10 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



Sbptbmbbb 23, 1000. 



ALFRED BURTON. 



Alfred Burton, who will be electeil 

 vice-president of the Philadelphia Flo- 

 rists' Club at its meeting Tuesday, Octo- 

 ber 5, is well known, not only in the trade 



in his vicinity, but throughout the coun- 

 try, as an exceptionally successful grower 

 of American Beauty roses. He Is the son 

 of John Burton, whom everyone knows 

 and likes, and in a trade way is following 

 in the footsteps of his father. 



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SEASONABLE 



SUGGESTIONS | 



Azaleas. 



Any left-over azaleas which have been 

 planted outdoors should now be lifted 

 and potted. It is a mistaken idea that 

 good azaleas cannot 'be grown outdoors 

 in America. The fact is that, if they are 

 within convenient reach of the hose and 

 have been planted in a suitable compost, 

 they will grow and form flower buds 

 more abundantly than in Belgium. It is~ 

 a mistaken notion to continue to plant 

 these in heavy shade. In the full sun 

 they will set buds far better, and if they 

 have been kept well syringed there should 

 be no signs of thrips or otlicr posts on 

 them.. 



It will be but a short time before the 

 imported plants begin to arrive. Growers 

 who do not import directly usually depend 

 upon securing their supplies from some 

 of the large specialists. Orders should 

 be placed now to insure prompt delivery. 

 The balls are liable to become quite dry 

 in some cases where they have been kept 

 in too close proximity to the boUers, and 

 it is always well to soak them thoroughly 

 in tubs of water before potting. Be sure 

 to pot firmly and do not forget to leave 

 an ample margin for water. Hard- 

 wooded plants have fine, hair-like roots, 

 as a rule, and when they are watered 

 one filling should suflScc to soak the ball. 

 If they get dry, it is more satisfactory 

 to stand the pots iu a pail or tub of 

 water, to be sure the roots are thoroughly 

 wetted. There is no immediate hurry 

 about housing azaleas, so long as frost 

 keeps away. A light freezing will not 

 hurt them, but it is better to be on the 

 safe side and place them in a cold house 

 or pit before any frost comes at all. 



Calceolarias. 



The progress made by calceolarias is 

 always discouraging until the cool fall 

 nights arrive. They grow more in one 

 week in September than during the whole 

 of July. This is not at all surprising, as 

 few greenhouse flowering plants love 

 cooler treatment. Do not place the plants 

 in the greenhouses for some weeks yet. 

 Let them have the night dews by throw- 

 ing the sashes of the coldframes off," 

 unless frost seems imminent. Never al- 

 low aphis to get any start on these. If 

 fumigated once a week, thej* will be 

 clean. You cannot apply any nicotine 

 liquid solutions and reach the lower sides 

 of the leaves properly, as they lie so 

 close to the soil. 



Keep them potted along and always 

 allow plenty of rather rough leaf -mold in 

 compost. Let any manure be old ■ and 

 such as will crumble up in the hand. F»r 

 the later pottings we like to have the 

 compost rather lumpy, so that water will 



pass quickly through it. but in the earlier 

 stages one-half loam and one-half leaf- 

 mold, with a little rotted manure and 

 sand added, seems to suit them nicely. 



Cuttings of Calceolaria rugosa, taken 

 now, will make fine plants for spring 

 sales, the yellow varieties being the most 

 desirable. The cuttiugs will root in four 

 weeks in a cool house and should be car- 

 ried over winter in a cold house, 40 to 45 

 degrees at night being warm enough. 

 The spikes are much tougher on these 

 than on herbaceous varieties and the 

 plants commercially are far superior, as 

 they last well in water and are useful in 

 bouquets. It is surprising that so few 

 florists have yet found out their value. 



Gladiolus Colvillei Alba. 



Among the earliest of the bulb arrivals, 

 which demand attention immediatelv 



after arrival, are the small bulbed, early 

 flowering gladioli. The best known of 

 tliese is the one commonly known as 

 Gladiolus The Bride, the pure white 

 flowers of which are extremely useful in 

 almost any kind of floral work. These 

 succeed capitally in flats four inches 

 deep, standing them in a cellar or pit 

 until growth starts, when they can be 

 given a lighter location. The popular 

 varieties of G. nanus, such as Blushing 

 Bride, Ackermanni, Peach Blossom and 

 other sorts, can be similarly treated. 

 They are among the ^ most useful of all 

 bulbous plants for cutting, keeping also 

 remarkably well in water. Peach Blos- 

 som is a little higher priced than some 

 other varieties, but it is of that delicate 

 peach-pink shade which always sells on 

 sight. These gladioli, when received, 

 are often found to be making numerous 

 roots and have the growths well .ad- 

 vanced. Be sure, therefore, to open the 

 bags or boxes and spread them out, get- 

 ting them into the soil witii as little delay 

 iis possible. 



Cyclamens. 



Potting of all plants inteiidetl for 

 Christmas or later winter blooming 

 should be completed as soon as possible, 

 in order that they may become well 

 rooted before really cold weather gets 

 liere. The growth the cyclamens are now 

 making cheers the heart of the patient 

 cultivator. The circles of handsome 

 leaves lying close to the rims of the pots 

 are, or should 1)p, tough and free from 

 all blemishes. If nicotine sprayings or 

 light fumigations liave been carefully at- 

 tended to, there should be no imperfect 

 leaves. Any sick looking j)lants should 



Alfred Burtoo. 



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