File:The American florist - a weekly journal for the trade (1906) (18137658835).jpg

Title: The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade
Identifier: americanfloristw34amer (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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250 The American Florist. Mar. 3 ing that it came to be almost ex- clusively used by Grand Rapids gard- eners, and growers in other cities came to ask for "that Grand Rapids lettuce", and seedsmen were obliged to add it .to their lists. W. Seasonable Notes. From the middle of February forward is a good time for sowing the various early vegetables, to be followed by suc- ceeding sowings every week or ten days. From the point of view of the market gardener who grows vegetable plants for sale, this method of making regular sowings is of great importance in the management of his house and frames. For instance, the early cabbage may now be sown and may be occupying the available shelving, to be eventually moved to the frames, thus allowing space for the following crop. All green- houses seem to be overtaxed at this season of the year, but no one seems to have the utilization of space better planned than the market gardener. In sowing seeds of these early vegetables it is desirable to have them come up early, and to accomplish this we have previ- ously recommended a method we em- ploy—to sow all the seeds in a seed box at the same depth, an item which means considerable where large quanti- ties are to be handled. The method suggested was filling a regulation size flat of 8x12 inches with press board and bevel stick to fit. The soil is loosely placed in the box and the press board, which fits in the flat, allows the soil to be pressed H inch. The bevel stick fits the long way and makes the drill with its bevel edge of uniform depth. The seed is then sown in these drills and, if the soil is light in texture, a light covering is given and the press- ing repeated. Seed sown in drills can be removed more rapidly and conveni- ently than when broadcasted. The flats are then placed on some of the return piping under the greenhouse benches and after the plants appear are removed to the shelving and light to prevent them from becoming drawn, another highly important pomt to observe in successful growing of vegetable plants. When they have attained sufficient size they are transplanted to other flats in soil which has been enriched by addition of manure or fertilizers and, after a period under the greenhouse benches, where they overcome the operation, they are also brought to the light and air. In the meantime preparations have been going forward whereby some hothed manure has been placed in the frames outside where, with careful handling as regards airing and protection at night, they soon become thrifty and stocky plants. This, of course, applies to the hardier vegetables as cabbage, cauli- flower, lettuce and celery. One is governed to a great extent in the selection of varieties of vegetables by what is in preference in the locality. With early cabbage, however, such va- rieties as Jersey Wakefield, Early Ex- press, and Early Spring, are always de- pendable, and one or more are usually in local demand. All Seasons is an- other good variety to have on hand. For cauliflowers Early Snowball is a dependable variety. For lettuce, which are treated in every respect as are the cabbage, the Black Seeded Tennis Ball, Hanson, Dutch Butter, Silver Ball, and Mammoth are good varieties. Usually homemade flats are used for growing them. Sowings of tomatoes should now be going forward and with these the regulation size flat is to be preferred. A flat which accommodates one dozen plants when transplanted is the one we utilize for sowing the seeds in. They are the product of the box factory and are mortised together. A two dozen size is also an advantage. Many market gardeners do not have to go, to this trouble and expense, as plants may be purchased from the frames directly, but when they are sold to peddlers who sell from the wagon, and often to people who require only a few plants, it is the most practicable way to grow them. Tomatoes require a much warmer tem- perature than is afforded to the previ- ously mentioned vegetables and must be kept indoors for some time. There may be considerable demand for an early variety and the variety Earliana and Atlantic Prize are often in demand. For standard varieties Dwarf Cham- pion, the new Dwarf Stone, Perfection, and Magnus, are good. In peppers the Large Bell or Bull Nose, Ruby King or Chinese Giant are mostly in demand. Egg plants, also, which are another member of these more tender vegetables, should be sown now. The improved Large Purple is a good variety to use. Neglect at any stage in growing vegeta- ble plants will result in poor material. The aim should always be to have good, thrifty, well hardened plants, part of which can be accomplished by spacing flats from time to time. The varieties also suggested will assist to this end, and no misrepresentation should be al- lowed where future success is to be de- sired. Francis Canning. Los Angeles, Cal.—The Southern California Horticultural Society has in- corporated, with the following di- rectors : H. W. O'Melveny, Walter Raymond, Fred H. Howard, J. W. Wolters, E. H. Rust, T. H. Wright, J. G. Morley. B. THE RETAIL TRADE Velvet Ribbon is being largely used in made-up pieces in New York, appear- ing in leading retailers' windows. Dinner Decoration at Brazilian Embassy. Not the least of the fine characteris- tics of Ambassador Nabuco of Brazil is his love of flowers ^nd the excellent taste he displays in their selection. The accompanying illustration shows a din- ner decoration recently seen at the em- bassy, which overlooks beautiful Lafay- ette park. The scheme of the decora- tion was geographical, the arrangement of tables being intended to represent the continents of North and South America. Brazilian orchids, roses, car- nations and suitable green were freely used, the whole being illuminated with numerous delicately shaded electric globes that shed a delightful glow on the scene. The picture is reproduced by the courtesy of J. H. Small & Sons, the decorators. S. E. Carnations Fail to Bloom. Ed. American Florist :— I am sending under a separate cover a sample of our carnations. We have 6oo plants which were planted the first week in September. They did exceedingly well, and bore plenty of flowers until February i. Kindly in- form me what is the matter with them now as they have stopped bloom- ing, and have a light green shade on the tip, as you will see per sample. C. E. S. The trouble is caused by green fly. The sample sent for examination shows traces of being badly infested with this aphis, which prevents the growth from opening out properly. It will take two or three fumigat- ings to rid the plants of these in- j sects, but once they are clean they will quickly get into bloom agam. C. W. Johnson.
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FLORAL CORNER OF THE STILES CO.'S RETAIL STORE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.

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