September, 1918 
95 
The Boston Horticul- 
tural Society Show. 
The show held at Horticultural Hall, 
Boston, Aug. 10 and 11, was called a 
Gladiolus and Phlox exhibition and 
was also to include vegetables and 
fruit, but was almost entirely confined 
to Gladioli of which there was a goodly 
number of spikes shown. The quality, 
however, was much inferior to the 
shows given in former years, most of 
the spikes sent by express arriving in 
poor condition. A notable exception 
was the exhibit of S. E. Spencer who, 
owing to his location, could bring his 
spikes in his truck the day before and 
had his exhibit in perfect condition. 
Only one end of the lower hall was 
used and that was confined to the trade 
exhibits. The center was occupied by 
S. E. Spencer and his vases of Mrs. 
Pendleton and Panama attracted the 
attention of all. 
The other exhibitors were : Thomas 
M. Proctor, Wrentham, Mass.; H. E. 
Meader, Dover, N. H.; Thomas Cogger, 
Melrose, Mass, and C. W. Brown & 
Son, Ashland, Mass. H. E. Meader 
showed several vases of Lilywhile. C. 
W. Brown & Son featured Mrs. O. W. 
Halladay and introduced Devens a new 
scarlet. The Boston Transcript fea- 
tured this variety with large headlines 
and the following is an extract from 
that paper : "Devens is the name of a 
new flower contributed by C. W. Brown 
& Son. Mr. Brown has a son, Lieut. 
Willis C. Brown, who has been at Camp 
Devens, and it is in recognition of the 
young man’s early camp experiences 
that this variety of flaming scarlet is 
named. Lieut. Brown is now stationed 
at Fort Bliss, Texas, but is home at 
this time on a short leave of absence.” 
Thomas Cogger, of Melrose, featured 
a new white variety named Miss Helen 
Franklin. This is a clear white with 
violet stripes on lower petals and is 
deeply ruffled. It was awarded a Silver 
Medal. Mr. Cogger will introduce the 
variety next season. 
The stage of the upper hall was oc- 
cupied by Jelle Roos with a choice lot 
of blooms. 
In the competitive classes, Thomas 
M. Proctor was awarded first on six 
vases of White, three spikes of each, 
showing Augusta, Chicago While, 
Europa, Glory of Holland, Meadowvale, 
Miss Helen Franklin; S. E. Spencer, 2nd. 
Six vases Pink — S. E. Spencer, 1st, 
with Dawn, Evelyn Kirlland, Mrs. F. 
D. Rand, Mrs. Pendleton, Panama and 
Rosea Superba; H. E. Meader, 2nd. 
Six vases Red - S. E. Spencer, 1st, 
with Cracker Jack, Ida Van, Mrs. Fran- 
cis King, Mrs. W. E. Fryer, Princepine 
and (?) ; H. E. Meader, 2nd. 
Six vases Yellow Jelle Roos, 1st. 
Six vases Lavender or Mauve -H. 
E. Meader, 1st. Three of these were 
distinctly Blue and should have been 
disqualified. 
Six vases, any other color — H. E. 
Meader, 1st. Three vases of this lot 
were Pink and one Yellow, leaving but 
two vases that would qualify. It is to 
be regretted that exhibitors are so 
rushed to get their display ready on 
Slower (Brower 
time that these errors are overlooked. 
Six Lemoinei Hybrid — C. W. Brown 
& Son, 1st, with Cracker Jack; H. E. 
Meader, 2nd, with Baron Joseph Hulol. 
Six Primulinus Hybrids, S. E. Spen- 
cer, 1st ; H. E. Meader, 2nd. 
Best Seedling — H. E. Meader IsL with 
a large pure red and Miss Fannie Foster 
2nd with a handsome white. Evidently 
warlike colors are favorites. 
Fifty named varieties — H. E. Meader, 
1st ; Jelle Roos, 2nd. These lots were 
not nearly up to the usual standard 
and the winning collection had some 
unnamed seedlings included. 
Twelve named varieties— H. E. 
Meader, 1st, with America, Golden 
Measure, Mrs. Francis King, Mrs. G. W. 
Moulton, Mrs. Dr. Norton, Nympy, 
Ophir, Peso, Purple Glory, Panama, 
Princepine, Red Amarillas; C. W. 
Brown & Son, 2nd, with Aeolian, Byron 
L. Smith, Fashoda, Fair Columbian, 
Flamboyant, Liebesfeuer, Loveliness, Mrs. 
Francis King, Monon, Pride of Hil- 
legotn, Rouge Torch, Symmetry. 
On comparison you will note that 
Mrs. Francis King was the only variety 
shown by both the two leading com- 
petitors. Thomas M. Proctor showed 
12 that were nearly equal to the above 
and this part of the show was cer- 
tainly first class. 
Six spikes Crimson H. E. Meader, 
1st, with Purple Glory which is certainly 
a long way from crimson ; Jelle Roos, 
2nd, also showing a variety which was 
anything but crimson. (See official 
color chart.) 
