UMASS/AMHERST 315DbbDD5fl5flD7S ^••.. •■ *V-'k 1'ir-i-''--;s:: «•» 'TTT . ^ / ^ ^ O j 0 6" T TTDD KT>\T ,oi?-j^^^^ J863* DATE DUE 1 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY SB 403 S6 8th 1892 / ;/ U^ / PROCEEDINGS OF THE Eighth Annual Convention OF THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS, HELD AT WASHINGTON, D. C., August 1 6th, 17th, 1 8th and 19th, 1892. Published by Order of the Society. BOSTON : Daniel Gunn & Co., Printers, 31 Hawley Street. 1892. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSEllS ANIHERST. MASS. CHAPtL '*^^ OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. For 1892. President : JAMES DEAN, Bay Ridge, N. Y. Vice-President : W. R. SMITH, WashixCtTOX, D.C. Secretary : WILLIAM J. STEWART, BosTOX, Mass. Treasurer : MYRON A. HUNT, Tp^rrr HAaxE, Ind. Executive Committee : For One Year. For Two Years. Wm. Falconer, Glea Cove, N. Y. I W. A. Manda, Short Hills, N. J. John Burton, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa. D. B. Long, Buffalo, N. Y. P. Welch, Boston, Mass. H. W. Buckbee', Rockford, 111. For^iThree Years. C. W. HoiTT, Nashua, N. H. J. H. DuNLOP, Toronto, Out. J. T. Anthony, Chicago, 111. For 1893. President : WM. R. SMITH, Washington, D. C. Vice-President : WM. TRELEASE, St. Louis, Mo. Secretary : WILLIAM J. STEWART, Boston, Mass. Treasurer : MYRON A. HUNT, Tekke Haute, Ind. Executive Committee : For One Year. W. A. Manda, Short Hills, N.J. P. Welch, Boston, Mass. H. W. BucKBEE, Rockford, lU. For Two Years. C. W. Hoitt, Nashua, N. H. J. H. DuN'LOP, Toronto, Ont. J. T. Anthony, Chicago, 111. For Three Years. Three members to be appointed by the President-elect, on January 1, 1893. r PROCEEDINGS. National Rifles' Armory Building, Washington, D. C, Tuesday, August 16th, 1892. At the appointed hour for the preliminary proceedings, the hand- some convention hall was thronged with delegations from every section of the country. Many of the delegates were accompanied by ladies. The platform, partly hidden from view by a profusion of palms, ferns and ornamental foliage plants, presented the appearance of a tropical forest in miniature; a woodland scene in the background being supplemented by fine collections of cycads, specimen ferns and musas. The walls, windows and doors of the hall were gracefully festooned with smilax and palm leaves from the South. Among those who had assembled to formally welcome the Society to the Capitol City were Hon. John Ross, Commissioner of the District of Columbia ; Hon. Edwin Willits, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture ; and members of the National Gardeners' Club of Washington ; who, with the present officers and former Presidents of the Society of American Florists, occupied seats on the platform. Mr. Wm. R. Smith, (Yice- President of the Society of American Florists,) on behalf of the National Gardeners' Club of Washington, introduced the representatives of the District and National Governments, and temporarily occupied the chair. formal greetings and the response. Hon. John Ross, Commissioner of the District, upon being intro- duced, said: — Ladies and Qentlemen, — The people of the District of Columbia say to these worthy representatives of the Society of American Florists, you are welcome to the city of Washington. There is probably no other city on the continent where floriculture receives more attention or has more enthusiastic followers than in the city of Washington. This, no doubt, is largely due to the fact that the Government of the United States has so much to do with the beautifying and adornment of our Capitol City ; but, in my own opinion, this result is due somewhat and perhaps very largely to a member of your own Society, one of its promoters, the 6 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, honored Superintendent of our Botanic Garden ; who is an enthusiast not only upon the subject of cultivation of flowers but also with regard to the preservation of trees. It is related of him, that on one occasion, when a citizen asked to have a certain tree removed which he thought interfered with the free access to his residence of the light and air, the question was referred to the Parking Commission, and after deliberation they decided that it was not necessary to remove the tree ; then the word came back from the citizen, " Either that tree must be removed or I must move my house." The story is that the answer given to him was, "Move the house." [Applause.] As chairman of the Parking Com- mission, that commission which has done so much to adorn these streets and avenues with the leafy monuments of their taste and skill, — monu- ments which will endure long after the members of that body have crossed the dark river, — Mr. Smith, by his Scotch pluck and firmness, preserved from destruction many of the natives of the forest which were planted in the city of Washington. [Applause.] I doubt not that you are all enthusiasts in your laudable work. Your vocation is one of which you may well be proud. Your industry is one which gives work to an army of worthy men and women. It is a field of employment which is almost limitless in the way of investigation and experiment. It affords the means of profitable investment to millions of capital. It not only brings wealth and comfort to the producer, but it enlarges and cultivates the sense of the beautiful among the people. It brings to the homes of the rich and of the poor its blessings of brightness and of fragrance, and it softens and beautifies the hard ways of human existence. I do not know that you ever thought of it, but it seems to me that the product of your skill attends nearly every event in life. The flowers which yon cultivate are used at the christening of the infant ; they are used when the young girl graduates : they are used to emphasize friendship and voice the language of love ; they are used to adorn the bride at the altar and to compliment the statesman and the orator ; and when the last sad rites are performed, mute sorrow and bereavement find no form of expression so grateful as the floral tributes which adorn the casket containing all that is mortal of those we love. Mr. President, it affords me especial pleasure to extend a cordial welcome to those honored representatives of your Society who so well and in such a hospitable manner entertained this Society at its last annual meeting, in the city of Toronto. Let us be grateful that there are common interests which can unite in closer bonds of friendship and esteem all who dwell upon the North American continent. [Applause.] Permit me to assure our friends from the Dominion of Canada that we appreciate all of their courtesies to our people, and that we will endeavor to reciprocate them in every way in our power. oSTow that you are to be entertained by a representative of the Federal government, I will not longer detain you from the important work before SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 7 you, but wishing for your deliberations great success, I thank you for your courteous attention. When the manifestations of appreciation which followed the greeting of Commissioner Ross had subsided, Chairman Smith prefaced his introduction of the representative of the Department of Agriculture, as follows : We have all read of the three goddesses, and that wherever these were worshiped, civilization advanced. They were Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture, but the greatest of these was Flori- culture— she who elevated the test hetic souls of the nations that were devoted to her, and she who has proved to be the grandest elevator of the human race. We have here a representative of all three, the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, whom I now introduce to j'ou. Hon. Edwix Willits, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, here came forward and was cordially received. His remarks, which were interspersed with applause, were as follows: — Mr. President, Ladies and Oentlemen, — To me has been assigned the pleasing duty of welcoming you to Washington in behalf of the Department of Agriculture. It is not inappropriate that this great and growing department should be assigned a place in your deliberations, for lioriculture is a part of horticulture, and horticulture but a segment of agriculture — the one great industry that has in all ages enrolled in its ranks a majority of the world's population. Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, all allied to culture, in fact based upon culture, not simply the manual labor attending this culture, but culture in the higher and broader sense. There is reason in the fact that the world has generally l^laced literature and floriculture in near relationship to its culture and civilization. The one pertains to the mind, the other appeals to the finer senses. As the higher culture tinds its home in the finer sensibilities, it goes to literature on the one hand and to floriculture on the other hand to seek its highest gratification in the natural and physical woi'ld. There is but little of this culture in the mine or in the workshop, for the reason that in neither is there a scope for cultivation. Cultivation implies that nature is to do most of the work, is to perfect the work after the tillage — the stone goes on after the hand is withdrawn. The mine and the shop comes to a standstill while the workman slumbers. Cul- ture, you will recollect-, is not a creative quality — it is only an assistant to nature and to genius. There is always an element of growth in culture or attending it, growth from a source other than itself. Kings have tinkered clocks and statesmen have had their workbenches, but they there sought relaxation, not growth. The relaxation in literature has growth in it ; the labor in the garden has life in it, the pulse and throb of growth. There is a sort of companionship in life, whether in a flower or an ani- mal, but none in a machine. Engineers sometimes tell us that there is 8 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, companionshiiD in an engine, that each engine on the track has a charac- ter, that some engines are lucky and some unlucky, that some respond readily to the human touch, and that others, even from the same shops and supposed to be counterparts in every respect, are dull and sluggish, and there sometimes seems to be almost an affection between the former and the human being who guides it. But in the opening bud, as it bursts in beauty to the sunlight, there is almost the same look of intelli- gence, to him who can read it, as in the eye of the young animal ; there is life in it that responds to the life in the man or woman who cherishes. How often we hear our good wives call their flowers their pets, their children. There is companionship with them that whiles away many monotonous hours. Bacon had them on his table as he wrote his philosophy ; Decartes had them by his side as he sought the stars and the laws that swing them in their orbits ; the great Conde fondled them in the midst of his military campaigns. The ancients were as alive to them as we are — sometimes I think more so — for the reason that they stood nearer to nature than we. Listen to what one of them said: " AVho does not love flowers ? They embellish our gardens; they give a more brilliant lustre to our festivals ; they are the interpreters of our aflections; they are the testimonial of our gratitude; they are of ten necessary to tlie pomp of our religious ceremonies, and they seem to associate and miugle their perfumes with the purity of our prayers and the homage we address to the Almighty. Happy are those who love and cultivate them." Floriculture, as before said, is not the whole of horticulture. The latter is defined as the most perfect method of tilling the earth so as to produce the best results, whether the products are objects of utility or beaut}'. It is the acme of agriculture, with more culture in it of the kind we are discussing than in agriculture, for the reason that there is more personality in it, more cultivation and a finer grade of products. There is but little scope for taste in a farm — they are all of the same type. There are no two gardens, however, alike ; there is individuality in them. Whatever calls for taste has culture in it, whether it be a house, a room, a garden, a dress or a bonnet. Whatever calls for harmony in detail and results, whether in a landscape, a garden or garment, has culture in it. There is no culture, however, in the incongruous, whether in a garden or a parlor. I refer to this not in a carping spirit, though I think we are drifting too much away from nature in forcing the climate in the selection of our plants. In my judgment the cardinal principle for our gardens and landscapes is to secure the best selections of indigenous plants, shrubs and trees, or such as may readily adapt themselves to our latitude and to their surroundings. Our cultivation may be too dear, may cost too much, and prove no culture at all, in the end. A hardy climate SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 9 should have hardy plants. Strawberries in their season — not in January. A thousand dollar orchid, or a hundred dollar tulip, or a twenty-five dollar cactus may please for a costly plaything, but for a genuine pleasure that you can sit down and keep company with give me the plants that feel themselves at home, so to speak. Xot that I would discard entirely the plants of the tropics, but I would put them where we put the wild beasts from the same regions, behind the bars, to be gazed at as curiosi- ties or as objects to be studied. How many of our ladies spend their time and energies, and, should I say it, waste their affections, on some dwarfed, scragged, ill-shaped house plant that shivers at the howl of the icy blast, and bears, it may be, or may be not, a puny little flower, a dwarf in its northern home, no, not home, but habitation, when in its native home it riots in hedgerows. But I dare not enlarge, as I may cross some of your fancies or offend some one's taste. I cannot, however, help adding that if it is culture you are seeking do not try to raise oranges in Michigan.- Culture, I repeat once more, is the fitness of things, and there I would stop but for one further suggestion I have on m}'^ mind, and that is that I rejoice in the tendency among florists to utilize more and more the grasses for our yards and lawns. What would not the denizens of the tropical latitudes give for our grass plats ! What a foil they are for tree and shrub and flower. A well-kept lawn in its velvety green is the fittest of flt things for our climate. I sit before my window as I write these words, and look across the park with its winding drives and walks, its trees clothed in a foliage as fineh' tinted as the tropics can-^how, with its sweep of grass and verdure and its beautiful flowers, with the towers of the buildings in distance just overtopping the trees. I am satisfied, not exuberant, but solemnly satisfied, solidly pleased. In the distance I can see the glass of the greenhouses, but I rarely visit them, and then only to see the show ; but when I wish to rest, to find that culture that comes from our best thoughts, I sit on my porch and look the landscape o'er. Culture is the product of association. It has many partners and may be found in many lines of business. It is rarely the dominant partner ; generally unseen, unrecognized, very frequently not consulted; but we will specially note the fact that when the balance sheet is finally struck this silent partner is on hand, and it is found that the dividends bear a singular proportion to the capital invested by this silent associate. What are good manners but the bright coins of this investment? What is that urbanity which makes intercourse so agreeable ; that diplomacy which steals where force and fraud would fail ; that cordiality which wears its frankness on the sleeve ; that consideration which says the fit thing at the fit time, that blunts the barb of criticism and slander ; that purity which palsies the foul tongue ; that composure which can step to the bedside of the nervous invalid and calm him to slumber ; that self- 10 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, reliance which faces an audience without fear ; that self -poise Avhicli, as Emerson says, "gives the mind possession of its own powers ;" that something which is as the oil of gladness to the soul ? This is the culture which the Department of Agriculture does not ignore, but which it solicits as a companion to the grosser culture that subdues the earth and marshals the elements necessary for food pro- duction. We welcome every influence that shall ameliorate the hard tasks of mankind, and most heartily welcome you, ladies and gentlemen, who more than almost any other association represent the refining duties and influences of a culture that is associated with nature in her most inviting aspects. [Applause.] Mr. E. GuRNEY Hill, of Kichmond, Tnd., on behalf of the Society of American Florists, made the response to the addresses of welcome. He said : Mr. Commissioner, Mr. Secretary, Ladies and Gentlemen, — We have been delighted by your earnest and hearty welcome to this beautiful city of Washington, and we thank you most heartily for this tender to us, by 3'^ou, of the hospitality and freedom of the Capitol City. We have caught glimpses of your magnificent avenues lined with splendid trees, your open