File:Florists' review (microform) (16674571681).jpg

Title: Florists' review (microform)
Identifier: 5205536_5 (find matches)
Year: [1] (s)
Authors:
Subjects: Floriculture
Publisher: Chicago : Florists' Pub. Co
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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783 The Weekly Florists^ Review* MAY 24, IWO. comes in, and where extensive grounds or a supply of cut flowers are required this is the most desirable and useful method of ornamentation. Annuals are cheap, and very many of them should be more extensively grown. A succession of valuable flowers is mere- ly a matter of a few dollars and some care, but, as we have said before, im- patience kills many good intents. We all know the great value of such as new plants often renders deviations necessary, though the general principle remains, and whilst we believe In va- riety of form we also appreciate va- riety of color. Circumstances may al- ter cases. In public parks and grounds We say that every style of bedding should be adopted, with a preference for the massive and formal, because such appeals best to the general public. The poor people of the city
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Decoration of Monun:entr» hollyhocks, delphiniums, antirrhin- ums, penstemons, phlox, etc., but we seldom think of them till we want to see them in bloom; they appear tire- some when in seedling form and even the general growers of such stock fall to supply the demand for extra large plants. Of course, such class of plants intended for early flowering should be put out in the fall, but the most of it is done late in spring, when it is almost time for it to be in perfection. The extreme in formal bedding was never so very popular in this country, but the modiflcatlons seem to have come to stay. The introduction of will not travel far to look at green lawns and trees; there is a monolony of similarity in most landscapes and exhausted energy cares not for macro- scopic studies. Who is justified or has the right to assume the role of dic- tator? Very few of our parks are man- aged to suit the wishes of the great majority; they are the spoils of ro'i- ticians and scientific fiends, "l^cre flowers, less crimes," would be a be.- ter motto than "Keep off the grass." That which tends to produce the greatest amount of pleasure—the mag- net which succeeds in drawing out the very poorest from the lowest slums— is most commendable, and not the nar- row ideals of the over-educated. Flow- ers in the garden have a wonderful in- fluence over all classes, and an abund- ance of them should be in every avail- able spot. There is formality in most forms if you view them narrowly, and it ill becomes the florist to decry de- signs because they displease the un- educated critic, as most of the ultra ones in this sense are. We are too sensitive and pay too much attention to the opinions of novices. We must have more confidence in ourselves and assert the rights of the profession, and in order to be right we must be con- versant with all that is best in our trade. We feel it is merely a waste of time to write out lists of plants and turn this paper into a sheet from a cata- logue. If you have already got the stock which you intend to plant, just make the best of it. Break away from the conventional if the material will allow, and if by the purchase of a few plants you can change the effect, don't begrudge the expense. If you have yet to purchase your plants, mistakes are inexcusable, for the market offers an endless variety and you can rarely do wrong where a knowledge of color and plant is shown. There are many simple flowers which give more sat.s- faction than many expensive ones. In this class are Phlox Drummond.i, sin- gle petunias, asters, stocks, verbenas, etc. Geraniums of course will always remain the leaders. There are many fine new shades of color, and whi.st it is difficult to surpass some of the old sorts, we shouid recognize the color value in all fiowers. Coleus are becoming an annual spring deluge of color. Only a few kinds find favor, because there is a preference for color in fiowers to color in foliage. In this respect alternan- theras are losing pqgularity (they have grown poorly with naany this year). Begonias of the Erfordli and Vernon type have justly sprung into favor. They make charming effects. A rib- boning of alyssum enhances them. Salvia Bon-fire is a fine thing for lines or masses, especially in part with yel- low annual chrysanthemums. Rud- beckia Golden Glow or any of the tall or even small yellow fiow;ers. Oeno- thera Youngil or Frazeril makes an excellent ribboning of yellow if pinned down. Of recent years nasturt ums have brought big prices and their value will be more pronounced where and when used properly. Much trouble and dissatisfaction is occasioned by having soil too rich for many—nay, most—kinds of fiowering plants. In bedding plants It Is not foliage so much as bloom that Is wanted. One is, of course, necessary to the other, liut too rich a soil produces an un- even proportion. There are very few things grander than a bed of mixed lilies; how few of them we see. Then there are roses; why don't we have finer rose gardens? Dahlias are jump-

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