

; i.-y-^-.-t' 



20 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



Decbmbeb 8, 1910. 



iH 



SCALE ON FEBNS. 



Can you tell me what is the trouble 

 with the enclosed fern leaves? As you 

 will see, there is some sort of insect 

 on one of the leaves. What kind of 

 insect is it, and what causes the color 

 to come out of the other leaves? 



E. F. B. 



The Boston fern in question is badly 

 infested with a scale insect. The best 

 thing to do with such a plant would be 

 to cut off the worst fronds, and then 

 to dip the plant in a solution of to- 

 bacco extract, using one pArt of the 

 extract to fifty parts of water. Several 

 applications may be needed to rid the 

 plants of this pest. 



The other fern fronds have a scalded 

 appearance, which may have been 

 caused by too much moisture on the 

 foliage during the night, or possibly by 

 the use of too much manure. But 

 without knowing something of the con- 

 ditions under which they are growing, 

 it is difficult to speak positively about 

 the matter. W. H. T. 



INSECTS ON FEBNS. 



I am sending you two fern leaves 

 with some kind of little insects on them. 

 What are they, and how can I destroy 

 them without spoiling my ferns? They 

 are only on two or three of them yet. 

 What kind of insects lay the eggs? I 

 should also like to know how to destroy 

 scale and mealy bug. E. T, O. 



The fern fronds had on them both 

 scale and the common white fly. For 

 the scale, use one of the several scale 

 remedies carried by all the supply 

 houses and seed stores. The best rem- 

 edy for the white fly seems to be hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas. Bulletin No. 27, new 

 series, revised edition, issued by the 

 Department of Agriculture at Washing- 

 ton, D. C, gives full directions for using 

 this valuable remedy. The Keview, also, 

 has frequently described the process. 



Kerosene emulsion is the best remedy 

 for mealy bug. Mix about a tablespoon- 

 ful with a pint of milk. Then put this 

 into a gallon of warm water. Syringe 

 the infested plants and keep well 

 stirred while using. A. F. J. B. 



SHAMROCKS. 



It is now getting somewhat late to 

 sow shamrock seed. If the matter has 

 been overlooked, get seed at once and 

 sow in flats in a temperature of 50 

 degrees. When nicely germinated, move 

 to a house 5 degrees cooler. As a rule, 

 such a house as violets or mignonette 

 thrive in will be found all right for 

 shamrocks. Keep any flats of seed- 

 lings on a bench close to the glass after 

 they are transplanted. Use a light and 

 rather sandy soil for them. Avoid 

 anything like a dry atmosphere and do I 



not stand them near heating pipes, 

 where thrips can get a foothold on 

 them. On the other hand, a cold, 

 clammy house is not to their liking, as 

 it will cause mildew to start, which 

 will soon ruin a batch. A cool, dry and 

 airy house is what shamrocks like. 



STOCK FOB AZALEAS. 



What is the name of the plant that 

 azaleas are grafted on? M. L. 



The older and more vigorous va- 

 rieties, particularly those of a rosy 

 purple color, are propagated from cut- 

 tings. These are used for stock on 

 which to propagate the choicer sorts 

 by tongue or veneer grafting. 



C. W. 



WEAK GBOWTH OF HABBISII. 



In the same house with my callas I 

 have some Harrisii lilies. Up to a week 

 ago they were out in a coldframe and 

 buried, like other bulbs. They have 

 nice roots, but the growth is jullow and 

 weak. I keep them moderately moist 

 and between 55 and 60 degrees. 



H. R. 



The Harrisiis should not have been 

 covered like the Dutch bulbs. They will 

 enjoy a brisk heat — 60 to 65 degrees at 

 night if you can give them so much. 

 Water carefully; run them a little on 

 the dry side, as an overplus will easily 

 rot the roots. The shoots should soon 

 green up under careful treatment. 



C. W. 



TO MAKE SHOWS SUCCESSFUL. 



[A paper by Edward A. Stroud, read before the 

 Florists' Club of Philadelphia, December 6, 1010.] 



