer Mixture. 



This consists only of the best light pink, pink, white, salmon, lavender and very 

 few dark. Every commercial grower should plant at least one house of these, aud he 

 will be taking no risk. 1 oz., $3.00; 4 oz., $10.00; 1 lb., $30.00. Ask for special prices 

 on 10 lbs. or more. 



You need one ounce of the Winter Orchid Sweet Pea seed for 100-foot row. 



Commercial Swaat Paa Culture. 50c, free with every $5.00 order. 



We have all other Winter Qrandiffloras. 

 Our Summer-flowering Spencere are the best re-selected in the United 



States. Ask for list. 



ANT. C. ZVOLANEK 



•wmt Pm llancb LOMPOC, CAL., U. •• *' 



