SMILAX AND OTHER GREENS 169 



suading a patron to take Wild Smilax instead, rather than be disap- 

 pointed. 



Years ago Ground Pine was used in great quantites for wreaths 

 and wreathing, and it is still employed for the latter purpose, but 

 not so extensively. Unless you are called upon for extra heavy 

 wreathing, it hardly pays to make it up. A better way is to purchase 

 your requirements already made up. Long-needle Southern Pine 

 tops are useful for decorative work; they often take the place of a 

 valuable palm or fern in a church decoration and cost but a few 

 cents. Almost anything that can be had in the way of decorative 

 greens comes in useful at Christmas time. Every florist should be 

 well stocked with Leucothoe leaves. Asparagus plumosus is of 

 particular value; in small made-up baskets it can be used to fill 

 in bare spots. This is not to say that one should make a practice 

 of using either Boxwood or cut Asparagus in connection with a 

 plant basket, but there are times when it is mighty handy to have 

 both to fall back on. 



Handling Flowering and Berried Plants 



Whatever you have to offer in the way of flowering plants, 

 each specimen should be at its very best on December twenty-fifth. 

 It is fiine if the plant will still be good for New Year's, but it is the 

 impression it creates on Christmas Day that counts for more than 

 anything else. On that account it is not advisable to have in your 

 own greenhouse many days before you need them plants such as 

 Cincinnati Begonias, Poinsettias and others which were grown by 

 specialists in a temperature of nearly 60 deg. Order in good time 

 and have a sample on hand by the middle of December; but 

 have the balance shipped so as to reach you four or five days before 

 Christmas. Other stock, such as Ardisias, Peppers, Cyclamens, 

 and Ericas, all of which get along in a temperature near the 50 deg. 

 point, can be handled without loss and much more easily. 



There is hardly any use in naming the few varieties of flowering 

 stock to be had during the Christmas season. Your trade paper 

 will furnish that information, but don't neglect to locate in good 

 time what you will want. 



Palms, Ferns and Decorative Foliage Plants 



For a good many years past, growers of select stock in flowering 

 plants have usually sold out clean for Christmas; in fact, the supply 

 has not been equal to the demand — that is, for good stock. Nor does 

 it seem as if in our time these conditions would change, no matter 

 what they may be the rest of the year. The florist who has to 

 purchase his specimen plants should on that account not confine 

 his display to flowering plants alone, but should carry a complete 



