Our 

 ••••• 



Photographic Contest. 



IN our Garden Book for 1904 we offered $200.00 in cash, divided into some 63 prizes for best photos of Flowers, Specimen 

 Plants, Lawn Views, Vegetaljles, Shrubs, Climbers, etc., etc., and during the season received several hundred pictures, many 

 of exceptional merit, and it was no easy matter making the awards. Checks in payment of prizes were sent to the successful 

 competitors December 1st, 1904, and a list of the awards sent to all participants. 



Many highly interesting pictures were received, photos of immense specimens grown from small plants supplied by us in 

 past years. Among others was an album of photos taken in the garden of Mr. J. II. Warriner, Chicago, 111,, accompanied 

 by an unsolicited article, which we publish below with tlie author's permission, entitled 



, AN AMATEUR'S EXPERIENCES. 



In submitting the accompanying photographs of specimen flowers, as 

 typifying the success achieved with Dreer's Se^ds, a few remarks respect- 

 ing them from the well-satisfifed grower, an enthusiastic, flower-loving 

 amateur, may be deemed of interest. 



As indicated by the photographs, mo^t gratifying results were obtained 

 in the growing of Late Branching Asters, Ostrich Plume Asters, Double 

 Cactus Dahlias, African Marigolds an 1 various others, although no 

 failures are to ba recorded in any single instance where Dreer s Seeds 

 were used. 



Asters, particularly, were a most qualified success, and were more 

 especially appreciated when the recollection of the previous year's failure, 

 with seeds from another source, were brought to mind. The seeds were 

 started in the hotbed early in the spring, and transplanted to a cold 

 frame, in the making of which an old storm window was utilized. Seed- 

 lings were planted out at the latter end of M.rrch, in soil well enriched 

 with old rotted manure, a liberal dressing of soot and ashes being also 

 incorporated with the soil. They grew and prospered exceedingly, and 

 were coming into flower before the Ist of August, not a single plant 

 being* lost by disease or insects. The months of August and September 

 saw them in their full beiuty and glory of bloom ; the last week of Sep- 

 tember marked the decline of their splendor, although, at the present 

 writing (September 28th), a few flowers still remain, reminiscent of a 

 glorious past. The display of these flowers attracted much attention in 

 the neighborhood, and many favorable comments were expressed by 

 those who saw it. The openly expressed opinion of a orofessional gar- 

 dener that they were " the best in the State," was particularly gratifying to 

 me, inasmuch .is he voiced my private opinioa exactly. 



The culture and treatment of the Double Cactus Dahlias was almost 

 identical with that of the Aster. In planting out, however, they were 

 placed in a bed in which a trench had been previously dug out and filled 

 with comparatively fresh mmure, this being covered with one foot of 

 earth. When the plants began to come into bud, a chemical fertilizer, held in solution in a barrel of water, was applied twice a week, 

 the roots being well mulched. My care and attention in these respects were well rewarded, the plants being strong and vigorous, and 

 proving exceedingly floriferou;. The flowers are of varied shapes, colors and sizes, and were of constant interest during the 

 summer. Some of the blooms measured over 7 inches across, and were a revelation to many people. The plants are now 



in their full glory, and will doubtless continue so during the early 

 part of the coming month of October. 



My initial experience with these plants has proven unusually inter- 

 esting and instructive, as well as gratifying and successful, their con- 

 genial natures, freedom of bloom, kaleidoscopic change of color and 

 shapes, making them particularly acceptable, accommodating jilrnts. 



Nicotiana Affinis was a delightful surprise lo this novice in the 

 growing of plants, its gracefully effective giovth, with its wealth of 

 \A hite flowers, serving a useful purpose in the border, where it was 

 planted in association vith the African Marigold, the flowers of each 

 standing out in complete harmony agamst a background of green. It 

 is a plant far removed from the commonplace, and should be freely 

 used. In my opinion it is a necessary factor in an artistic garden, its 

 green-white color tending to tone down some of the stronger hues of 

 the majority of annuals usudlly employed in makmg a garden. 



Antirrhinums proved remarkably attractive, and were in vigorous 

 bloom all summer, their white and yellow tones proving especially 

 clear and bright. 



Marigolds of the African variety were of the nature of a surprise 

 to me, my jirevious year's experience leading me to expect plants of 

 18 inches high. Under this impression, they were placed well forward 

 in the border, where they simply grew out of my mistaken knowledge, 

 attaining a height of over three feet. They bloomed continuously, 

 and now, during the declining days of the glorious summer time, 

 their bold, yellow-blossomed loveliness lights up my flagging gar- 

 den with a glint of gold, with never a suspicion of ttie frosts 

 which the fall brings to ruthlessly end their season of glory and use- 



„ , <■ u * u ,1, «f"4„ i,„o» ■ fulness, to the keen regret of one who has cherished and cored for 



Nicotiana Affinis, from photo by author of 'An Amateur s , ,' . , . ,=> . u l ■ r t tt iir 



Experiences " them during their regal existence, all too brief. J. H. W. 



C8) 



Seedl!NG Dahlias, from photo by author of 

 Experinces." 



'An Amateur's 



^^Wmc 



