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April 28, 1910. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



13 



A Comer of Dahlia Field of J. L. Moore, Northboro, Mass. 



THE DAHLIA BOOM. 



Among the flowers which have ad- 

 vanced in popular estimation, none has 

 made such strides in the last few years 

 as has the dahlia. The gladiolus may be 

 a close second, and perhaps for that rea- 

 son these two flowers are the specialty of 

 J. L. Moore, a corner of whose grounds 

 at Northboro, Mass., is shown in the 

 accompanying illustration. 



The importance of these flowers has be- 

 come such that hundreds of acres are de- 

 voted to growing stock for the trade. W. 

 W. Eawson & Co., Boston, even have is- 

 sued a catalogue devoted exclusively to 

 these two specialties, a book of 112 

 pages, and listing literally thousands of 

 varieties. At Northboro, Mr. Moore grows 

 between three and four acres each of 

 gladioli and dahlias. He says that never 

 in his many years of experience with 

 these flowers has there been so prosper- 

 ous a season as in 1909, and he looks 

 forward to the dahlia and gladiolus mak- 

 ^ ing a still further advance in popular es- 

 teem this season. He says that all the 

 trade need to do to foster the business 

 in these specisdties, and keep it steadily 

 increasing, is to see to it that planters 

 get the better varieties. 



MANCHESTER, MASS. 



A. E. Thatcher, of the Arnold Arbore- 

 tum, proved a most interesting speaker 

 at the last regular meeting of the North 

 Shore Horticultural Society, describing a 

 large number of the better class and new 

 herbaceous perennials. Quite a number 

 of the newer introductions have been 

 brought to this country by K H. Wilson 

 and are great improvements on some of 

 our older varieties. The majority of 

 these Chinese perennials can be obtained 

 from leading seed and nursery firms in 

 Boston. 



The meeting being largely attended, a 

 good many took part in the discussion 

 which followed the lecture and quite 

 diverse opinions were expressed as to the 

 merits of different plants. 



On the motion of the chairman of the 

 show committee it was voted to hold the 



coming rose show at Beverly Farms in- 

 stead of Manchester, as usual. Although 

 the society has held first-class exhibitions 

 in the past, it has been financially em- 

 barrassed by lack of attendance and con- 

 sequently poor gate receipts. The move 

 to Beverly Farms will be made as a 

 trial, in the hope that the more central 

 location will result in increased gate 

 money. The list of prizes includes two 

 silver cups, three gold and four silver 

 medals, in addition to good money prizes, 

 and it is hoped that the exhibitions this 

 year will be more patronized by the gen- 

 eral public. A. E. P. 



ROCHESTER. 



The Market. 



Nearly all the retail florists report a 

 better condition of trade for last week 

 than at any time since Easter. The mar- 

 ket is not overstocked and consequently 

 prices hold up well, and the retailers are 

 able to clear out nearly everything. 



Tulips and hyacinths are retailing at 

 50 cents a dozen; carnations, 60 cents 

 to 75 cents, and some extra choice have 

 sold at $1 a dozen; sweet peas bring 35 

 cents a bunch. The prices for roses 

 range from $1 to $4. 



The warm weather during the current 

 month has enabled local growers to get 

 a great deal of outside work finished, 

 and the warm rains last week put spring 

 colors on the lawns and shrubs. The rain 

 was greatly needed, as the month of 

 March was exceptionally dry, less than 

 one inch of water falling; the smallest 

 amount for the month on record at the 

 weather bureau. 



Various Notes. 



An avenue of magnolias in a northern 

 city is notable, and Oxford street, in this 

 city, is famous among nurserymen and 

 florists as showing the finest collection of 

 Magnolia speciosa in the country. The 

 trees were planted about thirty-five years 

 ago by E. H. Hooker, and have developed 

 into fine specimens. At this writing the 

 trees are in full bloom, giving over a 

 quarter of a mile of attractive coloring 



and making Oxford street one of the 

 handsomest thoroughfares in the city. 

 The buds are sometimes killed by late 

 frosts, but even when out of bloom, the 

 trees are exceedingly attractive in their 

 dress of dark, glossy green. E. F. B. 



OBITUARY. 



Mrs. Michael J. Lyncli. 



Mrs. Lynch, widow of the late Michael 

 J. Lynch, died recently at her home on 

 the South road, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., af- 

 ter a brief illness. She had not needed 

 the care of a physician in twenty years, 

 but a week before her death she took a 

 heavy cold and pneumonia developed. 

 Heart trouble and complications fol- 

 lowed. 



She was the daughter of John and 

 Mary (Murphy) Powers, of Bhinebeck, 

 natives of County Wexford, Ireland. 

 She married Mr. Lynch about forty 

 years ago and they located on the South 

 road, Poughkeepsie, where she passed 

 away. Mr. Lynch had built up a pros- 

 perous trade as a florist, and on his 

 death Mrs. Lynch and her sons continued 

 tiie business with great success. She is 

 survived by three sons, Thomas M., John 

 M. and James E., and two daughters, 

 Mary T. and Catherine E., the latter at- 

 tending school at New Bochelle. 



John Murray. 



John Murray, who for the last twelve 

 years of his activity as a gardener was 

 in charge of the extensive Conant estates, 

 at Pawtucket, R. I., died at his home in 

 that city recently, aged 75 years. He was 

 one of the best known gardeners in New 

 England and was an expert of the old 

 school. Born in Ireland, he followed his 

 father at an early age in working about 

 the large estates there, and when still a 

 young man he came to this country. He 

 made his way into New England and for 

 many years worked upon, or was in 

 charge of, several of the largest estates 

 in the vicinity of Boston and Wellesley, 

 Mass. Later he removed to Pawtucket 

 and took charge of the Conant estates, 

 and under his care and direction they 

 became famous throughout that section of 

 the country. 



John C Wagner. 



John C. Wagner, a nursery dealer at 

 Fremont, Neb., died April 14, after being 

 seized with a sudden spasm of coughing. 

 He had made arrangements to leave for 

 Colorado Springs on the following day, 

 for the benefit of his health. He was 

 born in Ohio in 1856. 



ONONNATL 



The Market. 



The market conditions improved con- 

 siderably last week. The volume of busi- 

 ness done was slightly greater than the 

 week before, but the supply of stock de- 

 creased considerably and therefore was 

 not much larger than the demand. The 

 buyers bought readily, but not eagerly. 

 The whole business has a better tone 

 than for some weeks heretofore. 



There are still more than enough good 

 roses to meet the demand. Carnations 

 are being cleaned up regularly, while 

 the supply of sweet peas is more than 

 necessary. Good forced lily of the valley 

 are offered. The season for callas is 

 about over. Many of the growers have 

 thrown them out, so that they might 

 give room to other stock more profitable 



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