File:The American florist - a weekly journal for the trade (1887) (17502233863).jpg

Title: The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade
Identifier: americanfloristw01amer (find matches)
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors: American Florists Company
Subjects: Floriculture; Florists
Publisher: Chicago : American Florist Company
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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rSSy. The American Florist. 207
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TNUC^ BtQO\UG M OKHMtRS, UKSS up of this magnificent piece of work is the same as is generally used for such beds, viz : Several varieties of alternan- thera, Echeveria metallica and secunda glauca, Oxalis tropseoloides, santolina, sedums, etc. Around the opening of the archway an entirely different class of plants is used, however, such as nastur- tiums, lobelias, alyssum, etc., making a most beautiful contrast with the formal lines of the rest of the design. The in- terior of the archway is covered with Eng- lish ivy and Mitchella repens. The calen- dar which is seen on the front of the bed is made in the usual manner with such designs ; the plants composing the letters being set in boxes, and these boxes changed daily to correspond with the day of the week and month. Mr. Ettore Tassinari the gardener who designed the bed is an Italian by birth. He came to this country eleven years ago to work at his trade as a mason, and was employed for two years on the erection of the asylum buildings. Showing a natural aptitude for gardening work he was given a job assisting to lay out the grounds, and in the following year was given entire charge, and has now been there eight years. He raises all his plants himself in a small greenhouse on the grounds, and every plant in the bed above described was set by his own hands. W. J. S. LiNUM TRIGYNUM—one of the bright- est and most showy of yellow-flowering cool greenhouse plants, but like all other flaxes, of no use for cutting. Now in season. Notes and Comments. The application of salt as a top dress- ing to smilax, of which Mr. Falconer speaks in the last issue of the Florist, should not injure the crop if judiciously applied. A heavy dressing when the plants are just starting would naturally kill insects and smilax too. But when the smilax is well grown, almost ready for cutting, a light dressing of salt not only kills weeds; it also hardens the foli- age to a very considerable extent, and thus keeps it in perfect condition much longer than usual. This is a very useful wrinkle aroundhoHday time, or at Easter, when a grower wants to hold back his crop. But the salt must not be thrown on recklessly; it must be applied with brains, or annoying results will follow. All the indications point to a very busy winter for the florists ; the business out- look is very good. But the beginning of December saw a decided dearth of flow- ers. The chrysanthemum crop vanished in a twinkling, and the few stragglers left brought better prices almost than in the beginning of the season. Moral: Find room for a few good late flowering sorts; they will prove very useful. There seemed to be comparatively few late flowering yellow sorts in the market; there were not nearly so many of these flowers in the hands of the street venders as last year. And just at this time, when all the flowers are scarce, one of our most trust- ed roses has backslidden disgracefully ; the American Beauty has disappointed a great many growers in the matter of flowering. It is not in one or two cases, but in many, and there is no apparent reason to assign for this freak. The plants have made their growth all right, but the flowers produced are few and poor in quality. So Beauties are scarce, and the disappointed growers are trying their best to discover some reason for the failure. The excellent rules for judging at flower shows suggested by Mr. Jordan at the Chicago exhibition are similar to those used by the New York Horticultural soci- ety. It is the fairest—in fact, the only un- impeachable mode of judging. In judg- ing elaborate floral designs the qualifica- tions passed upon are taste, suitability and value of flowers, superiority in either quality giving a certain percentage. Each judge decides on his percentage separately, so there is no likelihood of partiality. But certainly it is most satis- factory to all concerned to select out- siders from a distance as judges ; it is rather a thankless position at best. Eucharis, which used to be rather a rare and expensive flower, werej very plentiful this fall. Like a good many other things, they will pay best for regu- lar cutting when planted in a bed, in- stead of taking the bother of potting them. Poinsettia is always more of a success when grown in this way. Of course poinsettia bracts do not bring the price they did years ago, but every grower wants a few, and they are salable enough around the holidays. The bench system is certainly most satisfactory for them, and for euphorbia if the latter is grown.

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