What the Florists Will Offer in Holiday Plants R0BER J kift 



CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY WAR CONDITIONS— SCARCITY OF CONVENTIONAL MATERIAL LEADS TO GREATER 



VARIETY IN FOLIAGE AND FLOWERING PLANTS 



PLANTS as holiday gifts have during 

 past years gradually fallen into a 

 rut. It has taken the world war 

 to awaken the plant growers to a 

 realization of the fact that the people like 

 variety. The war has to a great extent inter- 

 fered both with foreign cultivation and ex- 

 portation. This year there are no Azaleas 

 coming from Belgium, no Lily-of-the-valley 

 from Germany. Onlv limited importations 

 of bulbs have arrived from Holland and France 

 and some few things from England. But to 

 offset this the raising of plants in this country 

 has already attained a magnitude of such 

 importance, that when the present stringency 

 arrived the trade found itself easily self-sup- 

 porting. 



"DECAUSE of their sturdy and lasting 

 -*-' character, ornamental foliage plants 

 find much favor as gifts. In Palms, the 

 Kentias, both the tall growing Forsteriana, 

 and the bushy Belmoreana are the most 

 popular. Areca lutescens with its more 

 feathery leaves is very graceful, but not quite 

 so hardy as the Kentias. Phcenix Roebelini 

 with its fountainlike spread of narrow leaves, 

 is to some the most beautiful of all Palms. It 

 is very sturdy. The Fan Palm, Latania 

 borbonica, is also a fine showy variety, which 

 looks well in the lawn vase in summer. 



The Aspidistra with its broad dark green 

 foliage is the most sturdy and valuable of all 

 house plants. There are several varieties 

 of the old favorite Rubber-plant, or Ficus 

 elastica, and F. pandurata the Fiddle-leaved 

 Rubber with broad leaves the shape of a 

 violin, which when rubbed with a piece of 

 Canton flannel polish beautifully, showing 

 distinct white veins. The appearance of all 

 house plants with hard foliage is much bene- 

 fited by an occasional rubbing, but positively no 

 oil or other dressing should be used, as this 

 leaves a tacky surface which catches dust. 

 Dracaenas are very decorative; terminalis 

 with its brilliant red tips looks very Christ- 

 massy. D. fragrans with its cornlike leaves 



is strong and vigorous. D. Massangeana a 

 variegated form of fragrans with a broad 

 golden band down the centre of each leaf, is 

 always popular. There are a number of other 

 choice varieties all beautiful and suitable for 

 house plants. Pandanus Veitchii with its 

 green and white striped leaves of most 

 symmetrical form is one of the best house 

 plants. Crotons with their brilliant coloring 

 are wonderfully effective and while not so 

 hardy in the house, will last several months. 



rj^ERNS are perhaps the most popular 

 *■ of all house plants. The Boston fern 

 Nephrolepis bostoniensis, and its large family 

 of crested types is seen everywhere. In the 

 past decade many new varieties have been 

 introduced. 



Of the plain or smooth frond type the beSt 

 are: Boston, a dwarf type named Scotti, and 

 Teddy, Jr. Of the crinkled forms the best are 

 W. K. Harris, Harrisii and Theodore Roosevelt. 

 The tasselled varieties with their minutely 

 cut foliage, some fronds resembling ostrich 

 plumes while others are lacelike in appearance, 

 are sure to attract attention. Elegantissima, 

 todeaoides, Verona, Norwood, and Smithii are 

 the best in this class. Asplenium nidus- 

 avis, the Bird's-nest Fern, is of a bold type with 

 broad glossy fronds which give it a unique 

 appearance. 



One of the most delicate in appearance but 

 very decorative and lasting is Cibotium 

 Schiedei. It is of spreading growth. Effective 

 in large windows. 



TN THE list of flowering plants there is 

 ■*■ also great variety. The well known Poin- 

 settia is probably the most showy with its 

 large scarlet bracts. Novelties are seen in both 

 pink and white varieties of the Poinsettia. 

 Euphorbia jacquinaeflora is a choice variety, 

 particularly when a number are planted to- 

 gether. 



Cyclamen are at their best for the Christmas 

 holidays and nothing could be more beautiful 

 than a well flowered specimen. They are 

 to be found in all their splendid colorings 

 in every flower shop. Flowering Begonias, 

 great favorites of all plant lovers are also at 

 their best during December. Begonia Gloi- 

 re de Lorraine with the clouds of pink blossoms 

 which are borne so profusely as to almost hide 

 the foliage is the first of its type. Begonia 



Glory of Cincinnati is a strong grower, also 

 pink, with larger flowers and foliage. Begonia 

 Mrs. Peterson is a new variety with both 

 bronze colored flowers and foliage, it is robust 

 and free flowering, There will be quite a few 

 Azaleas from plants imported last fall which 

 owing to difficulties of transportation, arrived 

 in poor condition. They made a good growth 

 since that time and are now well set with buds. 



Chinese Primroses as well as some of the 

 Primula obconicas give variety. They are 

 old acquaintances that are always welcome. 

 Several varieties of the Heather are most con- 

 spicuous at this season. Erica melanthera 

 with its clouds of white blossoms is a first selec- 

 tion with many. A pink variety called rosea 

 is also much in favor. 



Some of the bulbs are forced for the holi- 

 days. Roman Hyacinths and Paper-white 

 Narcissus and Due van Tholl Tulips, when 

 flowered a number together are quite showy. 



Berried and fruited plants are always in 

 demand, particularly the Christmas Pepper 

 with its wealth of brilliant red fruits. Sola- 

 num capsicastrum, the Jerusalem Cherry, is 

 seen in variety with its bright red berries. 



Ardisia crenulata with its glossy leaves and 

 whorls of beautiful coral red colored berries 

 which hold for more than 12 months, is one of 

 the best plants of its kind. 



Otaheite oranges of dwarf growth but carry- 

 ing an abundance of well colored fruits about 

 the size of golf balls are showy and attractive. 

 Combinations of foliage of flowering plants 

 and ferns arranged artistically together in tin 

 lined baskets and jardinieres will be features 

 at the holiday season. These are arranged at 

 the greenhouses by men skilled in this artistic 

 work. Pink Begonias and Ferns are grown in 

 blue baskets and tied with blue ribbons. 

 Oranges are planted with Crotons in bronze 

 colored baskets and tied with bronze green 

 ribbons. Heather and Poinsettias make stun- 

 ning effects. Ardisias and Heather with 

 Crotons and Ferns are striking. There is great 

 variety in this artistic grouping scarcely any 

 two pieces being found alike. 



Of all the holiday berry plants Ardisia is the most en- 

 during. Berries will remain for a whole year 



This is Croton Reedii. Crotons come in a bewildering 

 variety of barbaric mixtures of color and in equally diverse 

 form of leaf 



133 



There are available several Begonias of the Gloire de 

 Lorraine type, ranging from light pink to deep red 



