8 



The Florists' Review 



Jolt 11, 1912. 



up-to-date construction, being mahog- 

 any finished, electric lighted inside and 

 outside, and the lettering is of solid 

 brass. While it makes a handsome ap- 

 pearance on the streets and is of much 

 value as an advertisement, the makers 

 have not overlooked the matter of load- 

 ing and unljjading, but have provided 

 limousine doors on both sides, as well 

 as at the rear. 



THE BASKET OF SOSES. 



One of the specialties of William 

 Marche, Washington, D. C, is large bas- 

 kets of cut flowers, much used at the 

 national capital for presentation pur- 

 poses. One of Mr. Marche 's big baskets 

 sent to the White House was illustrated 

 in one of the midwinter editions of The 

 Review and attracted so much attention 

 that another is shown herewith. It is 

 bj no means the most elaborate this 

 florist has done, a number standing from 

 six to seven feet high having been 



turned out during the last season. The 

 basket illustrated went to President 

 and Mrs. Taft June 12, on the occasion 

 of their twenty-sixth wedding anniver- 

 sary. The flowers used consisted of 300 

 Dark Pink Killarney and 200 valley, 

 with a quantity of maidenhair and 

 Whitman! fronds. The large basket is 

 filled with wet moss and the valley and 

 lower roses are wired in the ordinary 

 manner. Set in the moss may be one 

 or more vases, according to the needs 

 of the individual arrangement. In these 

 vases are some of the longer roses. 

 Every flower of the large number on 

 the high handle of the basket is in 

 water, though in no case is the recepta- 

 cle permitted to show. This would be 

 impossible were it not for the quantity 

 of material used; with so heavy a mass 

 of flowers and foliage it is possible to 

 have each stem in one of the glass 

 water tubes and to have all the tubes 

 on the handle concealed from view. 



STEM-ROT. 



Can you give any information as to* 

 the j cause of carnations going ofC with 

 stem-rot f The plants die off at all 

 stages of growth, from cuttings in the 

 sand up to plants in bloom, and the 

 trouble is not confined to any one va- 

 riety. They have been taken from the 

 benches and are at present in the open. 

 They have not been overwatered, and 

 spraying has been suspended lately 

 without making any difference. I am 

 located in British Columbia. L. M. 



The fact that your carnations started 

 to go off with stem-rot while yet in 

 the sand , would indicate that it orig- 

 in^ed there. Frequently when stem-rot 

 8t4BiLin the cutting bed — and it often 

 sti^Hfthere — it will follow the plants 

 ri^^through the entire growing sea- 

 son, taking one plant after another. It 

 is usually started by too much moisture 

 and crowding, causing the foliage to 

 rot. The cuttings being tender, it 

 readily spreads to the stem. Lime, or 

 Bordeaux mixture, which contains lime 

 in solution with other fungicides, is the 

 most effective remedy. A. F. J. B. 



WHERE TO CUT THE STEM. 



In cutting carnations for cut flowers, 

 where is the proper place to cut them? 

 We had an argument with a grower 

 and are now submitting the question 

 to you, as final authority. Should the 

 stem be cut the full length or should 

 four or five inches of it be left on the 

 plant? N. & C. 



When cutting carnation blooms, al- 

 ways keep in mind that if you desire 

 a continuation of the cut, you must 

 give the plants a chance to break and 

 come back. On the other hand, the 

 blooms should not be cut so far up 

 that the plant will become top-heavy 

 and straggly. Perhaps my meaning 

 will be best illustrated when I say: 



When cutting the blooms, leave the 

 plant about the same as you would 

 when topping in the field. Leave four 

 or five good eyes to break from. 



A. F. J. B. 



WANTS A GOOD RED. 



In carnations I have Enchantress, 

 Rose-pink Enchantress, White Perfec- 

 tion and White Wonder, but no red. 

 What shall I get in red? I shall have 

 to buy field-grown plants at planting-in 

 time. I am located in North Dakota. 



A. D. S. 



Of the older reds only two are grown 

 to any extent, and, unless you care to go 

 into the new ones, you will have to 

 choose between Victory and Beacon. 

 Both are goo'd, though quite different 

 in character. Victory is best in bright 

 weather, while Beacon is best in mid- 

 winter, when the sun is weak. Bonfire 

 is liked quite well by some; though 

 smaller than the other two, it has a fine, 

 bright color and is a free bloomer. Any 



of -these three might be just what you 

 wa'ut; get some of each and select the 

 one you want. A. F. J. B. 



OYPSUM AS A FERTILIZER. 



Is gypsum a good fertilizer to mix 

 with the soil, along with cow manure, 

 for carnations in the greenhouse! 



N. & C. 



I have never used gypsum for carna- 

 tions and therefore do not . know just 

 how it would affect them. I would be 

 inclined to the belief that it would be 

 advisable to use it in building up your 

 soil, rather than to mix it in when 

 ready to use it. You must also take 

 into consideration what your soil is 

 like, before you can determine what 

 fertilizers will be of benefit. If gyp- 

 sum is used to any considerable extent 

 for other crops in your locality, it is 

 quite probable that it will do no harm 

 to your carnations. 



While certain crops seem to enjoy 

 special fertilizers, yet all plants are 

 pretty much alike in their preference 

 for a soil which is fairly rich in the 

 staple plant foods, nitrogen, potash and 

 phosphoric acid. A. F. J. B. 



CONVENTION HALL. 



The Coliseum, Chicago, where the 

 S. A. F. convention will be held August 

 20 to 23, is the largest building the 

 society ever has used; illMed, except 

 for Madison Square gardeif'JTew York, 

 it has the largest capacity of any build- 

 ing in America. It is 378 feet long and 

 178 feet wide, with a height of 105 feet 

 to the dome. 



THE (H>DFREY CALLA. 



What is the difference between the 

 Godfrey calla and other varieties com- 

 mercially grown? What variety is the 

 best for retail purposes? Kindly give 

 information regarding the best method 

 of culture, stating whether they should 

 be grown in pots or in benches or solid 

 beds. How many blooms will a bulb 

 produce in the course of a season, under 

 ordinary caret L. C. S. & S. 



The Godfrey calla was rau^dlS be- 

 lieve, or at least introduced j^^^M. J. 

 Godfrey, the chrysanthemum VHpilist 

 of Exmouth, England, and was'HSt of- 

 fered in America by the E. G. Hill Co., 

 Richmond, Ind. This is one of the most 

 valuable novelties sent out of late 

 years. The plants are dwarfer and less 



Special WhiU Cu Operated by Joha C. Gracey, Philadelphia. 



.■^aiCi43^4... 



