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March 7, 1912. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



17 



Charies L Wa.8hburn, Piesideat Illinois State Florists* Association. 



in the same way, one of which is the 

 rumored advance in coal rates, which 

 we understand the railroads will try 

 to make effective this spring. This 

 association will have to do its part in 

 looking after the interests of the flo- 

 rists' trade if such a step is taken. 



An important problem which is now 

 confronting us is the matter of obtain- 

 ing good fertilizer. It is almost impos- 

 sible to obtain a good natural cattle 

 manure and we are liable soon to have 

 to resort to the use of chemical fer- 

 tilizers. I would suggest this matter 

 be taken up by a committee and let 

 them confer with our state testing sta- 

 tion, so that proper information in 

 the shape of bulletins may be issued 

 by the station, showing what chemicals 

 are best adapted for fertilizer use, the 

 quantities to be used and their method 

 of application. Also, can chemicals be 

 successfully used in combination with 

 animal manures? 



The testing station has done valuable 

 work with carnations and we are look- 

 ing forward to their report on roses 

 with a great deal of interest. 



Our association is now, seven years 

 old and has proved itself a healthy 

 child. What we need is an increased 

 membership, as the association wotild 

 be much more influential if backed by 

 a larger membership. Our dues are nom- 

 inal, only $1 a year, while the field for 

 its usefulness is so large that every 

 floript in the state should become a 

 member. 



Let us all appoint ourselves a com- 

 mittee to impress on our brother flo- 

 rists who are non-members that it is 

 their duty to join with us and assume 



their share of the responsibility and 

 work of this association. 



The exhibition of flowers and plants 

 at our meeting places gives good re- 

 sults to both the exhibitor and the 

 members by acquainting both parties 

 and showing what s\ock is grown. It also 

 arouses the interest of the general pub- 

 lic and has a widespread and benefi- 

 cial effect. This feature of our meet- 

 ings should be encouraged. 



The exhibition of new varieties occur- 

 ring at this time, it is just the time of 

 year for the trade to judge of their 

 value and it would be a good idea if the 

 introducers of these varieties could ad- 

 dress us on their cultural requirements 

 and the number of flowers that can be 

 produced per plant under average con- 

 dition. 



Illinois is to be favored this year by 

 the Society of American Florists hold- 

 ing its meeting in Chicago and I would 

 suggest that if our association could 

 secure a booth for headquarters in the 

 exhibition hall, where our members 

 could make it a social meeting place, 

 it would add to their comfort and also 

 be a good advertisement for this asso- 

 ciation. Let us all do our share in 

 helping make the S. A. F. meeting a 

 grand success. 



The relations between the various of- 

 ficers of the association have been most 

 pleasant and helpful and I wish to 

 thank you cordially for the honor con- 

 ferred upon me in serving as your presi- 

 dent the last two years. 



New Haven, Conn. — George E. Tufts 

 is building a greenhouse on Oak street, 

 at the corner of Porter street. 



HABDY OUT FEBNS. 



There need be no special alarm over 

 the quantity or condition of the hardy 

 cut ferns now in storage — none but 

 the holders of the stock will be seri- 

 ously affected. It is true that the Mas- 

 sachusetts shippers have issued prices 

 for March, April and May that are a 

 considerable advance over what has 

 been charged in previous years, indi- 

 cating, no doubt, their state of mind, 

 for an advance of 35 cents per thou- 

 sand over what was asked in other Mays 

 would only be the result of a somewhat 

 panicky feeling over the size and con- 

 dition of the stock. But this is a big 

 country and New England is no longer 

 the only source of supply on .ferns. 

 There are considerable quantities of 

 Michigan and southern mountain ferns 

 in storage in the west, more, in fact, 

 than in any previous year. Then, too* 

 this has been a winter of deep and last- 

 ing drifts, so that the "snow birds" 

 may be expected to come out showing 

 excellent quality for this class of stock. 

 As a further bar to excessive prices, the 

 far south and the Pacific northwest 

 ship ferns early and far — good prices in 

 the north and east always bring these 

 supplies to the front. 



BUSINESS EMBABBASSMENTS^ 



Chicago, lil. — The Adjustment Bu- 

 reau of the Chicago Association of 

 Credit Men February 28 reported hav- 

 ing taken over the assets of the Amer- 

 ican Metal Box Co., formerly the Illi- 

 nois Self-Watering Box Co., in the in- 

 terest of the creditors, of whom there 

 are eighty-three, Joseph T. Eyerson & 

 Son being the largest. Subsequently 

 the concern was thrown into involun- 

 tary bankruptcy by N, W. Ayer & Son, 

 the Philadelphia advertising agents, 

 who have a claim of $1,400. The total 

 claims are about $31,000. The Associa- 

 tion of Credit Men is trying to get the 

 bankruptcy petition dismissed, so that 

 the business can be liquidated as a 

 going concern. It is said that the self- 

 watering flower boxes are a good seller 

 and profitable, all the losses having oc- 

 curred in other departments of the 

 business. 



NATIONAL FLOWEB SHOW, 1913. 



The Horticultural Society of Chicago 

 offers its gold, silver and bronze medals 

 to the National Flower Show commit- 

 tee for award as the committee may 

 deem fit. 



The Horticultural Society of New 

 York also offers its gold, silver and 

 bronze medals, to be awarded by the 

 society's own judges for especially 

 worthy exhibits. 



TEMPEBATUBE FOB ASTEBS. 



At what temperature should asters 

 be kept in the greenhouse for extra 

 early blooming? C. G. P. 



Asters require to be grown moderate- 

 ly cool and must have abundant venti- 

 lation. A night temperature of 46 to 

 50 degrees, with 10 degrees of a rise 

 in the daytime, will suit them. 



C.W. 



Cumberland, Me. — John Paul, in his 

 store at 56 North Center street, is 

 ably assisted in the various details of 

 the business by Mrs. Paul. The store 

 is well stocked and is appropriately 

 named the Home of Flowers. 



