20 
BOTANICAL. INDEX. 
Amaryllis, Cannas, Caladiums, Tuberoses, Tigridins, and other tender bulbs, should 
be lifted before the frost touches them, as the chilling of the bulb or root is liable to 
injure it and prevent its sprouting again. After taking up the plants, lay them in 
the sun a few warm, sunny days before cutting off the stalks and leaves, so that a 
portion of the sap may return to the bulb, thereby hardening and ripening it, the 
better to prevent it from injury caused by evaporation during the following season 
of rest. They may then be stored in a cool, dry cellar during winter. 
Dahlias, Eriauthus, Gladiolus, Saccha rum and Tritomas, and other half hardv roots 
tubers and bulbs, may be allowed to remain in the ground until later in the season’ 
to ripen before lifting; indeed, many varieties are so nearly hardy that by protection 
they would survive a mild winter in the ground, in our latitude, (40" N.), and further 
south they would require no protection. However, the trouble of digging up and 
planting in fresh, mellow soil, well enriched, would be well repaid in larger and 
more profuse flowers. 
All Bulbs, Tubers and Flower Roots laid away for rest, either in winter or sum- 
mer, should be packed in clear, dry sand, to prevent the evaporation of the moisture, 
or life of the bulb; but equal care should be taken to prevent them from becoming 
wet or even damp, which would surely be followed by rot and destruction. 
DIFFICULTIES OF THE FLORIST. 
Nurseryman and Florist have an experience in hard times entirely differ- 
wfl ip ent from any other class of business men, for many reasons: First, their 
business is to a large extent a luxury that can be dispensed with without any 
inconvenience whatever, for in fact a very small portion of the masses of the 
people of our country ever invest anything in plants — or if they do. it is only 
^ a very small sum — while the number that care to afford the luxury of cut 
flowers is limited to a very few, except for particular occasions, and this is restricted 
almost exclusively to cities. Another reason is, that so many have been repeatedly 
swindled by traveling agents and irresponsible men, that swarm in such myriads 
over the country, soliciting orders for trees and plants they never owned, and tilling 
their orders from the cheapest good-for-nothing stock they can find, which is usually 
represented to be from some of the numerous nurserymen who by their universally 
upright and fair dealing have won a reputation for their business. But the third and 
most important reason is summed up in the two words, dishonest dealers, which is 
the curse to all kinds of business. They present themselves to the public in a great 
variety of forms, and solicit their patronage universally with the philanthropic argu- 
ment of such extortionate prices demanded by old and established houses for the same 
class of plants. One man will commence the year with a very small stock, and by 
misrepresentation and smooth talk secure from the trade a quantity of good things to 
help sell his cheaper stuff; but as he has established no business, be must sell again 
for just what he can get, regardless of what his plants first cost, for he never expects 
to pay, nor does he ever pay for them. Another man will fill an order for twenty 
different kinds of plants or trees from the same nursery row or beds of plants, each 
one bearing the desired label, but when they arrive at maturity all prove alike. But the 
plant business is just as legitimate and honorable as any in the country, and for those 
who love plants it is often a matter of choice as well as pleasure to raise and sell plants 
and flowers, and if there is any reason why this business is not profitable and sought 
after, it is because unscrupulous men have lowered the standard of the business. 
Our experience during the past two years has taught us that there are a great 
many persons in the plant trade that cannot or will not make their word good, and 
while we have many friends in the business that we love to oblige, there are a few — yes, 
a good many — that will neither acknowledge the receipt of their bills, honor our 
drafts, or in any other manner meet their obligations, and to these we have a word 
to say that perhaps may be of interest. We take no pleasure in any one's misfor- 
tunes in his business, and have always avoided making requests upon our customers 
except in cases of need; but this leniency is entirely useless, and in the future we 
propose to adopt a different course. Our part of the transaction was faithfully com- 
pleted when we delivered the order at the express office, and we do not propose to have 
any of our friends that are in the nursery business suffer by the same men that have 
defrauded us. We shall publish in the January number, 1878, of the Index, a list of 
all such as we have found to be dishonest — a black list, if you please — and mail to 
every dealer and agricultural paper we know of. This list will contain the names 
and residences of all who have bought from us and pay nothing; usually giving no 
reason for their refusal to do so. However, we have long since learned to discrimi- 
nate between those who are trying to deal honestly with us, but from causes beyond 
their control cannot meet their obligations, and those who are perfectly indifferent to 
the just demands of their creditors. So none of our customers need fear any trouble 
in cases where an effort has been made to satisfy our claims. 