spaces and parks dotted with shrubbery and planted with flowers ; and we are prepared to believe that you have not told one-half of the truth concerning the beauties of the capital of. our great Republic. Indeed, I never before quite understood why so many of the citizens of my own beloved commonwealth were so anxious to make this city their place of residence. Even the most distinguished of Indiana's sous is not averse to a further residence of four years with you ; and I note that the distinguished gentleman who is at present fish- ing and sojourning off the Massachusetts coast, was so charmed with his fours years of residence with you, that he too, like the distinguished gentleman from Hoosierdom, wishes to duplicate his four years of life with 3^ou. There is cause, however, for patriotic congratulation in the reflection that, whichever of these two gentlemen comes to Washington next March, he will a;dd lustre to American citizenship and greater honor to this fair city. [Applause.] We have looked forward with pleasure and delight to this happy da}' — the day wJien we would assemble together at the capital of the nation. We have come with three distinct purposes in view. The first is, that we may have an interchange of thought concerning the experi- ences of the past year. We have problems to solve and difliculties to overcome. From all over this great country and from Canada we have come here, to meet in annual assembly, that we may decide questions that confront and perplex us. In other words, we come tftgether that we may learn wisdom, one from the other. In the second place, we SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 11 gather here for recreation and pleasure and to renew old acquaintance. Our boys (and some of them are quite " old boys ") come to bowl balls and knock pins ; some of the younger men come to woo young maidens fair, and the young maidens come to be wooed. We make confession to all of these things. Our third purpose in gathering here, in the city of Washington, is that we may do honor to one of your own citizens — a man who has lived in your midst for over a third of a century — a gentle- man who has contributed more to horticultural knowledge and botanical science than perhaps any other in the country. We take delight in thus being able, here in the city of Washington and at his own home, to tes- tify to the worth and work of our own First Vice-President, the Superin- tendent of the Government Botanic Gardens, Mr. William R. Smith. We have benefitted by his kind and interested counsel and advice. Ever since the inception of our organization we have drawn upon his store- house of information time and again ; and we have noted that, as the years have grown upon him, he has grown more genial in heart and broader in mind, and feel that we are honoring ourselves in thus honoring him. Our Society is international in character. We have with us this morning a goodly number from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. We are proud of our Canadian brethren, because they are the peers of any on this side in regard 4o cultural skill, knowledge and moral worth. I believe that they represent a very fine type of Anglo-Saxon civiliza- tion ; and on their behalf I thank you for your eloquent words of welcome. The history of floriculture on this continent is creditable alike to the American people and to the florists ; to the people for their apprecia- tibn of the products of our cultural skill, and for their willingness to pay remunerative prices ; to the florists for their persistent efforts to raise the standard of excellence in the face of the great difficulties incident to the country's industrial developments. It is only within the past twenty years that practical floriculture has attained place and position in the commercial world. The struggles and triumphs of the florist's profession are matters of knowledge to most of the gentlemen present this morning ; but a better day has dawned, and in all modesty I assure you that floriculture and floricultural art are destined to play an important part in Anglo-Saxon civilization. Unnoticed, perhaps, by many of our fellow citizens, the cultural skill of many of the gentlemen here present has an important influence upon art and upon the younger generation of artists. The studios and picture galleries give unmistakable evidence of this ; varieties of roses, chrysanthemums and other flowers and plants are drawn and painted with a faithfulness to outline and color undreamed of a generation ago. The highest and most perfect development of the rose is wrought by the 12 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, consummate skill of American rosariaas under the roofs of American greenhouses, and they furnish models of artistic excellence for brush or pencil. I repeat again that we are glad to be present in this magnificent city — a city that is representative of the best thought and noblest impulses of American life — rich in its hfstoiy and associations ; we glory in the development here of all that makes Washington great and grand ; we are proud of this city because it has given a home to Washington, Jeffer- son, Madison, Lincoln, Garfield, and other noble men ; we hope it may grow in grandeur and beauty until it shall shine forth as a diamond in the fair circlet of cities that shall compass the earth with a girdle of Anglo-Saxon civilization. Again I thank you in behalf of the officers of this Society, the mem- bership, the ladies who accompany us, and myself individually, for your cordial greeting to the Society of American Florists. Mr. Hill's response was accompanied and followed by long con- tinued applause. PRESENTATION OF A GAVEL. At this point, Vice-President Smith presented to President Dean a neatly formed and substantial looking gavel jinade of wild cherry wood grown at Mount Vernon, the home of Washington. He explained that the gavel was a gift to the Society of American Florists from the gardener at Mount Vernon, who presented it as an evidence of his love for the floral art, and his admiration for the workers engaged therein. The communication accompanying the gift concluded as follows : " That the spirit of " Our AVashington " may smile approval upon a body of men who are engaged in such a noble calling, and who have done so much to cultivate a love for the beautiful, is the wish of Yours fraternally, Franklin A. Whklan." President Dean returned the thanks of the Society for the appropri- ate gift, and, in their behalf, expressed his appreciation of the generous motive of the donor. president's address. President Dean here assumed the duties of the chair and proceeded to deliver the annual address. His remarks were listened to with absorbing interest and were frequently applauded. The address was as follows : — Ladies and Oentlemen, Members of the Society of American Florists, — It is a pleasant duty which custom has assigned your presiding officer, to open the business part of our annual meeting with an address SOCIETY or AMERICAN FLORISTS. 13 upon such subjects as, in his judgment, merit your consideration for the well-being and advancement of our Society, and for the elevation of its aim to the extent of improving the calling of floriculture. The presence of this large and intelligent audience here assembled at our eighth annual meeting, shows the extended interest which our Societ}^ has awakened among floriculturists of the country. Many of you have come from long distances, undergoing the discomforts of summer travel, that you might gain and impart knowledge, and discuss the recom- mendations presented to you, with a view to their ultimate realization. It is to be especially hoped that the essays so carefully prepared for pres- entation to this meeting will receive the attention they deserve, and will call out discussions which cannot fail to be of great benefit to us in our business. We open this Convention under the most favorable auspices ; our roll of membership is steadily increasing ; our treasury shows a most credit- able balance. The business, both of the retailer and grower, during the past year, has surpassed that of any previous year, and there is a steadily growing demand for a better grade of plants and flowers. Especially is this noticeable in the high grade of plants required for bedding purposes — such as Crotons, the new French Cannas, Tuberous Begonias and aquatic plants. Since our last annual meeting the interests of our Society have been pushed by an able Executive Committee, and as a result it was hoped that we would be able to convene for the first time under the protection of a national charter ; but it was found impossible to secure its consider- ation by Congress at its last session. It is hoped, however, that the bill will be called up next December and passed. Permanent rules and regulations have been adopted, governing our trade exhibits held in connection with our annual meetings, which are intended to so aid the manager in the classification of the various exhibits, and so facilitate the work of the judges, as to enable the exhibitors to display their certificates of award on the evening of the first day. The offering of gold, silver and bronze medals by the Society to the originators of new hybrids or novelties raised from seed , or for the dis- covery and introduction of new species that are decided improvements over existing varieties, should be an inducement to our floriculturists to persevere in hybridization and cross breeding of plants, with the view of obtaining new and better forms. These advancing steps of the Society show its growing strength and unity. But we must not rest here ; we must continue to advance. We must gather members from all classes concerned in horticulture ; from the growers, from the florist supply men, from the dealers in cut flowers, from gardeners, and last but not least, from the employees of all these classes. We must continually draw closer the bond of our common weal 14 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, and by our unit}' and high purposes be a power for good, not only for the benefit of florists, but also for the benefit of their patrons. We must as a national organization encourage and aid the organized efforts of our state horticultural societies and kindred associations. The amount of work accomplished during the past ten years bj' these societies is not as well understood as it should be. The great improve- ments made in the chrj'santhemum, rose, carnation and many of the other flowers, can be traced directly to the high standard of excellence adopted at their exhibitions ; in this connection we are pleased to note the progress being made by the Chrysanthemum and Carnation Societies formed within our own membership, each with the special purpose of improving the class of plants and flowers it represents. I would earnestly recommend the closest affiliation between these associations and the main Society. We are about to organize a" Rose" Society, with possibly an "Orchid" Society, and at the rate we are advancing we may soon have a " Palm " Society and a " Fern " Society. The danger is that we may s(j divide our forces as to weaken ourselves and in some degree im- pair our usefulness, unless these sub-societies work hand in hand with the parent association. The important meetings of the auxiliary socie- ties will doubtless be at the time of our annual meeting, when the wideh' scattered members can conveniently get together. It is confidently expected that these experts in each special line will be enabled to do good work in the departments, and I suggest that a review of their work and of the latest developments should be embodied in a report by one of the members, selected for the purpose, to be read as part of the proceedings of this Society ; in this way can the latest and most complete information in each line be given to the whole association. The Hail Association is now established in permanent usefulness, and the Protective Association has proven to be of great benefit. Our advance as a Society must be commensurate with and excel the advance of floriculture, which, during the past twenty years, has been phenomenal. The trade has now assumed colossal proportions in America. The characteristic features of this advance are the erection of better plant houses, the adoption of improved methods of cultivation, the growing of specialties, a more general employment of labor-saving devices, and a noticeable increase in the mental alertness and business ability of florists. These have today brought floriculture to be a leading industry of the country. From the census of 1S91, we learn that the number of commercial establishments in the United States devoted to floriculture, are 4,569 ; that they have in use 38,823,247 square feet of glass ; that their value, including tools and fixtures, is estimated at a total of $40,000,000 ; and that they give employment to 16,847 men and 1,958 women, who earned in wages, during the year, $8,488,657, The sales of plants, during that year, amounted to $12,036,477.76 ; of cut flowers, to $14,175,328.01, a SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 15 total of 826,211,80.5.77. These sales were those of commercial establish- ments alone, and take no account of the large number of plants and flowers grown and used in private establishnients. I wish, now, fellow members, to call your attention to two urgent needs of our profession, felt for years by every florist in the country, and which it is in the province of this Society, if not to supply, at least to agitate until agitation shall culminate in realization. I refer, first, to the need of a college where a scientific training, combined with a general business education, can be had for our young florists ; second, to the need of an experimental station to which florists can refer the vexed questions that constantly arise in the practice of their profession. These needs have been clearly outlined by former presidents of this Society. T believe the time has now come for action on the subject. In floriculture, as in any other profession, the beginner needs a proper training. As a rule, we have grown solely in practice, with no knowledge of the scientific possibilities of plant cultivation. Ignorance of the correlative laws that govern plant demand and soil supply, balks us at every step, and has retarded the general advance of floriculture many years. It forbids the advances we long to make and leaves us helpless in the face of great possibilities. Another burden under which we labor is the lack of practicable business methods. This lack is the cause of many a dollar wasted or lost, and of the scarcity of rich men in our profession. We need a college to remedy these two failings, from which the coming jreneration of florists mav issue trained in the science of their calling, and in the business methods so necessary for success in any walk in life. We also need an experimental station such as the •Department of Agriculture has instituted in nine of the States of the Union. The florist is perplexed with some question pertaining to the constituent parts of the soil and how best to adapt their chemical actions to the needs of the growing plants. Or the florist discovers a neAV variety and wants it classified and named. He would turn to the experimental station with the assurance that his perplexities or new discoveries would be carefully considered. But why should not the laboratories of the college where the students pursue their study in floriculture under the direction of the professors, be of itself the experi- mental station which we so much need '? That, fellow-members, is the key-note of my recommendation. Under one head and in one institution can be established the college and station. The laboratory that fulfills the needs of the students could be utilized to meet the needs of the florists. The students and professors alike would form the working corps of the station. Indeed, what better material could be provided for the laboratory researches of the students than that .supplied by the army of inquisitive and eager florists throughout the country ? Such an institution would be of untold value to our profession. It would be 16 TROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION the organized centre of investigation and training, and the impetus it would thereb}^ give to making discoveries and to disseminating the knowledge of plant life would establish floriculture as a science as well as a trade. I cannot urge upon you too strongly the beneficial results to be obtained by providing for these two urgent needs of the florist. I therefore recommend that you appoint a committee to investigate the feasibility of this plan, or any plan providing for the training of young florists and meeting the needs of an experimental station, and to report how they can best be put into execution. It is to be hoped that the Society will take some action in this direction. It may be found by the committee that union with horticult- urists in this matter would be advisable, and that a college and station for both floriculturists and horticulturists, could be planned on a much broader basis than for floriculturists alone. The coming of the "World's Fair next yea^ calls for our serious attention. The horticultural and floricultural exhibits there will surpass in magnitude any of the like nature the world has ever seen before. The Horticultural Building, which is now complete and ready for the reception of plants, is the largest building ever erected for an exhibit of plant life. It behooves us, as a society and as individuals, to see that every aid is extended to ex-President Thorpe, who has charge of the exhibit, in making it worthy of the occasion and of the country. Our State vice-presidents, and State horticultural societies and kindred asso- ciations should see that their respective States make a creditable display and assist in every way possible the departments of horticulture and floriculture in preparing for their exhibit. A chief difficulty to be met is that of obtaining and transporting specimen plants of sufficient size to show well in a building of such immense proportions. It should be the endeavor of every one interested in floriculture to secure such specimens. There are many public-spirited citizens owning desirable plants, who, if they knew of the need of the exhibition, would gladly loan or give them to the department if relieved of the cost of transportation and of the work entailed in packing and shipping. I strongly urge the State and local societies to do their utmost towards securing such plants, and to see that transportation shall not be lacking. And now comes the saddest part of my duty, to report the loss by death of ten of our members during the past year. Some of these had been closely identified with the Society since its organization and invari- ably took an active interest in its welfare. Their wise counsels and familar faces will be sadly missed at our annual meetings. To the press in general, I desire to extend the thanks of our Society for the unvarying courtesy extended to us. Our trade papers in partic- ular, I wish to thank for their untiring and successful efforts in behalf of our Society and of horticulture. