4 
"Tlower (Brower 
January, 1920 
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Slower (Brower 
1 PUBLISHED MONTHLY ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH BY j 
1 MADISON COOPER, CALCIUM, N.Y. 
FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL FLOWER GROWERS 
I Subscription Price : OUR MOTTO: Canadian and Foreign | 
= $1.00 per year, Special favors to none, and a Subscription Price = 
i 3 years for $2.00. square deal to all. $1.25 per year. | 
Growers are invited to contribute articles or notes over their own 
signatures, but the Editor reserves the right to reject anything which 
in his judgment is not conducive to the general welfare of the business. 
Copyright 1919 by Madison Cooper 
The contents of THE FLOWER GROWER, formerly "The Modern Gladiolus 
Grower" are covered by general copyright. Permission is given to editors to use not 
more than one-third of any article providing proper credit is given at the beginning or 
end of such quotation, as follows: “From THE FLOWER GROWER, Calcium, N. Y.” 
Special permission necessary for reprinting illustrations, long extracts or articles entire. 
Vol. VII January, 1920 No. 1 
“ He who sows the ground with care and diligence acquires a 
greater stock of religious merit than he could gain by the 
repetition of ten thousand prayers .” — Zoroaster. 
The Proposed American Iris Society. 
Dr. H. A. Gleason of the New York Botanical Garden, 
recently wrote us concerning the formation of an Iris So- 
ciety, stating that there was an opportunity there for 
co-operation in planting complete Trial Grounds. A prelimi- 
nary notice signed by Lee R. Bonnewitz, James Boyd, Grace 
Sturtevant, B. Y. Morrison, and J. C. Wister, has been sent 
out and with Dr. Gleason as Secretary pro tern. Further 
notice will be sent out to all interested, calling for a meet- 
ing for organization at the New York Botanical Garden, 
Jan. 29, 1920. It is hoped that many will respond and that 
the developed society will prove of value to everyone that 
has a garden. 
Within the last decade there has been a flood of new 
Irises from the hands of breeders both in this country and 
abroad and a corresponding increase in the general interest. 
It is high time that some central body should gather to- 
gether information on Iris matters whether it is the history 
of our garden favorites, the records of our present varieties, 
or the opportunities for the future. Our catalogues are 
filled with named varieties, old forms stand cheek by jowl 
with new, and who, as an individual, can tell which is 
worthwhile for his small garden ? Many varieties both old 
and new, should be thrown into the discard and what but 
an association may do this without prejudice and with 
authority? 
Many are the lines of research and development ahead ; 
botany, history, culture as advised for different localities, 
pests, and a classification based on color for identification, 
and use of special varieties ; a test garden for comparison 
and judging, exhibition gardens to show the best in proper 
use, premiums that will make an Iris show a necessity for 
any Garden Club or Horticultural Society and finally au- 
thoritative information suited to our individual needs. By 
collections of books, lectures, and lantern slides for loaning, 
by timely articles and notes, by personal enthusiasm and 
by word of mouth let us bring to the veriest amateur with 
his bit of garden the appreciation of Irises, their ease of 
culture, their wealth of bloom, and glory of color. Each of 
you who has grown the Iris has at sometime undoubtedly 
wished for advice or friendly interest, let us know through 
Dr. Gleason these needs and possibilities not only that the 
Society may fulfill them, but that you may share as well in 
its results. There is a pleasure in riding a hobby but how 
many of you know the added pleasure of comparing notes 
with many others of like interest? That is the crowning 
pleasure. 
Grace Sturtevant. 
The Open Fireplace. 
The Glad Philosopher in his Musings this month touches 
on a subject which is near and dear to the heart of the 
editor. The facts he brings out about the open fireplace 
are not commonly known and we recommend for careful 
perusal not only what the Glad Philosoper says, but what 
Mr. Saylor, the fireplace specialist, has to say. 
True, “ there is an inexplicable quality in a wood fire” 
that most any one can feel. This call is an intangible 
thing, but it is there just the same. We doubt exceedingly 
if the Glad Philosopher’s suggestion that “one reason for 
the charm of the wood fire is its lack of monotony ” is a 
sufficient explanation of the wonderful interest it creates. 
A wood fire requires continuous attention and this in itself 
makes it interesting, but the health giving influence of the 
open wood fire has never been properly explained. Nor are 
we prepared to make an explanation which is likely to be 
accepted. We are simply willing to let it rest with the state- 
ment that there are many things in nature and many forces ; 
at work which we poor mortals cannot understand and 
which perhaps we are not yet ready to comprehend. 
To all you who expect to build homes of your own at 
some future time, don’t forget the open fireplace and a 
supply of wood to keep it going. The editor has such in his 
own home and the fire is started early in the fall, and, 
practically speaking, is not allowed to die out until late 
in the spring. In fact, whenever there is the least excuse 
for a fire in the fireplace, like the cold rainy days which 
sometimes come even in July, a fire may be found there. 
The fireplace has a value which cannot be computed and, 
once enjoyed by the home maker he is not likely to ever 
again be without it. 
Mr. Saylor’s mention of drift wood fire is probably only 
familiar to dwellers near the sea coast and needs some ex- 
planation. Drift wood is commonly secured from old 
wooden ships which have become obsolete and are broken 
up. The timbers are thoroughly saturated with the ocean 
salts and in burning they make a great display of tints and 
colors, which must be seen to be fully appreciated. 
While the suggestion of the open fireplace is not strictly 
within the scope of The Flower Grower, yet we have no 
apology to make for touching on a subject so important to 
the nature lover and we are glad that the Glad Philosopher 
has covered it in his usual thorough and interesting way. 
Madison Cooper. 
Work and Real Education 
the Remedy for Unrest. 
Various remedies have been suggested for present so- 
called unrest among the people. Unrest as we see it, is the 
result of progressing too rapidly in certain lines, accom- 
panied by what we should call a spurious education. Educa- 
tion should be based on the fundamentals of life. When 
this is done unrest will disappear. This is rather abstract 
reasoning, but will try and make it more specific. 
Our schools teach, at least by inference, that if their > 
course of study is followed out and the student is gradu- 
