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NOTBMBEB 5, 1914. 



Tnc Florists^ Review 



IS 



Some of the A. N. Plefson Exhibits at the New York Show, with the New Mrs. Moorfield Storey Rose in the Right Foreground. 



the mixed borders or shrubberies, being 

 also splendid for naturalizing purposes, 

 as they are at their best in grass land. 

 For formal beds such robust sorts as 

 Sir Watkin, Emperor, Victoria, Princeps 

 .maximus, (jrolde.n Spur a.nd Henry Irving 

 should be used. In grass land Inie isBbrf 

 trumpet section are the most effective. 

 Such sorts as poeticus, poeticus ornatus, 

 all the Leedsii varieties, particularly 

 Mrs. Langtry and Duchess of Brabant, 

 and all the incomparabilis and Bur- 

 bidgei sections can be used. Of the 

 large trumpets I have found that 

 Emperor, princeps maximus and Empress 

 wear particularly well, although the 

 bulk of the big trumpet narcissi are 

 less hardy than the short trumpets. 



Small Bulbs for Borders. 



In the way of small bulbs for borders, 

 beds or grass, the snowdrop, crocus, 

 chionodoxa and scilla should be freely 

 used. These all come ahead of the 

 tulips, often before the winter snoWs 

 have passed. Plant a few of the grape 

 hyacinths, or Muscari racemosum, in 

 the grass, and if you have a partly 

 shaded position try even a few dozens 

 of white fritillarias, Scilla campanulata 

 or dog's-tooth violets, or erythroniums. 



While catering to his customers' 

 needs, the progressive florist will not 

 neglect his own home grounds. There 

 a bed or border tastefully planted will 

 brighten his own home, serve as an 

 excellent advertisement and bring addi- 

 tional customers for another season. 



FIBER FOB BXTLBS. 



In the Woman's Home Companion 

 for October we notice an article con- 

 cerning the forcing of Paper Whites 

 and other varieties of narcissi, Dutch 

 hyacinths, freesias, crocus, etc., and 

 the writer suggests growing these bulbs 

 in a composition of cocoannt fiber, 

 shells and commercial fertilizer. The 

 Writer says this mixture is not pat- 

 ented, but is put up by most of the 

 leading seedsmen and sold at a low 



price, and recommends growing bulbs 

 in this way. We have had some in- 

 quiries for this mixture and, since we 

 are not familiar with it, are writing 

 to ask if you know of anything of this 

 kind being used and if so, will you 

 give us- the proper formula for making 

 it? Also tell us where cocoanut fiber 

 can be obtained and state the kind of 

 fertilizer to be used. T. S. S. C. 



Cocoanut fiber is sold in 100-pound 

 bags and can be purchased from the 

 majority of the large seed stores; it is 

 quite inexpensive. I would add six 

 quarts of broken shells and the same 

 of dried cattle or sheep manure to each 

 bushel of the fiber. The animal manures 

 you will find much safer and better 

 than bone or chemical fertilizers. It 

 is well to remember that many articles 

 appearing in other than horticultural 

 magazines must not be taken too se- 

 riously. They are all written with the 

 best of intentions, but the writers, in 

 many cases, have but a limited knowl- 

 edge of horticulture. If they knew 

 more they would not advise mixing 

 commercial fertilizer with fiber for 

 bulb growing. It is well to add that 

 while bulbs can be grown in fiber, loam 

 will give far better results. C. W. 



PBOTECTINO PAPER WHITES. 



Will you kindly inform me how much 

 protection to give Paper White nar- 

 cissi if they are put in flats and left 

 out this winter in this Illinois climate t 

 T want to fix them so I can get two or 

 three flats any time I want them. 



F. L. H. 



While the Dutch hyacinths, tulips 

 and narcissi can be left outdoors and 

 will be perfectly safe when well pro- 

 tected, it is well to remember that 

 Paper White narcissi are much more 

 tender and I would not advise you to 

 try to keep them out in your climate. 

 Give them the protection of a cold- 

 frame or cold cellar. You can then 



get at them readily and you are rea- 

 sonably certain that they will not be 

 injured by frost, as they certainly will 

 be if they are left in the open, na 

 matter how well you may cover them. 



C. W. 



MARKETABLE HARDY FLOWERS. 



Will you kindly give some suggestions 

 as to marketable hardy flowers which 

 may be grown here, in western Ken- 

 tucky, and which will bring fair prices 

 in the wholesale market! If yon wer© 

 to select about four to six of the best 

 commercial varieties of jonquils and 

 narcissi for outdoor growing, which 

 would they bet Also what four kinds 

 of peonies are the all-round, easiest 

 sellers and the most profitable! Will 

 you also tell me where to procure the 

 necessary shipping baskets for these 

 flowers and state what sizes are most 

 desirable! If you will answer these 

 questions, you will greatly obligei a 

 beginner in the trade. A. P. 



As to the most profitable varieties of 

 narcissi and jonquils to grow outdoors 

 for the wholesale cut flower market, 

 there is only one true jonquil that would 

 probably prove profitable; that is, the 

 campernelle, variety odorus rugulosus. 

 There seem to be two varieties of this 

 sent out from Holland, the true rugulo- 

 sus being much larger than the other 

 and grown on longer stems. The first 

 cost of the bulbs is slight and they 

 increase more rapidly in this country 

 than any other narcissus of which I 

 know. 



Of the trumpet daffodils, Emperor, 

 Empress and Sir Watkin are the three 

 varieties that will prove the most profit- 

 able, all things considered. Emperor 

 and Sir Watkin are rather better, pos- 

 sibly, than Empress, because of color, 

 and also because Empress is more sub- 

 ject to disease. As soon as Glory of 

 Leiden can be bought as low as $3 or 

 $4 per hundred, it should prove the 

 most profitable of all, for it seems to 



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