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 17 SECRETARY STEWART'S REPORT. The President announced as the next business in order the read- ing of the Secretary's Report for the year 1892. Secretary Stewart promptly responded by reading his report as follows : — Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, — It becomes my pleasant duty to add to our lengthening history as a Society, the record of another year of advancement, and to congratulate you on the steady development which is fitting us for future achievement in the great field which is peculiarly our own. The Convention at Toronto, in 1891, was a most successful one and the attendance large, considering the small extent of the local horticult- ural industry, as compared with that in the thickly settled localities where most of our meetings had previously been held. The published report of the meeting contained one hundred and ninety-two pages, fifty-two more than that of the Boston meeting which preceded it, proving that the predictions of an industrious session for 1891 were well founded. Among the notable features of the meeting were the invaluable report on nomenclature by Mr. Wm. Falconer, the recommendation of Mr. John Thorpe for the position of Chief of Floriculture at the Chicago Exposition, which doubtless had much to do with his subsequent appointment, and last but not least, the welcome and hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of our generous Canadian brethren. The Executive Committee met, according to custom, in this city last January, the session lasting three days, xlmong the many matters dis- cussed and acted upon were the needs of the horticultural department of the World's Fair ; the incorporation of the Society of American Florists ; the necessity of a more systematic management of our trade exhibition ; our relations with the various auxiliary societies which have been springing up in our midst ; the limit to which the indulgence in sports and recreation may be encouraged in connection with our meet- ings ; the reduction of express rates on plants and tlowers, and the adoption of a set of medals to be awarded to originators or discoverers of new and improved species and varieties of plants. The number of members of 1890 who have failed to respond for 1891, is two hundred and fifty-one. Whole number of dues collected for 1891, was eight hundred and twenty-seven. Of this number, one hundred and thirty-two were new names. The new members came from the various States as follows : — From Pennsylvania, twenty-four ; New York, twenty-two ; Canada, twenty-two ; Massachusetts, sixteen ; Illinois, nine ; New Jersey, seven ; Michigan, five ; Kentucky, four ; Ohio, three ; Alabama, Connecticut, 18 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, District of Columbia, two each ; Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, England, one each. The number of deaths in the Society reported since we last met is ten. Jens Larsen, Indianapolis ; F. Lucien, New Orleans ; J. W. Page, Medfield, Mass. ; J. H. Butterfoss, Lambertville, K. J. ; James Taplin^ May wood, N. J. ; Albert Benz, Douglaston, N. Y. ; S. Davies, Utica, X. Y. ; E. H. Rath, Flushing, N. Y. ; Chas. T. Starr, Avondale, Pa., and J. A. Salzer, La Crosse, Wis. For the first time, in accordance with the vote of the Executive Committee, we have an official registry book for the members, which all are requested to sign today. Another innovation of this year is the abandonment of hotel head- quarters, and centering of all the interests, committee meetings, etc., in this building. This change will doubtless meet with special approval by the exhibitors. It is gratifying to be able to state that we have received more con- sideration and better terus from the railroads than ever before. The officers of the Society and the members in general have all placed your Secretary under great obligations to them for their courtesy and kind assistance, which have been freely extended at all times. A vigorous round of applause followed the report, when on motion of Mr. D. D. L. Farson, of Philadelphia, the same was accepted and ordered to be filed. JUDGES FOR THE TRADE EXHIBIT. . Announcement of the appointment by the Executive Committee of the following named gentlemen to serve as judges in the trade exhibit now in progress in the lower hail, was made by Secretary Stewart ; the first of the names, in each instance, being that of the chairman, viz. : Plants. — Wm. Martin, Fred. Goldring, W. S. Clark. Cut Blooms. — C. B. AVhitnall, Jos. Bennett, Lawrence Cotter. Boilers and Heating Apparatus. — J. T. Anthony, John Welsh Young, Wm. Scott. Greenhouse Appliances and Flower Pots. — Ed. Lonsdale, W. H. Elliott, A. M. Herr. Bulbs and Seeds. — Eugene Dailledouze, J. R. Freeman, Samuel J. Coleman. Florists' Supplies.— W. J. Smythe, H. L. Sunderbruch, John Westcott. Miscellaneous.— P. O'Mara, H. Chappell, E. Koffman. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 19 TREASURER HUNT'S REPORT. Mr. Myron A. Hunt, of Terre Haute, Ind., Treasurer of the Society, being called upon, made the following report : — Mr. President., Ladies and Gentlemen, — The financial year of the Society closes on December 31st, at which time a report was rendered by me to the Executive Committee. The report presented today covers a period for six months subsequent to that date or until July 1st. The receipts for the year from July 1, 1891, to July 1, 1892, were as follows : — Balance on hand Membership fees Interest account Total . $1,028 55 2,360 00 41 67 S3 ,430 22 EXPENDITURES. Joseph Gilbert, stenographer Wm. J. Stewart, sundries D. Guun & Co., printing A. A. Blair & Co., J. C. Vaughan (to cover expenses of stenog rapher at Toronto in taking notes for World's Fair Committee) . . . . B. F. Knapp, of Central Traffic Asso., (to pay travelling expenses to Toronto of agent of C. T. A.) J. X. May, badges for 1891 Secretary's Stewart's salary to January 1st Mr. Wm. Falconer (Nomenclature Committee) xlmerican Florist Co., for electrotype A. A. Blair & Co., printing report . Wm. J. Stewart, sundries Executive Committee meeting in .January L. J. Merrifield, coj^ying .... D. Gunn & Co., miscellaneous printing . John N. May, badges for 1892 AVni. J. Stewart, salary to July 1st . Total Balance on hand July 1, 1892 . $130 00 133 27 84 00 6 oO 4 80 17 00 42 00 375 00 55 27 5 00 358 75 79 33 256 41 20 90 12 25 42 00 375 00 $1,997 48 $1,432 74 I might state that owing to the miscarriage of some of the cor- respondence between the Secretary and myself, an item of some two hundred dollars, which should appear in this report as a credit to the Society, will necessarily have to be carried over until another meeting. Treasurer Hunt's report was received with applause, and (after a statement by President Dean, that in company with Mr. Anthony, he 20 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, had gone over the report and found it correct as read) a motion was made by Mr. J. M. Jordan that the report be accepted and filed. Adopted without objection. THE LATE FRANCIS T. MC'FADDEN. Mr. John N. May, of Summit, N. J., (who had just received intelli- gence of the death of a well known member of the Society), was awarded the floor. He said : It becomes my sad duty to announce to the Society that, in the all- wise dispensation of Providence, one of our most highly esteemed mem- bers, Francis T. Mc'Fadden, of Rosebank, Cincinnati, has suddenly been removed from our midst. Those among us who knew him intimately, and they are not a few, will mourn deeply the loss of a kind and true friend ; the Horists of this country and the interests of liorticulture throughout the civilized world have by his death lost a bright and shining light. lie loved children and flowers ; both were objects of his sincerest affection. I hold in my hand a Cincinnati paper of yesterday, containing an announcement of the death, but 1 will not read it. I have risen more particularly for the purpose of saying that the family of the deceased will undoubtedly feel most keenly their aftliction, some members of it being now absent in Europe. I would suggest, therefore, if it meets with the concurrence of the Society, that a letter of condolence be for- warded to the family in this, the sad hour of their great grief. Mr. E. G. Hill, of Richmond, Ind., moved that the announcement made by Mr. May be entered upon the minutes of the Society, and that a committee be appointed to prepare a letter of condolence to the family, as suggested. It was so ordered. President Dean, having received no response to his call for reports from standing and special committees, announced as the next item of business a discussion of the President's Address. He then temporarily resigned the chair to Yice-President Smith. Mr. J. M. Jordan, of St. Louis, opened the discussion. He said : I have been waiting to see whether some of the brighter lights would favor us by showing the way, but having taken a few notes while the President was reading his address I wish to say a word as.to several points which I deem worthy of being emphasized. The first is in regard to the importance of obtaining a national charter for the Society. As stated by your President, this subject has been brought to your attention on previous occasions. I regard it as of vital importance that an earnest effort should SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 21 be made as early as possible, in order that the charter may be obtained from the present Congress, at its session next winter. I would urge upon those members of the Society who reside in the city of Washington and can communicate in person with members of the legislative branch of the Government, to improve their opportunities for aiding us in this matter. If the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, who has so kindly favored us this morning with an address, can be interested in the move- ment, and if the co-operation of the Department of Agriculture can thus be gained, I think that we may confidently anticipate that the charter will be secured. Another topic suggested by the President is that of awards for new plants. I suggest that if, in addition to awards for new plants, certificates of demerit were always awarded to plants proving woi'thless, it would be a good thing for this Society. I know that, from time to time, it has been heralded over the country that a new rose of magnificent proportions was about to make its appearance. I think that almost yearly some one has had a new I'ose. Not long since thousands of specimens of a new rose Avere sent broadcast throughout the country ; and I may say that, although I have travelled a few thousand miles recently, I have yet to find one grower who recommends that rose today, although there were thousands clamoring for it not Ions; aoro. I allude to the \yaban. I maintain that before being put on the market with the sanction of promi- nent members of this Society, a rose should be tried and the fact should be ascertained as to whether it has sufficient merit to justify a reasonable expectation that it will prove of real value to the florists who will have to buy and cultivate it. I think I may speak for the Western part of the country when I say that we are sick and tired of these new roses or new plants that come out with some fiaming name and are put on the market with a great price, when really the price is about all that there is of them that is great. [Applause.] With respect to " auxiliarj' societies," I wish to say right here that the young tree, known as " The Society of American Florists," which made its first appearance at Chicago eight years ago, and which was transplanted, watered and nourished at the Cincinnati meeting and at the subsequent annual meetings, has gi'own to wonderful proportions. It has taken deep root. You may talk about too many auxiliary societies, of a limb here and a limb there towering above the parent tree. I say, gentle- men, you want to keep them around you as members of one great family, no matter how numerous they may be. You need to encourage such auxiliary societies ; you ought not to cut them adrift or to ignore them. Do you think the tree can stand without a limb ? You need to preserve every fibre of it intact, and to make the whole one grand monument to floriculture and horticulture. [Applause.] As your President has well said, the glass employed in our various avo- cations amounts to about thirty-eight million feet ; and I am able to say to ^ PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, you that one of our auxiliary societies, the Hail Association, (which was the first of those societies to be created) is now carrying insurance upon five million feet of glass ; and we are hopeful that before another year has elapsed, a majority of all the glass in the country that is exposed to hail, will have been insured in that Society. During the past year the appli- cations for insurance have been pouring in by the thousands and thousands of feet. In regard to the importance of a higher education for those who pursue the business of floriculture, (which has been mentioned by various Presidents almost from the beginning,) I think we will be able to show you, gentlemen, when you come out to see us in St. Louis next year, as you undoubtedly will, some of the fruits of a scientific school for the education of young men as florists. Thanking you for your attention, I trust that other gentlemen may now be induced to express their opinions in regard to the address of the President. Mr. John X. May, of Summit, N. J.: Mr. Chairman, as chairman of the committee which was charged with the dutj' of procuring a national charter, I am reminded by the remarks of Mr. Jordan that some report from me on that subject is due to the Society. I therefore say to you that our prospects of securing a national charter are very promising. The fact that it is not already in our possession is due to a mere accidental or anomalous condition of affairs in the House of Representatives at the session which recently closed. It happened that there were in that body a number of what our "Washington friends call " quorum cranks." Our bill stood second on the files ; the only measure having priority of consideration over it being one to establish a uniform rate of weight in measures of grain. The consideration of that measure was defeated by "the quorum cranks," and, as a consequence, our bill could not be reached for consideration. That is the only reason why it did not get through at the last session of Congress. A shoi't time ago, when I was in the city of Washington, I saw the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, who has the matter in charge. He was exceedingly kind and courteous in his treatment of us, and 1 was assured by him that he would spare no effort to secure the passage of the measure as quickly as possible, upon the re-assembling of Congress, [Applause.] Before taking my seat, I wish to say a word in reply to a remark made by Mr. .Jordan in his allusion to the introduction of new plants. I think it due to the general public and to every member of this organi- zation that I should made the statement which I now make in regard to the rose " Waban." I assert that that rose had every promise of proving a magnificent variety. I assure you, upon my standing as a member of this Society, that it was never my intention, either as a member of the Society of American Florists or as a man in trade, to lend my name to any counterfeit, but that in that transaction I was actuated by the belief SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 23 that it was a bona fide good variety. Those who saw it growing in the neighborhood of Boston, as I did, before it was sent out, cannot refrain from endorsing all that I now state. The people of Boston today endorse it as a good thing. The trouble in connection with it may be ascribed to one of those freaks which we cannot control and do not understand. In doing what I did I was acting entirely in good faith, like hundreds of others throughout the country ; and if we were disappointed in our expectations the fault was not that of the original introducers oi that rose. Conservative people of Boston believed they had a good thing and, entertaining the same belief as we did, we all joined hands with them to help to introduce the rose. The disappointment was to us individually as mortifying and humiliating as it Avas to any others who were deceived. Mr. H. B. Beatty, of Oil City, Pa.: Mr. Chairman, I desire to heartily endorse what our President has said in regard to auxiliary socie- ties and what has been said on that subject by Mr. Jordan. I also think that our President has struck the key-note in his suggestion that a yearly review of the work of those societies, giving the latest developments in each, is worthy of being incorporated in the minutes of the Society of American Florists. I think that if that suggestion is carried out, every ground for apprehension which some of us may have entertained, that these auxiliary organizations would have a tendency to weaken the parent Society will be removed, and that such societies will prove to be simply the natural and necessary branches of the parent tree. Mr. