26 



The Florists' Review 



JAN0ABT 30, 1918. 



SWEET PEAS DBOPFINO BUDS. 



What is the cause of sweet peas drop- 

 ping their buds? I usually run my 

 house at 50 degrees, but several times 

 during this warm weather my man let 

 the temperature get up to 65 degrees. 

 Did that cause it? C, H. C. 



You do not state whether 50 degrees 

 has been your night or day temperature. 

 If it rose as high as 65 degrees at night, 

 it would be accountable in part for 

 the dropping of the buds. The present 

 winter has been a remarkably warm 

 one and on some nights it has been 

 difficult to keep even a night tempera- 

 ture of 50 degrees. On dull days 55 to 

 58 degrees is about right as a maxi- 

 mum, while on clear, sunny days it can 

 run up to 65 degrees, with plenty of 

 ventilation. 



Violent changes in temperature not 

 infrequently start buds to drop. An- 

 other cause is partial dryness at the 

 root. The soil may appear moist on the 

 surface and yet be quite dry below. 

 Ventilate freely on every possible occa- 

 sion, keep as even a temperature as you 

 can, be sure the roots are sufficiently 

 moist and avoid the use of chemical 

 stimulants and your plants should soon 

 show an improvement. C. W. 



EARLY SWEET PEES. 



I read an article in The Keview of 

 ♦December 19 about sowing sweet peas 



February 1. Does that mean outside, 

 and when would they come into bloom? 

 I should like to have some early ones 

 and have them in bloom by Decoration 

 day. What would be a good kind to 

 sow outside, as stated in The Review? 

 I am located in northwestern Oregon. 



J. J. S. 



The date given, February 1, was for 

 outdoor sowing in Alabama. Farther 

 north, of course, the date might be one 

 or even two months later. Even in 

 Alabama, sowing at so early a date 

 would only be possible if the ground 

 were open. Sweet peas should flower with 

 you outdoors for Memorial day, but, 

 to be more certain of an early picking, 

 use some of the earlier flowering or 

 forcing sorts, such as Christmas Pink, 

 Mrs. Sim and Mont Blanc, in addition 

 to such varieties as Countess Spencer, 

 Frank Dolby and Nora Unwin. They 

 will not flower persistently, like the 

 Spencer sorts, but will flower at an 

 earlier date. Also start in a coldframe 

 a quantity of any of the sorts you plan 

 to go in pots, setting them out five or 

 six weeks later. For instance, if your 

 ground opens up March 1, sow Feb- 

 ruary 1, and plant out about the middle 

 of March. This will insure a much 

 earlier lot of flowers. C. W. 



CATTLEYAS IN KENTUCKY. 



All over the country growers have 

 been taking up the cattleya and special- 



izing in it with much success. C. E. 

 Critchell, Cincinnati, sends The Review 

 the photograph reproduced herewith 

 with the statement that it shows a house 

 of Cattleya Trianaa now in flower with" 

 L. A. Fennell, at Cynthiana, Ky. Mr. 

 Critchell is Mr. Fennell 's Cincinnati 

 agent. Cynthiana is a county seat well 

 down in Kentucky, south of Cincinnati 

 and it has no local market for cattleyas, 

 but that has not deterred Mr. Fennell 

 from making them his specialty with 

 marked success. 



CLEVELAND. 



The Market. 



The market has not been fully up to 

 the January standard, probably due to 

 the open weather. Roses are scarce, 

 while carnations are becoming more 

 plentiful every day. Some fine Golden 

 Spurs, La Reine tulips and other early 

 spring flowers are on the market, qual- 

 ity unusually good. 



Various Notes. 



Novelty night at the Florists' Club 

 will be Monday, February 10. Exhibits 

 of new roses, new carnations, new gera- 

 niums and novelties in florists' ware, 

 such as baskets, corsage cups, etc., have 

 been promised by the introducers. This 

 is the first of a series of interesting 

 events to be put on at the club's 

 monthly meetings, by the entertain- 

 ment committee. Meetings hereafter 

 are to be held once each month instead 

 of twice, as formerly, the second Mon- 

 day of each month being the date. 

 Don't forget this. The entertainment 

 committee appointed by President Adam 

 Graham to serve for two months is 

 George W. SmithJ Guy Bate and Frank 

 Friedley. The committee promises to 

 spread a substantial lunch in addition 

 to the display of new flowers, and they 

 intend to make this a meeting worth 

 while. Remember the date, Februa- 

 ary 10. 



The bowling club tournament started 

 January 27. Bowling every Monday 

 night. Come to see the fun. F. A. F. 



House of Cattleya Trianae Flowering at L. A. Fennell's, Cynthiana, Ky. 