How can we make our flower shows 

 more interesting and successful? Let 

 us consider the existing fact that the 

 attendance at our shows has gradually 

 decreased in numbers and I think no 

 one can dispute the question that of 

 late years they are far from being a 

 success. Is it a seeming lack of in- 

 terest in exhibitors; a similarity of 

 our shows; the price of admission; the 

 method of advertising; the lack of co- 

 operation of our club and the Horti- 

 cultural Society, or some reason not 

 generally known which has caused this 

 result? It seems to me the most seri- 

 ous fault is the lack of cooperation. 

 No one branch of the business can 

 make a successful up-to-date show. It 

 is absolutely necessary to have an able 

 committee composed of representatives 

 from every department: the private 

 gardener, the retail and wholesole flo- 

 rist, and our commercial growers and 

 seedsmen, all taking an active interest 

 in the advancement and success of our 

 shows. 



The Financial Question. 

 Undoubtedly the first aidliject to be 



discussed by the committee would be 

 the financial question, "How can we 

 raise money?" I would suggest a 

 guarantee fund. This would supply 

 money for ^izes 'fthd also be the means 

 for buying materials for the decora- 

 tion of the hall, the employment of 

 skilled labor for this purpose, advance 

 advertising and numerous incidentals. 

 I understand that the money for the 

 prizes has depended largely on the ad- 

 mission fee. Naturally, the attendance 

 decreasing in numbers, the prizes have 

 been somewhat uncertain of prompt 

 payment, and, no matter how small the 

 prize, if it is not paid at the time it 

 is awarded the interest of the exhib- 

 itor diminishes. Our shows should be 

 well advertised. Advertise every- 

 where, in our newspapers, in the shop 

 windows, in all adjacent towns, in and 

 on the street cars; in fact, employ 

 every up-to-date method. The ad- 

 vertisements in the official catalogue 

 should be a large source of income. I 

 would also suggest that we have a list 

 of prominent patronesses. The social 

 feature seems to have been entirely 

 overlooked the last few seasons; in 

 former years it was quite a society 

 event. 



I consider our admission fee is toa 

 high for the shows we are now giv- 

 ing and I doubt if we will ever fill the 

 hall at the present charge. The peo- 

 ple are not getting enough for their 

 money. It is evident that the love of 

 flowers is not dying out when thou- 

 sands go to Horticultural hall in the 

 park to see a pretty but everyday ex- 

 hibit and on Palm Sunday, when some 

 of our commercial greenhouses are 

 thrown open to the public, I am told 

 it requires policemen to manage the 

 crowds. Of course, some will argue 

 that this is because they are getting 

 something for nothing and that our 

 shows, too, would be crowded if they 

 were free. It is a beautiful sight to 

 see thousands of chrysanthemums, 

 azaleas, etc., in a greenhouse, and well 

 worth a visit, especially when it costa 

 nothing; but place those same flowers 

 in an artistically decorated hall, ar- 

 ranged in new and novel effect, and 

 you have something the public will be 

 willing to pay to see. 



Novelty Is Demanded. 



We cannot present any kind of a 

 show year after year in the same man- 

 ner and expect to attract. The cry of 

 the moment is for novelties. Still 

 have the competitive classes for the 

 gardener and grower, which are always 

 interesting, but added to these intro- 

 duce some new features. For instance: 

 the hardy chrysanthemum border, 

 which you all know; the Japanese gar- 

 den, arranged so one could rest and 

 listen to the music, and, if so desired, 

 draw up to a table and procure re- 

 freshments. The floral art gallery is 

 full of possibilities. This consists of 

 frames, with flowers grouped together 

 in them, representing a picture. The 

 effects are not only artistic, but the 

 impression made on the mind of cer- 

 tain varieties of flowers thus presented 

 is much more lasting than in the case 

 of the same varieties ordinarily staged. 

 Then the rose garden is a good idea, 

 the roses contracted to be grown by 

 some capable grower on trellises and 

 in pots and arranged like an outdoor 

 garden. A Dutch garden could be 

 made by growing bulbs in boxes. The 

 Italian sunken garden is another idea. 