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia : The expressions of opinion upon the President's Address, to which we have listened, have given me much gratification. The address is like its author in that it is practical and exhibits good common sense. [Applause.] The attitude assumed by the President in regard to auxiliary societies connected with the main Society, is peculiarly gratifying to me. It is well known that in all departments of human knowledge, the specialists in those departments attain a higher degree of knowledge and a more acute perception of details than is attained by those whose observations cover a larger area. This is true in law, medicine, and all the arts and sciences, and is equally true in our own domain of floriculture. The man who makes a specialty of carnations, and follows that up day after day with his whole mind upon it, will certainly learn more in regard to them than will others in the business whose attention is given to a larger field. The suggestion that we should look to these organizations of experts at our annual meetings for the latest developments in the line of each is a most excel- lent one. I hope that every branch Society will take note of the suggestion, and that at our rrext annual meeting we shall have a paper from the Carnation Society, a paper from the Chrysanthemum Society, and if the Rose Society is organized at this Washington Convention, as some 24 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, enthusiasts hope it will be, a paper from that Society, — each prepared as the President has suggested, by a member of the Society selected for the purpose, which shall give to the whole body of our members the most recent details of progress in these specialties. For the President's Address, as a whole, I have only words of endorsement. I do not think that any one can find fault with any part of it. But, Mr. Chairman, if you will pardon me a moment, I will feel easier if I do object to the sentiment expressed in an address which pre- ceded thai of the President. I allude to that of the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. We feel very grateful to that gentleman always ; he is an earnest, thoughtful man ; but I want to ask him if he is not confining floriculture within too narrow limits when he asks us to limit ourselves to the plants indigenous to our own latitude. That is a suggestion to which 1 cannot agree. Shall we send to the uttermost parts of the world, and there delve into the bowels of the earth for the rich jewels with which we adorn the persons of those we love ? Shall we explore the inhospitable regions of distant climes in quest of products with which to increase our supplies of food and raiment y Shall we send to France and to California for our wines, and to more remote localities for luxuries with which to minister to our physical enjoyment, and yet refuse to improve our opportunities to cultivate the jcsthetic tastes of our people ? Shall we not say God-speed to Mr. Forstermau and his compeers when they penetrate the jungles of India, and bring to us the peerless orchid ? Shall we not surround ourselves with those products of the tropics ? And shall we not be commended for so doing ? I was much int^ested in the address of the representative of the Department of Agriculture, but I felt that it would be a relief to me to express myself as I have. [Long continued applause.] Mr. ,J. M. Jordan, of St. Louis : Mr. Chairman, as the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture is not present to reply to the gentleman from Philadelphia, (Mr. Craig), I venture to suggest that that gentleman's criticism may be somewhat overdrawn. I did not understand the Assistant Secretary to object to the cultivation of the foreign products, but rather that his idea was to encourage us in the cultivation of the plants indigenous to our soil, and by which we are surrounded. As I have said, when you come to St. Louis next summer, we will show you there in our Missouri Botanic Garden a collection of plants indigenous to the State — what you call " wild weeds " — which, by careful cultivation have assumed an appearance entirely different from that which they presented in their wild growth. I think the idea of the Secretary was that we ought not, by giving undue preference to the foreign varieties, to ignore our own products. Mr. R. T. Lombard, of Wayland, Mass, : If I understood the remark of the Assistant Secretary, it was that he wanted to see the SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 25 orchid of Africa and South America put in a cage, and kept there like a lion. Jfow, I do not want that. [Applause.] The discussion here closed, and after some announcements concern- ing details of the entertainments provided by the National Gardeners' Club, an adjournment was ordered until evening. During the afternoon most of the delegates, with the ladies who accompanied them, attended the reception tendered to the Society of American Florists, by Mr, John R. McLean, at his garden, Nine- teenth Street and Boundary. A feature of the enjoyable occasion was the elaborate musicale by the Marine Band. Three tents had been erected on the lawn in which refreshments were served. After several hours of recreation and informal chat, the visitors returned to the city in time for the evening session. FIRST DAY — EVENING. The Convention re-assembled at 8 o'clock, p. M.; President Dean in the Chair. FUNGOUS AND OTHER ROSE TROUBLES. The first business of the evening was the reading of an essay on " Fungous and Other Rose Troubles," prepared by Prof. Byron D. Halsted, of the Agricultural College, New Brunswick, N. J. The essay, in the absence of its author, was read by Secretary Stewart, and elicited general applause. It is as follows : The writer considers it no empty honor to be invited by the Society of American Florists to prepare a paper for this meeting upon the topic assigned. Since the notification from your Secretary, the subject has been under more sjiecial consideration than previously, and the rose, both in sickness and health, has been a theme of frequent thought. Take it in doors and out, wild and cultivated, the rose, in all its species and varieties, has a full share of the fungous diseases. No less than one hundred and sixty-five (165) kinds upon the genus Rosa are recorded in the books. Many of these are not considered injurious in particular and will be passed without further notice. It is the purpose of this paper to treat of those species that are most troublesome to the practical rose growers, for they have been making serious complaints for some months, and special attention has been paid to these subjects. The Black Spot. (Actinonema Bosae, Fr.) The black spot is a very widespread and conspicuous disease of the rose, first described in 1826, now known in many countries, and often much dreaded. The foliage when attacked soon develops the charac- 26 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, teristic black spots, and the leaves becoming elsewhere pale, shortly fall to the ground. As a result, rose houses badly infested with the black spot show but few leaves and fewer blooms. The microscopic structure of this fungus has been fully considered with plates in the tirst annual report made by Professor Scribner, as chief of the section of vegetable pathology of the United States Department of Agriculture, for the year 1887. It only needs to be said here that experiments with the fungus have been carried on sufHciently by the New Jersey station to warrant the assertion that it can be controlled by the proper use of fungicides. This trouble may be held in check by the carbonate of copper compound, using three ounces of carbonate of copper, one quart of ammonia and tifty gallons of water. The spraying should be done once a week, using a hose and a nozzle that gives a fine spray. The point should be to wet every part of the plant and yet not drench it. If many leaves have fallen from the plants they should be gathered up and burned. As with many other diseases some varieties are more liable to black spots than others. When possible, that is when all other things remain the same, it is of course wise to grow those least susceptible to the disease. It may be said in passing, that within the past week the black spot has been observed by the writer upon a species of wild rose, (Rosa humilis) when it was causing the leaves to become spotted and yellow. It is not surprising, for the wild plant was growing but a short distance from a neglected estate where garden roses were badly spotted. Powdery Mildew of Bose. {Sphcerothecapannosa^ Wallr.) One of the oldest troubles of the rose grower is the mildew. This develops very suddenly on the foliage in the greenhouse or outside of it, giving the leaves a powdery appearance, and causing them to become more or less misshapen. In a mild form the foliage may be only mealy, but frequently the surfaces become uneven and the whole leaf twisted. If left unheeded the enemy will ruin the plants attacked, and knowing this, a remedy has been found and long applied in Ihe shape of sulphur in one form or another. Professor Maynard, of the Massachusetts Experiment Station, finds a small kerosene stove the most convenient for this purpose, and the sulphur, by means of it is boiled in a kettle for two or three houi'S twice a week ; the house being closed during the operation. The only precaution is to use no more heat than is sufficient to* boil the sulphur ; for should it catch fire it might damage the plants. In the American Florist for July 7, of the present year, Mr. John X. May writes, that the best way to get rid of the mildew is to close the house about eight o'clock in the morning, run the temperature up to seventy-five ; then with the bellows fill the house full of sulphur, let the house remain closed until it j^eaches eighty-five to ninety, then admit air gradually. A constant circulation of air is likewise recommended for roses at all times.. Potassium sulphide, one ounce to two gallons of water, sprayed upon the plants has proved an effective remed3^ SOCIETY or AMERICAK FLORISTS. 27 Gardeners from long experience have come to the belief that rose mildew is induced by a weak condition of the plant, resulting from partial starvation, irregular or excessive watering and undue exposure to draughts of cold air. The best successes in rose growing, as in all other things, attends those who give constant intelligent care to the many details. Downy Mildeio of Bose. (Peronospora sparsa, Berk.) Some rose growers are troubled with a second form of mildew which differs in many ways from the one just mentioned. It is less easy to detect, and being more deeply seated may do greater damage before detected than the powdery miJdew. It is likewise less easy to eradicate, because it thrives within the substance, while the Sphterotheca feeds superficially. Peronospora sparsa is a close relative of many of the most serious mildews, as those of the grape, onion, lettuce, spinach and the rot of the Irish potato. The treatment for this is the same as for the anthracnose to be mentioned later. Sose Bust. (Phragmidium mucronatum, Wint.) The genuine rust of the rose similar to the rust of wheat, oats and other grasses, is not common in our section of the country upon in-door roses. It is not unlikely that it may become a pest here as it now is in California and other States in the Union, Those who are familar with the rust of the blackberry need no further woi'ds of general description of this fungus. The writer has seen the pest so violent in its attacks upon roses in Santa Barbara, Cal., as to ruin them, causing the canes even to become blistered, the whole being covered with a mass of orange colored spores. There is very little to be said in the Avay of treatment, save that of cutting and burning all affected plants. A Bosp- Anthracnose. (Olneosporium Bosarum, Hals.) Many sick rose plants that have been sent to me for inspection have exhibited only one species of fungous disease, namely, a Gloeosporium. When a rose is badly infested with this fungus the leaves are small and pale and the canes die at the tips. Sometimes the stems may be dead for a foot or more from the extremity. Not infrequently one branch will be dead clear to the base, and sometimes two or more are thus destroyed. The dead twigs show pimples quite evenly distributed over the surface, and for some a minute, often curved, horn of a reddish color protrudes. When such stems are placed in a moist chamber the whole decaying surface becomes closely covered with numerous almost brick red masses of spores. And the disease spreads rapidly through the adjoin- ing parts of the twigs that seemed healthy when placed in the moist chamber. The rapidity with which the fungus would spread was a subject of surprise. In four days from the time, spores were introduced into sterilized sections of rose twigs in test tubes, the whole of the 28 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, culture would be covered Avith the spore masses. This anthracnose appears to be new in that it has not been before studied microscopically. Eel Worms. One of the leading reasons for the many complaints made by rose growers during the past year, is a microscopic worm that works principally at and in the roots. These worms are in outline like that of an ordinary eel, and under the microscope are seen in almost constant motion. They cause an enlargement of certain parts of the roots, and by means of these, galls or knots are easily detected with the naked eye when a plant is removed from the soil and carefully washed of the adhering earth. The writer furnished an article upon this subject to the special spring meeting of the American Florist, accompanied by photo-engrav- ing of a badly infested root system of a rose plant. Some of the following notes are taken from that paper. The term nematodes is also given to the eel worms, but whatever the name they go by, there is no doubt about their injuriousness. The point that most interests rose growers is how to get rid of the pest. In order to do this it will be of much assistance to know where the worms come from ; how they propagate and get into the roots of the infested plants. These eel worms are much more abundant than generally sup- posed, and it is only when they get numerous that their mischief becomes apparent. The nematodes are, as a rule, much more abundant in warm climates than elsewhere, and the unusual abundance of these pests in northern gardens for the past two years is likely due to the lack of the freezing of the soil. The greenhouse furnishes the proper conditions for the propagation of the eel worms provided they are there to begin with. This naturally raises the question of how they first get into the bed. This may be in one or more of several ways. They may already be in the roots of the plants, but in small numbers when the plants are placed in the house. To guard against this the roots should be examined as closely as possible for the galls when the beds are set. All galled roses should be excluded. The nematodes may come in with the earth. As before stated, the worms infest a large number of kinds of plants, and it is an easy matter for them to come with the soil. Soil that has not been used for growing plants in the garden is not necessarily free, but may, if taken from a pasture or meadow, contain many nematodes. Then again, they may be taken with the manure that is used. Just what may prove to be the best precautions remains for the practical rose grower to determine. Cold in excess will probably destroy the worms, and likewise a high temperature is fatal to them. Both of these conditions may be impracticable to apply to the soil, the one being impossible in most cases, and the other too expensive. Eose growers SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 29 might make the experiment of heating the soil of a small portion of the bed before setting the plants, and satisfy themselves if such a treatment will pay. If manure is the chief vehicle of the worms it may be possible to grow roses without so much of this constituent of the rose soil. It may be that roses can be grown with a burned soil to which all the neces- sary elements of plant food have been added in the form of commercial fertilizers. It may be, however, that the pampered rose will not perform her part unless fed in the ordinaiy way to which its ancestry has been accustomed. The fact is, that the worms are doing much damage. When they are once in a plant there is no known way of driving them out. New conditions may induce the formation of new roots, and a sickened plant may revive, but recovery is not usually to be expected. It is possible that some substance may be put upon the soil that while not injuring the roses may kill the worms not already in the plants. Lime has been thus used, and with favorable results. Sprinkle the lime upon the surface of the bed, or better, mix it with the soil, and each watering will tend to bring it in contact with the tender bodies of the worms. It is not unlikely that some of the fertilizer compounds may be found, that at the same time they furnish food for the plants, will deal a death blow to the nematodes. Kainit may thus prove an efficient remedy, and it only remains for some enterpi'ising rosarian to take the matter in hand and demonstrate the truth or falsehood lurking in the suggestion. It is easy to obtain and apply, and the amount to use must be determined by trial. All that has been said regardins; the habits of the rose eel worms applies equally well to those of the violet, coleus, lantana, bouvardia, geranium, and a long list of other plants that are frequent or occasional victims to the same trouble. The treatment will vary with the nature of the plant whether annual or perennial, woody or succulent, large or small. The President : It is a matter of regret that Professor Halsted is not present tonight to answer any questions that may be proposed in the discussion of this essay, on which it is evident he has spent much time and labor. Still the Chair thinks there are gentlemen in the hall who are able to point out to us many of the good points in the paper. Discussion of it is now invited. Mr. John N. May, of Summit, N. J., responded : I do not know that I am able to throw much light upon this subject apart from that which Professor Halsted has given to you. I will say that, in conjunc- tion with Professor Halsted, I have been working at this trouble for the last three years ; and on the last occasion on which I saw him, which was only a short time ago, he frankly confessed to me that he was as much in the dark as to an absolute remedy which would destroy nema- 30 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, todes as he was when he begau. I will say that I have been trying the effect of lime in its crude form, in its air slacked form, and in diluted form ; and up to the present time I have been unable to find that it has any effect whatever. In fact, the case is very similar to that of the rose bug — Aramygus Fullerii. A few years ago, I was told by a resident of this city, that lime would destroy the larva of Aramygus Fullerii. At that time I was very much troubled with it. I slacked a bushel of lime in fifty gallons of water, and let it stand for twenty-four hours. I then put a handful of the larva of the rose bug, so-called, into a quart of the lime water and let it stand for six hours. When I took them out, after a few minutes they began to move, and appeared to be just as lively as ever. A neighbor of mine went further than I did. He put them into the lime water, and then placed them on the roof of his shed at night, allowing them to stand there and to become a solid frozen mass. The next morning he took them into his greenhouse, thawed them out, and found after a little while that they were still alive and ready to begin to move around. This eel worm in question is just as tenacious of life apparently as the rose bug which has been described. Although I have not subjected it to any such test, still we have used large quantities of lime, as already described, without appeai'ing to realize any advantage whatever from its use. In fact, in a recent trial we watered quite a number of plants with strong lime water, and today they are the worst affected plants of any that we have on the place. I do not know that I can say anything further except to tell you to go on and try your own remedies. Those of you who have been clear of this insect up to date have much to be thankful for, and those who are atflicted with it have one of the worst enemies with which they have ever been troubled. It is on the increase all over the country ; and if it continues to increase it will shorten the crop of flowers to a very large extent. Those who are fortunate enough to escape it will reap the benefit of the high prices which they will get for their products ; and the poor fellow who is badly afflicted with it may possibly find himself event- ually in the poorhouse. You may say that I am stating the thing rather strongl}'. I will say to j^ou that I know of one gentleman now present in this hall — in fact, I know of more than one — who had the eel worm so badly last year that his rose house was a total failure. There is one thing that Professor Halsted has suggested which, it appears to me, is the only feasible remedy ; and that is to go to work and cook your sod. A short time ago 1 wrote an article which was pub- lished in the American Florist, to the effect that I would like some of our inventive geniuses to get up a machine suitable for this cooking of the soil ; and I had hoped that something of the kind would have been presented at the present meeting of the Society of American Florists. Failing to see anything ^ of that sort offered, I am preparing to make SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 31 such a machine myself. Should I be successful in a trial of it, I will gladly give this Society and its members the benefit of my experience when we meet next year. I may add that I have used everything in the way of chemicals which has been recommended to me, and which had been found destructive to insect life generally, but so far I have failed to realize any benefit from the use of such remedies. Secretary Stewart : I am requested to ask Mr. May whether he has ever found this eel worm in the roses budded on the Manetti stock. Mr. May : Unfortunately, the rose that stands on a false bottom is no more exempt than one that stands on its own bottom. Some years ago I was told by a European grower, who grows in the neighborhood of five hundred thousand roses in the open air, that if budded stock was used we would not be troubled with black spot or any of the other diseases that afflict our roses. I replied, "All right, sir ; send me ten thousand of your stock budded, the best 3''ou have — say, five thousand teas and five thousand hybrid perpetuals." He did so. In the next year I had the worst case of black spot on those hybrid perpetuals that I ever had before that or have had since. In regard to eel worms on this stock, I may say that I have been trying experiments this year. Last Saturday night, after everybody had finished their day's work and retired, I went into the nursery, lifted one of these plants budded on the Manetti, and found the root galls just as bad upon it as upon any plants on their own roots. I found that the nodules or root galls on the roots of this plant were as large as good sized peas. Mr. J. G. EsLER, of Saddle River, X. J. : I would like to ask Mr. May whether he used lime as a preventive, or whether it was after the worm had become encysted in the root. Mr. May : I cannot say that I have given the matter sufficient attention to enable me to say clearly whether it will prevent the devel- opment of the nematodes. So far as we have tried the lime it has not acted as a preventive. Professor Halsted thinks that the prevalence of the eel worm at the present time jn our Northern climate, is largely due to the fact that we have had ver}' wet winters for the last three or four seasons with very little frost. He draws the inference therefrom that the eel worms increase more readily in a moist soil. To arrive at some conclu- sion on this point, I planted a bench for trial early this season, and kept it as dry as was consistent with the health of the plants ; but today they are the worst affected plants of any that we have on the place, a fact which to my mind demonstrates to some extent that moisture itself is not in any way responsible for their increase. Mr. C. W. TuRNLEY, of Camden, N. J., inquired whether the use of crude oil had been found to be injurious or favorable to the roots of the roses. 32 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Mr. May : My own experience is that the crude oil has no effect whatever. The gentleman who sits next to me, (Mr. Pierson), probably can answer as to that more cleai'ly than I can. Mr. Frank R. Pierson, of Tarrytown, N. Y. : My answer to the inquiry as to whether the crude oil used on the benches injures the roots in any way, is this. We have used crude oil in our greenhouses for three years, and have seen no bad effects from its use. We use yellow pine in the construction of the benches. We thoroughly saturate with three or four coats, giving as much as the wood will take up. INTow, after three years of trial, we find that the lumber has not decayed in the least, but is as sound as it was the day the benches were erected. In reference to the alleged deleterious effects of crude oil, I have to say that we have not observed the slightest evidence in that direction, and have no hesitation whatever in recommending its use both as a pre- servative of the wood, and from our own knowledge that it cannot injure anything. When we first used it, it was with considerable hesitation, but after a thorough trial, we have adopted it in all our houses. Mr. Eugene H. Michel, of St. Louis, Mo., inquired why tUe nematodes, if they lived only on the roots of plants, could not be starved out by piling the soil for three or four years, thereby preventing anything from growing in it, and thus depriving them of food. Mr. M. J. Lynch, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. : I desire to state, for the benefit of many small growers, a preventive against eel worms which I have found to be most effective. Take one bushel of air slacked lime and one bushel of common soot from chimneys, and mix with two tons of soil at the last turning over, before it is put into the benches. This has proven, in my experience, an effectual remedy. (The discussion here ended.) WHY insects infest PLANTS. An essay entitled, " Why Insects Infest Plants," was here read by Mr. John Saul, of Washington, D. C, and was received with cordial approbation . V The paper is as follows : — The observation and experience of a long life devoted to horticulture, leads me to the conclusion that insects never attack plants or trees, unless the same have had some check or shock in some way that have impaired or injured their vital power, either from unsuitable orundrained soil, too much or too little water, want of pure air, sunshine, or one or more of the many causes that impair or check vegetable growth ; any one of those happening, insects immediately appear. I believe it is possible to grow plants and crops with such health and vigor that those pests will not put in an appearance. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 33 I am aware that some scientists are of a different opinion^ When sickness and disease are abroad, it is the duty of the physician to combat it, as his greater duty is to tindout its origin, and prevent the organisms, bacteria, or what may cause, disease taking form and spreading. In hke manner it is well to destroy those insects that are injuring our crops, plants, trees, etc. ; but of still greater importance to discover the cause that called them into existence. Man, when in robust, vigorous health, will not take fevers and other diseases ; he must receive a check, something must be, wanting before the disease will catch, as in plants. We are told sanitary measures are necessary to avoid disease. These must be cleanliness, pure air and water, and whatever may be necessary or conducive to health ; and this is what is precisely requisite in plant life. Though this paper is more particularly intended to apply to plants, I have to step aside occasionally to illustrate what I have to say. At the meeting of the American Pomological Society in September, 1891, at Washington, Mr. Latham, of Norfolk, Va., read a paper on the cause of " Pear Blight," in which he took the ground that it was caused by a sudden fall of temperature when the trees are in vigorous growth, say — middle or end of June — a fall of thirty degrees will produce it. Bacteria is not the cause, but the effect. It follows they are the scavengers to clean up decaying vegetation. This is what horticulturists know in many other cases, I walk along one of our streets, and observe the trees on its sidewalks are not healthy. If elms, the foliage is gone by mid-summer, and if silver maples they are covered with scale, and so of many other trees. Those insects were not the cause of disease, the trees first received a check ; either want of proper soil, or insufficient moisture, atmosphere, etc. ; but as soon as that check took place, insects appeared. The same species of trees, or trees growing in the humid, rich valley of our beautiful stream, " Kock Creek," would be pictures of health and vigor. The check was necessary to bring forth insects. Other cas.es — take for instance roses. If I have a house of roses in perfect health, without a speck of mildew during fall, winter or spring, the atmosphere inside is about sixty degrees, moist and genial. My roses look happy ; outside it is cold and raw. Suppose I open the side ventilators for half an hour, a cold draft of air passes over the plants. What will be the result ? The plants have been chilled, taken a violent cold, and in a short time will be covered with mildew. Mildew follows from the check to plants a violent cold. Any person may try a similar experiment on himself. Again I have a house of pelargoniums ; it is spring, say — March or April — they are growing freely ; a cold, harsh air prevails outdoors, some side air is given ; as a result my pelargoniums are chilled, take 34 TKOCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, cold, and by the following day are covered with green fly. Had they been grown nicely on, unchilled, there would be no fly. Take a lot of gardenias, neriums, taberni^niontanas, etc. ; it is summer time, we have them outdoors growing freely, clean, free from scale or other insects. When placed in the greenhouse in the autumn into too great a degree of heat, and want of air, they are soon covered with scale, mealy bugs, and other insects. Those same plants covered with insects, planted outdoors in May, the insects will disappear, and plants become perfectly clean when they get a suitable atmosphere. Pineapples in some countries are forced under glass when the temperature is not suitable. Plants become covered with scale, yet I have known good growers take these scale covered plants, place them among clean, healthy plants in a suitable atmosphere, and they speedily, as they say, grow out of it. If I take aucubas which are nearly or quite hardy, place them in a close, warm, unventilated greenhouse, they soon become covered with scale, but the same plants removed outdoors in spring, the insects soon disappear. If an orchid grower has a look amongst his orchids, and finds an odontoglossum affected by scale, he sees at once the plant has too much heat, and notsuflicieut ventil9,tion ; but place it in a more even tempera- ture with better ventilation, and the plant soon improves. Such plants come from the mountains of Central and South America, and need a temperate, moist climate. lie sees other species, such as saccolabiums, phalronopsis, etc., which are also affected, but from a different cause ; they are from the hot jungles of India, and need heat and moisture. Under glass in forcing houses, plants are infested with insects invariably caused by too much or too little heat, want of moisture, bad ventilation, etc. The experienced plant grower can avoid all this. Insects follow, but are not the cause. This holds good in all the insects that have come under my observation, under glass, as well as outdoors. It is said Jjacteria can be propagated ; of course it can, so can all the diseases of the animal as well as of the vegetable kingdom. Plants are never attacked by insects, whether in the greenhouse or outdoors, if in vigorous health, growing in a suitable well drained soil, and a climate or artificial atmosphere in perfect harmony with what the particular species requires. If oranges and other frtiits are affected with any particular species of insect in California or any other country, rest assured there is something lacking in that climate (however beautiful it otherwise may be) to that particular species of plant ; when the climate is perfectly suited, there are no insects. In place of spraying and destroying insects after the life of our trees and plants has been sapped away, let us take a lesson from stock breeders ; see how careful they are of pedigree — it must have untarnished blood — must be free from disease ; how careful they are that no check or injury shall in any way impair growth or SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 35 vigor ; they know too well that an injured or stunted animal cannot be perfect or beautiful when matured. In precisely the same way must the horticulturist proceed ; he must start right with his plants, and follow the same unerring laws, when he will encounter but few insects. One of England's greatest naturalists, Charles Waterton, gave it as his opinion, that no tree in perfect health was affected by insects. When insects appeared, why then, disease and death. I am no scientist, but a practical horticulturist, who has observed much in a long life. I have as great a respect for science as any man ; I am fully alive to what it is doing, not in our particular department, but in its broadest range ; still, I think there are many things which come under the eye of the cultivator which are unobserved by the scientist in his study. I am full in years, but can well recollect in my younger days, before the great Atlantic was traversed by steamers, (I think about 18.37 or 1838,) the practicability of this was much talked and written about. To test this fully, a company of merchants in Bristol, England, commenced building a vessel for tbe purpose ; whilst this was being built, one of England's greatest scientists, Dr. Lardner, delivered a lecture in the same city to show the total impracticability of navigating the Atlantic by steam ; this he proved to his own satisfaction. Xotwith- standing, the hard-headed men of Bristol completed their steamer. The *' Great Western " was launched, and the Atlantic was opened to steam. Discussion of the essay was invited. 