Six spikes Pink-H. E. Meader, 1st ; 
S. E. Spencer, 2nd, both showing 
Panama. 
Six spikes Red-H. E. Meader, 1st; 
Thomas Proctor, 2nd. The winning 
vase being of Red Amarillas. 
Six spikes Yellow— Thomas M. Proc- 
tor, 1st, with Schwaben ; H. E. Meader, 
2nd. 
Six spikes any other color — Thomas 
Cogger with Miss Helen Franklin, 1st ; 
H. E. Meader, 2nd. 
The attendance was better than usual 
for the August shows and some good 
orders were reported. 
Clark W. Brown. 
Primulinus Hybrids. 
Many growers believe that the Prim- 
ulinus strain is the most graceful and 
decorative of the entire Gladiolus 
family. They now include a very wide 
range of colors. It was for a long 
time understood that the Primulinus 
Hybrids only embraced the orange and 
yellow shades for the most part, but 
now many other shades are being de- 
veloped. The especial charm of the 
Primulinus is its graceful and willowy 
spike and those who are growing should 
stick closely to the Primulinus type and 
not increase Hybrids which do not show 
clearly the Primulinus characteristics. 
The Primulinus Hybrids are easily 
propagated, as they for the most part, 
make a great number of cormels of 
unusual vitality and many of them will 
bloom the first year. Primulinus also 
sets seeds very prolificly, and Primu- 
linus seedlings are always interesting. 
Growing the Peony. 
IT W. Groschner, Ohio, who makes a 
specialty of Peonies as well as Gladioli, 
sends out printed cultural directions for 
Peonies as follows : 
CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PEONIES. 
Plant so that the top eye is not more than 
two or three inches under ground. Water 
when planting. 
PEONY DONT’S. 
Do not plant in stiff yellow clay. 
Do not mix manure among roots, surround 
roots with clean soil. 
Do not plant along side of brick wall. 
Do not plant where ground is so low that 
water is liable to form pools during winter 
months. 
For cut flowers, cut before flowers are 
fully opened. 
MORE CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS. 
I desire to impress upon the public that too much 
fresh manure has caused more Peony troubles than 
any other causes combined. Do not heap manure upon 
the very center of the plant but keep away about six 
inches. 
Peonies dislike a sour soil. (It is sometimes a cause 
of shy flowers.) The soil in some Peony beds has 
been soured by the use of too much manure. 
Peonies enjoy plenty of moisture during their main 
growing and blooming season (up to the latter part of 
June) after that a good soaking occasionally until 
latter part of July. 
The Peony is as hardy as a plant can be and pro- 
tection is needed only after the first season planted, 
(to prevent the frost from throwing out the plants) 
do not cover too deep. Too heavy covering has been 
a cause of shy flowering. 
DIVIDING. 
As long as your plants are doing well, do not divide 
but let them alone, after eight or ten years it is time 
to think of dividing them but if they are fertilized oc- 
casionally they can remain undisturbed for twenty 
years. 
The very best time to move Peonies is after the 
middle of August until early October and until the 
ground freezes. I especially advise very early fall 
planting for small size roots, but even late fall plant- 
ing is far better than Spring planting. Spring plant- 
ing should not be attempted by inexperienced people. 
Peonies don't like too much stirring of the ground 
about their stems. Be careful in the Spring when re- 
moving the protecting materials. It is advisable to 
remove it very early say about the first of April. Be 
careful when unpacking the plants that none of the 
eyes are broken. A broken large eye means that you 
will get one less bloom. 
Do not cut the stems off close to the ground after 
flowering. Even when flowers ate picked too much 
of the stem should not be removed. Leave at least 
six inches. 
IRIS CULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS. 
Iris Germanica prefer a heavy soil. 
Do not let fresh stable manure come in direct con- 
tact with roots or foliage. 
Do not plant too deep, barely cover the thick roots 
and press the soil down firmly. 
Iris Germanica are not aquatics and should not be 
planted near the edge of ponds, they prefer a rather dry 
and sunny situation, but they will stand some shade 
if the soil is well drained. Divide the plants every 
three or four years, the best time to do this is right 
after flowering. (If divided at this time they will 
need some moisture occasionally) or along about 
August. Iris are as hardy as a plant can be and no 
winter protection is needed the first year after planted 
and covering material is needed only to prevent the 
frost from throwing them out of the ground, the best 
covering material is straw or coarse litter, if leaves 
are used, do not cover too heavy. 
Comparatively few of our subscrib- 
ers have called for index for Volume 
IV. We can furnish index not only 
for Volume IV, but for Volumes I, II 
and III on request. Also, we have 
bound Volumes I, II, III and IV for 
sale, the set for $5.00 prepaid. 
In the August issue of The Flower 
Grower we neglected in mentioning 
the Peony Questionaire of the North- 
western Peony and Iris Society to give 
the secretary’s address. Address W. 
F. Christman, Secretary, 3804 Fifth 
Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn. 
