The Florists^ Review 



APBIL 2. U)ll. 



MIND YOUR X 



X EASTER PLANTS 



CAREFXJL HANDLINO NEEDED. 



Weather a Big Factor. 



Weather conditions have been such for 

 the last three months that growers have 

 been kept guessing and on the anxious 

 seat. The severely cold weather which 

 continued through February and March, 

 accompanied, as it was, by much cloudi- 

 ness, has made the exact timing of 

 plants a more than usually difficult 

 proposition, and the man who can get 

 all his plants in flower is to be con- 

 gratulated. With an Easter coming as 

 late as April 12, it would naturally 

 have been thought that it would be a 

 simple matter to time plants to a nicety, 

 but all such calculations have been 

 rudely upset, and only by the use of 

 more fire heat than usual has it been 

 possible to flower many plants, and it is 

 a safe bet that with increased firing the 

 cost of production for nearly all Easter 

 stock has been considerably higher than 

 in 1913, when Easter came three weeks 

 earlier. We naturally expect mild 

 weather in April, but it is never safe 

 to bank on anything of the sort and, 

 while we may be favored with clear 

 skies, we may, on the other hand, have 

 bitter winds, accompanied by sleet or 

 snow, which will make careful wrap- 

 ping of all plants a necessity. Ik is 

 well, therefore, to be fully equipped 

 with an ample supply of stakes, twine 

 and paper. The demand for plants is 

 so great that it is impossible to ac- 

 commodate them in the average store, 



and it is, in many cases, found neces- 

 sary to hire a vacant store for a week 

 or ten days before Easter. 



The liUiee. 



Lilies are, and probably will continue 

 to be, the most popular of all Easter 

 plants. It is an advantage to do any 

 making up at least a week before 

 Easter. Large pots or pans often are 

 used, and in them are placed six, twelve 

 or even more plants. Shake or wash 

 the soil away pretty clean, but save 

 the roots; work the soil in well about 

 them, soak with water and cover the 

 surface with sheet moss. Be careful in 

 overhauling these lilies not to bruise 

 the flowers; also be sure all pollen 

 masses are removed. This latter duty 

 must be religiously attended to daily if 

 clean flowers are wanted. 



Plants which are a little early can be 

 retarded in a cold house or cellar, but 

 be sure they are not allowed to become 

 dry at the root. Any that are late, and 

 on which the buds are not yet showing 

 any white, should have the hottest 

 house at one's disposal. Give little air, 

 even in the daytime; spray and water 

 freely, keep a moist atmosphere and, if 

 heat and moisture can do it, the flow- 

 ers will open. Be careful to remove all 

 pollen masses before doing any spray- 

 ing, and remove the plants with ex- 

 panding flowers to cooler quarters. 



In sending out lilies, if the weather 

 is mild it is better not to cover the 

 flowers at all, for no matter how care- 

 fully these may be packed, there is 



always danger of some being cracked or 

 bruised. 



Giganteum continues the Easter lily 

 par excellence. With many it is dwarf er 

 than ever this year, especially in light, 

 modern houses. Some have not yet dis- 

 covered that to lengthen the stems the 

 house must be darkened, either by 

 shading the glass or by covering the 

 sides of the house with cloth shades. 

 This makes a decided difference to the 

 length of the stems. 



The Roses. 



Eoses are, probably, next to lilies, the 

 most popular of Easter plants. The ad- 

 vent of the ramblers made them rise 

 wonderfully in favor. Colored varie- 

 ties have for some years sold far bet- 

 ter than white ones, pink being the 

 favorite shade. That old-time leader. 

 Crimson Rambler, now occupies a minor 

 position, the pinks, such as Tausend- 

 schon, Dorothy Perkins, Newport Fairy, 

 Lady Gay and others, being in much 

 greater demand. Tausendschon un- 

 doubtedly has the largest call of any 

 Easter pot rose today. American Pillar 

 sells well, as do such pink baby ram- 

 blers as Mrs. Cutbush. Nicely flowered 

 hybrid perpetuals, if they can be timed 

 to have one or two flowers open, are 

 good sellers, especially such sorts as 

 Frau Karl Druschki, Magna Charta, 

 American Beauty, Mme. Gabriel Luizet 

 and Ulrich Brunner. Then we have 

 such varieties as Clothilde Soupert, 

 Wedding Bells, Hiawatha, White Doro- 

 thy and many more almost too numer- 



Here are Primulas and Ericas, Showing Inexpensive Arrangements that are Great Sellers at Easter. 