2*Ir. Benjamin Hammond, of Fishkill on Hudson, X. Y., responded. He said that when a gentleman like the essayist, full of years, and eminently successful in his avocation, proffered suggestions based upon long years of experience, it behooved the younger genera- tion to give heed to those suggestions, as they would probably be found to contain ideas which would prove to be stepping stones toward the throne of power and wealth. Referring to the great interests repre- sented by the Convention, he said that allusion had already been made to the fact that there are now in the United States five thousand commer- cial greenhouses, representing an investment of some §40,000,000, and that the value of floral establishments ranged from a few hundred dollars up to perhaps a quarter of a million of dollars each. The industry gave employment to about twenty thousand men, women and boys, all of whom were dependent upon floriculture for their livelihood. The output of the product of the greenhouses now reached a round sum of 827,000,000. He thought that the representatives of a business of such magnitude were vitalh' interested in acquiring every item of information in regard to any hindrance to the success of their output. Although for a dozen years he had been intent upon ascertaining the causes which produce insects, his experience had not been such as to enable him to reach the 36 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, conclusion at which the essayist had arrived, although he did not care about being classed with Dr. Lardner. He continued : In the animal kingdom insects outnumber, all the rest of creation. It is the all powerful instinct of an animal to eat, and if it has not something to eat it cannot live. Now what is the condition in which insects live, grow and thrive ? It is the same by which the cattle of the plains are fattened, as they graze upon the magnificent fields that furnish them pasturage. Nowhere are the conditions for insect propagation so favorable as in the hothouse. There they have heat, humidity and food — a veritable paradise for the insect — and there the eggs are deposited which, in the course of time, develop into embryo life. The green- house, which you have stocked with so much care, becomes abundant feeding ground for the insect. Is it a fact that it is only the plants that are wilting or half decayed upon which the larva feeds ? So far as 1 have been able to observe, if the feeding ground is not good, the larvse will move on just as rapidly as their powers of locomotion Avill enable them to move, to other plants which furnish good feeding. It has been so in the past, and it probably ever will be so, that the insect will choose for its lodgment that place in which it will get the very best livelihood. When we have discovered an evil and seek to rectify it, we must first discover the cause of the evil, and when we have found the cause we must persist in applying the remedy. In fighting insects you are obliged to keep on fighting just so long as you supply them with that on which they can feed. I have never yet seen an insect that pre- ferred to feed upon a decayed leaf when it could find a healthy leaf, but it will move on until it finds the most succulent srrowth and then it will go for that. While the florist labors to bring forth things of beauty, from the soil, the conditions which he creates to do it are those that are most favorable for the insidious enemies of his plants and flowers ; and to protect himself against them in the best manner is, has been and will be always, a problem and a care. While greenhouses afford heat, humidity and food, it is hopeless to expect annihilation, but as has been done in the past so in the future, there must be kept up a steady, constant fight ; and on that fight depends the success and bread and butter of the florist. Mr. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia : Mr. President, my experience with insects encourages me to emphasize the thoughts so well expressed by the essayist, Mr. Saul. His excellent paper starts out with the idea that the attacks of the insect are not made upon the plants indiscrimi- nately, but that as his experience has shown him, it is the plant which has been enfeebled from any cause which the insect is most likely to attack. He states that anything that interferes with the vigorous growth of the plant, whether it be because the temperature is too hot or SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 37 too cold, or from any other cause, tends to so impair its condition that it is more liable to attack than it otherwise would be. That is true. A plant subjected to a cold draught, as he has illustrated, will be rapidly- covered. .Just as soon as it is chilled and its vigor checked, it has the green fl}' or the mildew. Its power to withstand disease is largely a matter of condition. If the plant, is thriving, the insects are not so likely to attack it. Take the apple geranium for instance. We can grow that plant vigorously and in good health ; but if you place it on a high shelf where the temperature is too high, and where it does not get enough water, what will be the result ? In thirty-six hours it will be covered with red spider. "Why ? Because the plant has been checked and is enfeebled. We know that the insect germs are floating about, and are attracted to the weak point of the plant as the place at which their assault upon it can be made most effectively. This principle is well recognized in medical science. Physicians say that prevention is better than cure, and that it is only by keeping our bodies in a healthy, sound condition that we are best enabled to ward off the encroachments of disease. I contend, therefore, notwith- standing the position assumed by Mr. Hammond, that a healthy leaf is less liable to the attacks of insects than one that is unhealthy. A fair illustration of my meaning is furnished in the case of the Croton. Ta be grown to the best advantage this plant needs a temperature of eighty-five to ninety degrees. Those who have tried to grow it in a temperature of sixty degrees have found the Crotous acquire only a stunted growth, and are continually attacked by scale. Placed in a good soil, with a temperature of eighty-five or ninety, the plant grows vigor- ously. A number of growers of the plant, now present, will corroborate my statement. As to any of our palms you will recognize that to grow them successfully, you must study the temperature question. Kentias, for instance, do not need a high temperature such as is required by Areca lutescens, but thrive best in sixty degrees. If placed in a higher temperature, scale will attack them more quickly than under other conditions. Take the Areca sapida. This palm comes from a cold section of the world, and to grow it successfully we need to keep it, in the winter time, in a temperature of forty-five to fifty. There the scale does not attack it. Our Vice-President, Mr. Smith, will bear me out in that. He has grown the plant hot and cold. Of course there is room for insecticides. I do not want to be mis- understood. But the essayist has sought to give us the conditions of plant growth which will, to a large extent, free the plants from insects. I had not the pleasure of hearing the remarks of Mr. May, this evening in regard to eel worms, but I may say that I happened to be at his place when a microscopic examination was made, and we saw the eel worms working in the roots and destroying the plants. While con- sidering the matter, our attention was called to the Madame Pierre 38 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVEKTION, Guillot in one portion of the house, where there was a considerable number of pipes, and the temperature was warmer than in other portions. We noticed that in that unsuitable temperature those roses were more badly diseased than others located elsewhere in the house ; in fact, in the far end of the house, wliere a more suitable temperature was maintained, the insects had not attacked the roses at all. Mr. Saul has given us food for thought ; for all these things are worthy of our consideration, and I feel personally very thankful to him for his paper, [Applause.] Mr. Wm. Scott, of Buffalo, N. Y., remarked that the preying of insects upon vegetable growth was in accordance with natural laws. He coincided in the view expressed by Mr. Hammond, and urged as an effective means for promoting the health of plants, cleanliness in the benches and surroundings, with frequent fumigation. He added that he knew of no better antidote for parasites than sulphur and tobacco. Mr. .J. D, Carmody, of Evansville, Ind. : Mr. President, I think that if the two gentlemen, (Messrs. Craig and Hammond), will separate the two causes, and call one "disease of the plant," and the other " the preying of the insect upon the plant," they will come nearer the truth. I think disease is caused largely by a weakness of the plant. For instance, the opening of your ventilators when the temperature is too low, will break down the tissue of the plant, and open a place for fungus to start in and build itself up. I never saw a dog so healthy that he would not have tleas ; I never saw a boy so healthy that he would not catch the itch ; but I have seen healthy boys who did not take malaria when puny, sickly boys did take it. You can divide the cause, gentlemen, and call it "insects" on the one hand and "disease " on the other, and you will have the whole thing in a nutshell. Disease will attack weak plants ; insects will attack strong, healthy plants at certain times. (Here the discussion ended.) HOSPITALITIES. Secretary Stewart here read a communication from the Columbia Athletic Club, tendering to the members of the Society the use of the rooms, bowling alley, etc., of the association. On motion of Mr. J. D. Carmody, a vote of thanks was tendered to the Columbia Athletic Association for their hospitality. Adjourned. The remainder of the evening was occupied by a musicale, arranged for the entertainment of the members of the Society and their ladies, by the National Gardeners' Club, of Washington. Refreshments were also served during the evening. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 39 SECOND DAY — MORNING. President Dean announced as the first business of the day, the selection of a place of meeting in 1893. AT ST. LOUIS IN 1893. Mr. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia : I have been asked by the delegation from St. Louis to introduce Professor Trelease, who lias charge of the Shaw Garden in St. Louis. It gives me great pleasure to comply with the request because of the work done by that gentleman in which we are all interested. The Shaw Garden is a very interesting place to visit, and we are highly gratified to know that the means of providing facilities for educating young gardeners — a work so highly commended by our President — is in practical operation there. I under- stand that free scholarships for boys are offered there by way of teaching them how to take their coats off, and do the practical work of the farm and the greenhouse, while giving them the advantages acquired from garden magazines and personal instruction by the pro- fessor. That gentleman will now doubtless explain to you the attractions of St. Louis. Prof. Wm. Trelease, director of the Missouri Botanic Garden, here came forward on the platform, and on behalf of the St. Louis Florists' Club, extended to the Society a cordial invitation to hold the next convention in that city. He continued : — I take much pleasure in extending this invitation, realizing, as I do, that the first consideration in your mind, as it is in mine, is the success of the next convention. We are all interested in seeing the convention made a thorough success, and I believe that we can give you in St. Louis a most thoroughly successful session. In the second place, I am per- sonally very glad to invite you. We have in St. Louis many things we want to show you, and in one of these in particular, that to which Mr. Craig has alluded, I am much interested. I wish that I were privileged to say something about that because it is a special hobby of mine, but I will simply say now that we can show you in the Botanical Garden much that will be of interest to you. Professor Trelease then referred to the selection of the convention city next year as necessarily having marked relation to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and to the reasons for which Chicago was con- sidered ineligible. He detailed the advantages of St. Louis as a railroad centre, and readily accessible from all directions, while only eight or ten hours ride from Chicago. He suggested that, after having finished their business, the members could go to the Fair, and devote to it whatever time might be at their disposal. At St. Louis they would be afforded 40 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, facilities for travelling up and down the Mississippi, or reaching the Rock}' Mountains, or enjoying any of the numerous side excursions for which there would be abundant facilities. In the event of the cholera making its appearance in this country next summer, the delegates would have at St. Louis wholesome drinking water, good drainage and proper sanitary arrangements. The temperature there ranged about evenly with that of Washington, and while overcoats would not be needed in August any more than they were now needed in the Capitol City, the weather there would not be warmer than in Washington. He continued : — On thing that I wish to emphasize is, that in St. Louis we do not have extreme variations of temperature. It is the excessive heat of a day or two which kills people. Although we may have a temperature of from eighty to ninety degrees, or possibly two or three degrees above ninety, you will find that the atmosphere there is free from that extreme moisture which makes the atmosphere of many cities uncomfortable and deadly in pei'iods of high temperature. We have a dry climate as com- pared with that of cities on the seaboard and the great lakes ; and anybody who knows what sultry, dog-day weather is will appreciate the reasonable probability that the air will be comparatively dry. 1 think I can say for the Florists' Club of St. Louis, and for the citizens of that city, that if your convention is held in St. Louis, you will be well entertained there. I understand that it is the general sentiment of the Society that you meet for business, and not for the sake of having a protracted good time in eating and drinking ; and I do not pretend to say that we shall keep you at the table all the time. I do not under- stand that that is any inducement for you ; it certainly would repel many members if they were told that there was to be a round of enter- tainments which would dissipate their energies in the transaction of their business • but I can say that you will have no reason to complain in that respect. We have in St. Louis a very good system of parks, which we will be glad to show you ; and I think it is far better to offer to do that than it would be to promise to break the necks of so many bottles, or to turn you loose in so many large breweries, although possibly there may be large breweries in St. Louis. I have heard that there are. As the director of the Botanical Garden, and as a representative of the Florists' Club of St. Louis, 1 cordially welcome you to that city. [Applause.] Mr. C. B. Whitnall, of Milwaukee, Wis., invited the Society to hold its convention in that city, for reasons which he said he thought were of considerable importance. He continued : — The Society of American Florists has already taken considerable interest in the horticultural department of the World's Fair, both indi- vidually and collectively ; and although St. Louis has many attractions, SOCIETY OF AMERICAK FLORISTS. 