The Florists^ Review 



Mabch 13, 1913. 



r:i:sim» 



::iz.:;.,At the meeting there were a few 

 r^^^ses of fine stock. W. W, Coles showed 

 .." liOO extra fine blooms of "White Wonder. 

 '"^Joseph Hill brought abont the same 

 number each of Benora and Commodore, 

 also a fine bunch of their new rose, Mrs. 

 George Shawyer. We saw this rose at 

 Richmond last November, and com- 

 mented favorably on it at that time, 

 and I am glad to say that each time we 

 see it, it gains in favor with us. It 

 should make a place for itself among 

 the pink forcing roses. 



Five new members were taken in at 

 the meeting and the membership list 

 has grown far beyond any previous 

 mark. These visits to points outside 

 of Indianapolis are proving a great suc- 

 cess in stimulating interest among the 

 members, and certainly they are a great 

 help in building up the membership. 

 The next meeting will be held at Port- 

 land April 16. A. F. J. Baur. 



A VINE-OOVEEED AECHWAY. 



The vine-covered archway here illus- 

 trated is one of the many features of 

 interest in Bona Venture cemetery, at 

 Savannah, 6a. The photograph was 

 taken by H. J. Corfield, a landscape 

 gardener who has a wide acquaintance 

 in the trade. 



Many florists will recognize the vine 

 as Bhynchospermum jasminoides, though 

 its strictly * correct botanical name 

 seems to be Trachelospermum jasmi- 

 noides. In every-day English it is called 

 the star jasmine, for it has star-shaped, 

 five-lobed flowers, which are white and 

 deliciously fragrant. It is also fre-- 

 quently referred to as the Malayan or 

 African jasmine. Moreover, in the 

 southern states, where it is a favorite 



best when supported on a large, strong 

 trellis, not much less than ten feet in 

 height. In favorable conditions it is 

 a strikingly handsome vine, even when 

 devoid of flowers, and in its blooming 

 period it is often almost an unbroken 

 mass of white. It commences to bloom 

 in April and continues in flower till 

 late in May. The blossoms are pendu- 

 lous, about an inch across, and grow 

 in clusters of five or six. 



In the north it is popular as a speci- 

 men plant in greenhouses and conserv- 

 atories, where it is commonly grown in 

 large tubei in the form of dense bushes, 

 attaining both d, height and width of 

 three or four feet. It requires several 

 years, however, to develop specimens 

 of that character. It is propagated by 

 means of cuttings, preferably taken 

 with a heel in the spring, from half- 

 ripened wood. In order to obtain satis- 

 factory results, it is necessary to give 

 the young plants rather careful treat- 

 ment, keeping them in a warm house 

 and promoting a vigorous growth. When 

 the plants are well established, how- 

 ever, they should be transferred to a 

 cooler house, and during summer they 

 may be plunged outdoors in partial 

 shade. They should be watered freely 

 in hot weather, but kept on the dry side 

 during the winter. 



THE DAHLIA, THE FLOWER. 



[A paper by J. T. Fltchett, of Janesvllle, WU., 

 for presentation before the Western Dahlia and 

 Gladiolus Association, at Chicago, February 7, 

 1913.] 



The dahlia is not only a flower, but 

 the flower. No other flower can give 

 such a wide range of form and color, 

 or such a long season of bloom as the 

 dahlia. In fact, some growers are be- 



An Excellent Specimen of Ehynchoipermum Jasminoides. 



outdoor plant, it is familiarly known 

 as the Confederate jasmine. 



It is a tender, evergreen plant, a 

 native of the southern part of China. 

 In this country, therefore, it is not 

 suitable for outdoor cultivation except 

 in the extreme south, where it flourishes 



ginning to try winter growing for 

 flowers as well as to propagate plants. 

 First mentioned by Francisco Her- 

 nandez in 1657 as a single flower grow- 

 ing in Mexico, it was later introduced 

 into Europe under the name Dahlia 

 variabilis, from the wonderful ^se 



with which it could be changed in 

 form. 



The show and fancy types were soon 

 developed to 9. wonderful degree, and 

 were the only forms known until com 

 paratively recent years. Within the 

 last two decades marvelous advance 

 ment has been made in producing ne^^ 

 forms that are scarcely recognized as 

 descended from the formal * * daylies ' 

 of our grandmother's garden. Some 

 thing over 6,000 varieties are now- 

 recognized by the various national 

 societies, classified as follows: 



The Types. 



Cactus — Petals long, narrow, edge 

 •rolled back. 



Decorative — Petals and flower flat, 

 full to center. 



Show and Fancy — Bound, ball-shaped 

 flowers, petals quilled; lines are not 

 very definitely drawn between these 

 two classes. They are the oldest form 

 of dahlia. 



Pompon — Miniature flowers, mostly 

 of show and fancy type, although a 

 few cactus varieties are now being 

 introduced. 



Peony-flowered — Large, loose flowers, 

 two or three rows of petals, open 

 center. 



Single — Only one row, usually eight 

 petals. 



Collarette — Like single, with a collar 

 of small petals at base of large ones, 

 usually of a contrasting color. 



Anemone — Two rows of flat petals 

 surrounding the center of small tubular 

 petals. 



American growers have done their 

 share in bringing out good varieties. 

 Frank Smith, originated in Philadel- 

 phia over seventy-five years ago, is still 

 the best selling fancy, while A. D. 

 Livoni is the most popular florists' 

 pink show. Ruth Forbes, pink, is de- 

 scribed by the secretary of the German 

 Dahlia Society as the first American 

 cactus variety. Our president has to 

 his credit a number of good varieties, 

 among them Foster Barnes, a large 

 white show. Thompson's Alexis, Jr., 

 is a small counterpart of Grand Duke 

 Alexis, with a good stem. Koerner's 

 single white. Snow Storm, and rose 

 pink collarette are both good. 



Some Good Sorts. 



Wonderful effects can now be pro- 

 duced for table decorations with the 

 almost endless variety of colors in the 

 cactus group. The more formal deco- 

 rative and show varieties, such as Mrs. 

 Roosevelt, Cuban Giant, Souvenir de 

 Gustave Doazon, Le Colosse, Yellow 

 Colosse, Dreer's White, W. W. Eawson, 

 •leanne Charmet and Delice are espe- 

 cially good for church decorations. 

 Nothing could be better than Queen 

 Wilhelmina, white peony-flowered, for 

 a spray. Philadelphia, Bertha von 

 Suttner, Lord Milner, Germania and 

 Mrs. Seybold are all good. Geisha is 

 perhaps the most striking flower of 

 the group, with its long twisted petals 

 of oriental red and yellow. 



Culture. 



Any soil that will grow corn will 

 grow dahlias. Too rich ground means 

 rank foliage and late flowers. Give 

 plenty of sunlight, avoid shade and 

 spraying the foliage with cold water. 

 At planting time divide to one eye on 

 a division and cover four or five inches 

 deep. Constant cultivation will accom- 

 plish more than any amount of water- 