41 of all of which we have heard, they will keep for another year, while the World's Fair will not. It has occurred to us that what little we were able to do for the Society of American Florists would be done in a more acceptable way next year than in any other year in which we could extend the invitation. We are but two hours from Chicago, and arrangements are beinor made all over our citv to accommodate visitors. I think that by meeting in ^lilwaukee, you will be able to enjoy three days of business sessions, and have all the advantages of easy access to the World's Fair. Milwaukee is not a railroad centre, but the train service between that city and Chicago is excellent, as is also communi- cation by water. Of course we have not the gardens and parks of which St. Louis can boast, and it is not our object to claim to do more than the best we can do for you, but we should like to have the opportu- nity of doing what we think would best promote your interests and your convenience. Mr. E. G. Hill, of Richmond, Ind., in support of the claim of St. Louis, said that he and "Uncle John" Thorpe had been delighted with that city ever since their first excursion there, but that that gentle- man, about a year ago, had been annexed to Chicago. As to the objec- tion that St. Louis was " away out West," he reminded his hearers that that city was simply the starting point from which to go West, and that the Mississippi River must be crossed before the territory called " the great West" could be reached. He spoke of the rapidity with which a traveller could reach St. Louis from Xew York ; the distance being covered between 2. .30 o'clock v. M. of one day and 5 o'clock P. M. of the following day. He said he had heard the claim made by a Chicago man that Milwaukee was a kind of a subui'h of Chicago. He preferred, however, that the convention should get far enough away from the influence of the World's Fair to be able to transact its business without having its attention diverted. He suggested that the members could go to the Fair after leaving St. Louis, and that after the good time they had enjoyed in the latter city, they would be more thoroughly equipped for appreciating Chicago. He thought that the visit to Milwaukee might be made a year or so later. He had nothing to say against that city or the florists there ; but he was prepared to say that he had a warm feeling for the St. Louis boys and the whole-souled people of that city. He had never had a more enjoyable time than when he attended a con- vention there several years ago, at which they actually made Treasurer Hunt, of the Society of American Florists — who is a florist — the presi- dent of the Xurserymen's Association. Concluding his remarks in a humorous vein, he urged, among other inducements for the convention to visit St. Louis, that he would endeavor to get the Mississippi River on the biggest rampage that had ever been seen there, and that he would guarantee that the visitors would have a grand time. He urged, 42 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVEKTION, by way of securing the valuable co-operation of the young ladies, that there were more young men in St. Louis than there were in Milwaukee, and that when they had gone there, the ladies would not be loath to concede that the wisest thing they ever did was to urge their brothers and friends to visit that city. Mr. Otto Schucht. of Sheboygan, Wis., in behalf of Milwaukee, mentioned as additional considerations that that city was known for its good music ; that there was always a fine breeze there, if only for a few hours, in the afternoon ; that it was thoroughly clean ; and that many handsome ladies resided there. Mr. J. C. Vaugiian, of Chicago : Mr. President, while I do not speak as an advocate of Milwaukee, preferring to remain in a neutral position, yet I cannot overlook her claims. At the same time I acknowledge the force of all that has been said in favor of St. Louis. I was present in St. Louis on the occasion to which Mr. Hill has referred, and I know what Southern hospitality is from what the people of St. Louis did on that occasion for us. I hardly feel, however, that we ought to impose too frequently upon the generous disposition of our St. Louis brethren. I have risen more particularly for the purpose of saying a word upon the point made by Mr. Whitnall in regard to the convenience of transportation between Chicago and Milwaukee. I am sure that the cool, pleasant ride on the large steamers we now have running between the two cities would be most enjoyable. If, from lack of numbers, Milwaukee should not excel her rival in point of hospitality, her efforts in that direction, I can assure you, will not be lacking in sincerity and energy. I am unable to appreciate the force of the objection suggested by Mr. Hill, that our members will run away from Milwaukee to attend the Fair. I certainly think that they will remain at our sessions until the adjournment. It goes without saying, that the rate to Chicago during the Fair will be vei-y low ; the distance to Milwaukee, ninety miles, being covered probably at the rate of one cent per mile ; while that city may be reached over three good lines of railway as well as by the pleasanter and cooler water route. Another consideration, and it is one that we cannot overlook, is the fact that our people do not wish to go to a Southern city at the usual time of our annual sessions. The session now in progress is largely attended, but I believe that many members have been deterred from being present because of the anticipated excessive heat in Washington in August. Then if we are to have the cholera in this countiy next year, there may be some florists who will not believe in drinking too much water. [Applause.] Mr. Wm. Scott, of Buffalo, JST. Y., advocated the selection of St. Louis. He said that the Society had never yet, according to his idea, SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 43 held its convention far enough West. He thought that the opportunity to be afforded next year, by the extraordinarily cheap rates to Chicago, should be availed of, and that the Society should go to that beautiful city of the West — St. Louis — which he thought was eminently deserv- ing of this recognition. He added that the ride from Chicago to St. Louis was a matter of only a few hours. On motion of Mr. G. L. Grant, of Chicago, the Convention proceeded to ballot. After some discussion upon the manner in which the ballot should be taken in order to prevent other than bona fide members from par- ticipating, the President was authorized, on motion of Mr. J. M. Jordan, to appoint as tellers to take the vote, four of the ex-presidents of the Society. Messrs. John Thorpe, Robert Craig, E. G. Hill, and J. X. May were appointed as the tellers. These gentlemen proceeded along the aisles, and collected the ballots deposited in their custody ; these being received only from actual members wearing the badge of the Society. Subsequently, the tellers counted the ballots at the table on the platform, when the result of the vote was announced by Secretary Stewart, as follows : — For Milwaukee, Wis., one hundred and forty-seven votes. For St. Louis, Mo., one hundred and eighty-six votes. The announcement by the chair that the Society would meet in St. Louis in 1893 was greeted with rounds of cheers. miscellaneous business. Secretary Stewart presented and read a communication from Mr. Horace E. Smith, chief clerk of the weather bureau. Department of Agriculture, extending a cordial invitation to the members to inspect the points of interest at the weather bureau, including the forecast room. On motion of Mr. C. W. Hoitt, the invitation was accepted with thanks. Mr. G. L. Grant, of Chicago, announced that a meeting of the Committee on Express Rates would be held at the Ebbitt House, at noon tomorrow, for the purpose of formulating some plan of action to secure a reduction of express rates on plants and cut flowers. Mr. J. M. Jordan gave notice of a meeting of the Hail Association, to be held in Convention Hall this afternoon. 44 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, POSTAGE ON CATALOGUES. Mr. J. Horace McFarland, of Harrisburg, Pa., (having obtained leave for the purpose) said : Ladies and gentlemen, all of you who handle catalogues or price lists for the general trade are aware that you must mail them, and that, in mailing, you are compelled to make use of postage stamps. If you are sending out a thousand catalogues, you must put upon them a thousand or more stamps. This is not labor of a character that is very enjoyable, and therefore any proposition to simplify it or diminish the expense and bother of it will doubtless commend itself to you at once. A movement in this direction has been undertaken. It assumed tangible form at the last meeting of the American Association of Nurserymen, held in Atlanta, Ga., in June, when it was recommended that a memorial be presented to Congress, through the Postmaster General, asking for a pound rate on catalogues and like mail matter. The newspapers now enjoy a pound rate, and consequently their issues are mailed in bulk, without stamps. They pay at a rate of but one cent per pound, and are thus afforded a very low rate of postage in the dissemination of their issues ; the cost per single newspaper, under the payment in bulk, being but a fraction of a cent. The proposition, as far as outlined, is that this system shall be extended to include the interests which we represent. This will not necessarily involve a reduction of postage nor do I wish to be understood as suggesting any reduction. It need not cause any diminution of the revenues of the Government, even at the present rate of eight cents per pound, as any loss caused by pay- ment in bulk instead of at a two-ounce limit would be more than compensated in the saving which will be effected to the post office department in the time and labor now required in the cancellation of the stamps so uselessly atBxed to large quantities of catalogues, as well as in the printing and storing of countless thousands of stamps. Moreover, the delay incident to the labor of cancellation would be avoided by the handling in bulk, and more prompt despatch secured. The change would simply be a means of facilitating the transaction of our business. If you are required to mail a catalogue weighing two ounces and two grains, you must pay for four ounces — a manifest unfairness. And, further, the postage limitation practically reduces the weight and inter- feres with the good appearance and effect of your catalogues ; and this is a tender point with me. I move, Mr. President, that a committee of three be appointed by the Society of American Florists, whose duty it shall be to memorialize the Postmaster General on this subject, requesting him to submit to Congress a draft of a law for a pound rate on catalogues and like matter. [Applause.] Mr. J. D. Carmody, of Evansville, Ind., seconded the motion. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 45 The President invited further discussion, but no response was made. The motion of Mr. McFarland was then adopted ; the Chair announcing that he heard no objection to it, and that therefore it would stand as a unanimous expression of the sense of the Society. Subsequently (at the session of Thursday morning) the committee constituted in pursuance of the motion was announced by the Chair, as follows : Messrs. J. 11. McFarland, of Pennsylvania ; J. C. Vaughan, of Illinois ; and P. O'Mara, of New Jersey. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS. The President announced, as the next business in order, nomina- tions for President of the Society for the ensuing year. Mr. Eugene H. Michel, of St. Louis, Mo. : I nominate Mr. Wm. E. Smith, of Washington, D. C, the present Vice-President. [Applause.] Mr. J. T. Anthony, of Chicago, 111. : I move that the nominations close. There are peculiar reasons at this time why we should select as our President a resident of the city of Washington. There is pending before Congress a bill to grant a charter to this Society, and the proba- bility of its passage is very favorable. When we are chartered, the city of Washington will be our home ; and it is appropriate that, when that charter goes into effect (which I hope will be within the current year) our Society should have a President at Washington. I therefore, second the nomination of Mr. Smith, and move that the nominations close. [Applause.] The motion of Mr. Anthony was adopted without objection. Nominations for Vice-President being in order, Mr. Wm. Scott, of Buffalo, N. Y., said : Following a precedent which has been recognized for several years of selecting the Vice-President from the city in which the convention is to be held, I take pleasure in nominating for Vice- President, Prof. Wm. Trelease, of St. Louis. Mr. 1. Forsterman, of Newtown, N. Y., seconded the nomination. No other name being presented, the Chair declared the nominations closed. Nominations for Secretary being in order, Mr. Edwin Lonsdale, of Philadelphia, nominated Wm. J. Stewart, of Boston, Mass. Mr. W. K. Harris, of Philadelphia, seconded the nomination. No other name being presented, the nominations, on motion of Mr. C. W. Hoitt, of Nashua, N. H., were declared closed. 46 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Nominations for Treasurer being in order, Mr. J. T. Anthony, of Chicago, 111,, nominated Mykon A. Hunt, of Terre Haute, Ind, No other name being presented, the nominations, on motion of Mr. J. N. May and Mr. John Westcott, were declared closed. THE propagation OF ROSES. The Convention listened to the reading of an interesting essay on "The Propagation of Roses,-' by Mr. Paul Pierson, of Scarborough, N. Y., which was generously applauded. The essay was as follows : — Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, — Many proverbs are the embodiment of truth, some of falsehood. As the " twig is bent the tree 's inclined " belongs to the former category. This afternoon I am to tell you what little I know of correctly bending twigs as applied to rose growing, fori am to speak of " The Propagation of the Rose." As in man and the inferior animals, it is essential that the youthful environ- ment should be such as to encourage healthful growth and correct tendencies, so in the propagation of the rose, it is of the utmost importance that constant attention and care be given to every detail that will aid the perfect development of our rose plant that is to be. Roses can be successfully propagated at any time of the year, though experience has taught us that better plants can be produced from wood taken during the late winter and early spring than at other seasons. At that time the plants are in their most vigorous condition having responded to the longer days and increased sunlight by producing wood that is firm, strong and healthy ; fortunately this is also the season at which we are forced to do most of our propagating for the coming season's stock, in order to have plants in proper condition at planting time, so that in this case necessity and advantage go hand in hand. Earlier, the wood is apt to be soft and sappy, later the plants have become weakened through excessive heat and continued cutting. In selecting wood from which cuttings are to be made, careful attention should be paid to the selection of only healthy and vigorous shoots. Wood that is mildewed to any extent rarely does well, as the diseased foliage is in a debilitated condition and unfitted to endure the ordeal of the unnatural conditions to which it is to be subjected for the month of its transformation from a fresh cutting into a healthy rooted one ready for its first pot. During this period when devoid of root the cutting is dependent on the healthy condition and vitality of the wood from which it is made, hence the necessity of care in its selection. Foliage infested with red spider should be avoided, as from the position in which the cuttings are placed in the bench with the foliage close to the sand, it is impossible to syringe the underside of the leaf where this • SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 47 pest is wont to lurk, and as a result it multiplies so ra,pidly that by the time the cutting should be rooted, we find it eaten up, or so sapped of vitality as to be worthless. A cutting should never be made of wood whose foliage is black spotted, for every leaf so infected, whether tlie spots be large, small, many or few, is certain to sicken, die, and finally drop on the sand of the bench, there (if not removed at once) to breed the dreaded cutting bench fungus, and thus not only does your infected cutting die itself, but spreads disease among its healthy neighbors. If the cutting be made of wood too hard or over ripe, the tissues will have become contracted and the power to absorb water from the sand much reduced, resulting in the foliage quickly turning yellow and dropping, or if it roots at all, it will be observed that the callous forms very slowh', and the roots that finally develop do so after a much longer period than would be necessary with a proper cutting, and will be slender and lacking in strength, resulting necessarily in a plant wiry and without the vigor so essential to the best results ; again, if wood be taken too soft, the young and tender foliage will evaporate moisture faster than it can be supplied, and the result will be a quickly wilted and ruined cutting. Wood that is half ripe experience has proven best suited to root quickly and strongly, and hence produce a vigorous plant ; a condition that is hard to describe to a novice, but which is easUy known at a glance, by the experienced. A good idea may be conveyed b)' saying that the condition of wood found on shoots whose buds are beginning to show color is the ideal, and in the best possible stage of maturity ; but in my opinion it is not necessary that the shoot from which cuttings are made should terminate in a bud. It will be observed that I have insisted on the selection of perfectly healthy wood, and wood in the proper condition respecting maturity ; but I am inclined to differ from the authorities regarding the importance attached to the selection of blooming wood for propagation. M3' objections to this practice are two- fold ; first, it is very expensive. The time when most of us do our pro- pagating is during the first three months of the year, Januar}^, February and March ; we may do some earlier, some later, but much the greater amount of it is done in these months when the price of the flower is highest. Let us look at the subject from the standpoint of first cost of the cuttings for a moment, and we shall realize what a great, and I believe needless expense is liere incurred. Flowering canes of the class of Mermet, Bri^e, Cusin, La France, etc., when cut back so as to leave at least two eyes on the plant, contain as a rule no mftre than six to eight joints ; adopting the old rule of making the cutting at an eye, requires at least two eyes to each cutting, very often an eye or two will be wasted in making, so that each shoot taken will on an average make no more than three cuttings. The price of cut roses will, of course, vary with the locality, but adopting the ruling price in New York for last season, we find that the 48 TROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, average price for this class of roses of good quality for January and February was about ten cents ; for March somewhat less, but would average for the three mouths about nine cents. Thus if only blooming wood be taken, and each cutting made at an eye, every cutting as it enters the propagating bed represents a cost of three cents ; but there is always an unavoidable loss occurring during the process of rooting and growth, through damping olf in the cutting bed, and while becoming established after potting, and a certain proportion that are weak and unfit for planting when that time arrives ; so that to produce a thousand plants that will be in proper condition for planting, it will be necessarj^ to take at least one-third more cuttings than the actual number of plants needed. This will raise the cost of the wood alone, from which the cuttings are made to grow a thousand good plants, to the snug little sum of forty dollars. To plant our rose houses at Scarborough requires something over twent}' thousand plants, to produce which, in accordance with the two-eyed blooming wood theory, would represent a sacrifice of eight hundred dollars worth of buds, an expense, which if necessary, would certainly be a severe tax. If it be proven this great expense insures stronger or better plants, and therefore a product correspond- ingly greater, or of higher quality than could be produced from other plants, then we must admit its wisdom ; but on the other hand, if it be possible to demonstrate that this enormous drain on the product of our toil not only does not produce better results, but that it is a matter of grave doubt, if the advantage does not lie with the product of other wood, then there is but one conclusion, that many of us are yearly, needlessly and foolishly sacrificing thousands of dollai's. I contend that cuttings made from blind wood not only produce plants fully as good in every way, but if there be any difference, better plants than usually grown from blooming wood. I do not mean by blind wood all the light, twiggy, wiry stuff that comes, but on almost every variety a certain amount of wood comes blind, and yet short jointed and firm, (there are some exceptions to this rule, Wooton being one variety that rarely produces a blind shoot, but it is true of most varieties), and where such wood can be obtained and taken when in proper condition, I believe it produces the very best possible plants. This wood should be torn from the plant, and the knife used as little as possible ; the cutting rooting much better when it is torn than when cut. My reasons for holding this class of cutting to be the best that can possibly be taken are several. First. Such cuttings root much more quickly, three weeks being suflScient. Second. The roots are both stronger and more numerous than can be obtained from other wood. I have frequentl}^, on digging such cuttings from the propagating bed, counted from ten to fifteen strong, healthy rootlets started from the heel, and as abundant healthy roots are such important factors in the growth of a strong plant, the value of this point will be readily admitted. Third, This wood is SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 49 short jointed, and full of dormant eyes at the base, giving promise of abundant bottom shoots as the plants develop. To satisfy myself on this point, every plant that was planted on our place last summer had its pedigree with it, that is to say, a record of the class of wood from which it was made, whether blind, single-eyed, or selected two-eyed cuttings made from blooming wood, and the date the cutting was made, potted, shifted and planted. At the expense of a great deal of care we had these records follow every batch of cuttings from the time they were made until they were finally planted, when each lot was carefully labeled. This applied to every variety and to every plant on the place, so that we knew the complete history of every plant in the establish- ment. In planting we were very careful to allow no advantage to any class of plants, to avoid which we planted in bands across the benches. First, a certain number of rows of plants from single-eyed cuttings, then a number of rows grown from selected wood, double-eyed cuttings, and then those grown from blind cuttings ; and repeating these changes in the class of plants until we had a series of such bands planted across each house. It is needless to say we watched the results of this experiment with great interest ; and I wish here to confess that I fully expected to prove the great superiority of blooming wood as material from which cuttings should be made : but the plants grew and there were no startling differences developed, unless it be startling to say that in a few instances the selected wood showed signs of weakness, but as a rule with most varieties, there was absolutely no difference, either in the rapidity of growth, strength of wood, quality or quantity of flowers, general health, or in any other respect so far as I could see, and a number of gentlemen high in the fraternity, whose attention was called to the experiment, confessed to the same fact. From what I have said above, I do not wish to convey the idea that a double-eyed cutting made at a sacrifice of a bud will not produce a good plant, but I firmly believe that a blind cutting will produce fully as good a plant, at a saving in the aggregate of many a hard earned dollar, will root quicker, and with far less percentage of loss than the other. In taking the cuttings care should be used to prevent the foliage from wilting. Our practice is to line a basket or box to contain them with wet burlap, and to frequently sprinkle the cuttings until they are safe in the sand of the bench. In making, the knife used should be keen, and the cutting severed by a quick, sharp stroke. The wood should not be held against the thumb, but free to avoid even the slight bruise that is unavoidable if pressure be brought against the knife. All very soft foliage should be cut away, and the old foliage trimmed back ; this will prevent too rapid evaporation, and also enables us to place more cuttings in the bench without overcrowding. Our custom is to stick the cuttings about an inch apart in rows, and the rows about two inches apart ; of course this is subject to variation as the cuttings may 50 TROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVEKTION, be heavy or light. As soon as stuck every few lines should be soaked, so that the bed be thoroughly settled, and all crevices run together. Watering a propagating bed is largely a matter of judgment. After the first drenching the bed will probably require little water for a day or two, for if properly done at first they will be wet enough ; but the foliage should be sprinkled daily, and if the atmosphere is hot, dry, or if windy, should be kept constantly moist. During the first week in the. bench they should be kept rather wet, and constant care employed to prevent wilting; and a damp atmosphere maintained, though not a close one. After the first week, less water should be applied, though the condition of the sand should never be allowed to approach dryness. We use an ii-on frame bench with slate bottom, on which we place about two inches of ordinary sharp bank sand, well firmed down and perfectly smooth ; and believe it pays us to remove all sand after once using, and replace with fresh for each successive batch of cuttings. A regular bottom heat, day and night, of not over sixty-five degrees, and a top heat of fifty to fift3'-five degrees, with a free circulation of air will supply the right conditions of temperature. Shading is of great importance, as too much sun will bring ruin to a freshly stuck cutting, though a little night and morning, is I believe, beneficial, and as the cutting becomes harder more sunlight can be allowed. It must also be borne in mind that a draught of air is fully as injurious as sunlight ; on windy days the beds must be protected or damage will result. I do not believe in shading the glass as often done, for the reason that such shade cannot be removed at will, and of necessity must remain both on cloudy days and at night, when all the light possible is desirable. Paper or other material spread directly on the cuttings is both untidy and a great deal of labor, but worse than either it prevents the free circulation of air over the bed, maintaining a close, warm atmosphere about the foliage that supplies the best possible condition for the spread of fungus. The most perfect arrangement for shading, so far as I have seen, consists of light frames made of furring strips, six feet long and the width of the bench. On these frames is tacked the lightest grade of muslin, tightly drawn and fastened around the edges with lath strips. This material allows sufficient light to penetrate, but shades from direct sunlight. At intervals of about a foot, lath are tacked across the under side to prevent the muslin from sagging. This makes a very light, durable and porta- ble shade that can be used anywhere, as it fits both propagating bed, green- house benches or hot bed sashes. We have used them constantly for a year, and to all appearances they are as good as new. They cost but a trifle, and with us have become a necessity. It may prove of interest to some here present to listen to a few words regarding summer propagation. As the days grow hotter in the late spring, and it is no longer necessary to maintain fire for the green- house, and undesirable to keep a special fire for the propagating bed, the SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 51 conditions in the greenhouse become unfavorable for successful propaga- tion, for we now have a cool bottom temperature and a hot top, the reverse of what is needed. At this season and all through the summer, the very best results can be had by rooting the cuttings in hotbeds. The wood for this purpose should be grown under glass, and made the same as for indoor propagation ; the hotbed may be made very cheaply by building upon top of the ground, and common hemlock boards can be used for sides. Beds thus made will retain their heat for a long time at this season. Make the bed the same as usual, and cover with from two to three inches of clean sand. When the heat of the bed has subsided to from seventy to seventy-five degrees the cuttings may be stuck ; keep them thoroughly wet and covered with sash night and day, allow- ing plenty of air during the day and enough at night to prevent sweating. Keep shaded from direct sunlight, but not too dark. If careful there should be very little more loss than would occur indoors. This method will prove of great advantage to firms having a large trade in plants for bedding purposes. Stocks can be worked up during the summer when business is dull and work not so pressing, and carried over in cold storage to be sold the following spring. Stock thus grown will prove profitable alike to grower and purchaser, for it will both sell well, and grow well. Before closing, allow me a word in regard to potting. When the cuttings have formed roots from one-fourth to one-half inches long, which will be in from three to four weeks if the wood and the conditions have been proper, they will be ready for potting. I do not believe in potting when the roots are shorter than this, for the reason that many other roots are just about to start, and they are not sufficiently strong to take quick hold of the earth, and thus insure rapid growth. On the Other hand, if allowed to remain in the bench a day or two too long, the roots become long and wiry, making it much more difficult to pot them, and they lose something of their ability for quick work which is essen- tial. It is just here at the potting stage that man}' an otherwise perfect batch of cuttinors is lost or made worthless, the novice thinking that now they are so nicely rqoted all danger is past, when the fact is, I believe that fully as many cuttings are lost after potting as when in the bench, and it is almost always through carelessness in regard to some little detail during the first few days. The cuttings should be carefully dug (not pulled) from the sand, and care taken to avoid breaking the roots, which if healthy are very brittle, the least touch snapping them. Great damage is often done by digging up a large number of cuttings at once, and allowing the roots to become dry before they can be potted. Only enough cuttings should be dug at a time to last the potter not over ten or fifteen minutes at the longest, and these should be in a box lined with wet burlap or some similar material, and every care taken to prevent wilting of either foliage or roots. The soil used for potting should be 52 TROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, the best that can be obtained, the same that is used for planting, and for this first potting should be sifted. If very heavy add a little sand, and see that the soil is neither excessively wet or dry. In the former case it will pack like a brick, and in the latter will absorb the moisture from the roots ; in both cases retarding rapid potting very much. Do not make the too frequent mistake of potting too firmly. The old idea that a rose requires a soil packed as hard as possible is all wrong. Two quick pressures with the thumbs is all that is necessaiy, and a good ordinary potter, if the cuttings are dug for him, and the plants set, should pot from three hundred to four hundred an hour. As soon as potted, they should be set, thoroughly watered, and if the sun be shining, shaded. After this first thorough watering keep moist, but not wet until rooted through. Prequent moistening of the foliage will be a great benefit. Do not shade the plants too long after potting ; for a day or two they should be shaded from direct sunlight, after which it should be allowed to shine on them morning and evening, gradually increasing the amount until after a week none will be needed, and the roots will be showing through, growth commenced, and "The Propagation of the Rose'' completed. The President stated that the able paper just read by its author was now submitted for discussion. Mr. J. L. Dillon, of Bloomsburg, Pa., responded : Mr. Presi- dent, the essayist, Mr. Pierson, has gone over the subject of the " Propagation of Roses " very thoroughly, and to my mind, satisfactorily ; but I cannot agree with him as to the use of blind shoots for propa- gating. For several years I have been using the blind shoots of Bride and Mermet, for the simple reason that we received a high price fov those roses ; but I am positive that the result has proved detrimental, as the plants grown from them have a tendency in the dull days to make a wiry, slim growth without buds. I will say here, that from this time forward, I shall use nothing but blooming shoots no matter what the loss may be. As to the use of two-eyed cuttings, I wish to say that there is more substance and vitality in a two-eyed cutting than there is in a single- ej'ed cutting ; and therefore thej' will more readily start, and will make a larger and stronger plant in less time. I am positive that if there is any benefit from either, the question should certainly be decided in favor of two-eyed cuttings. Another matter to which I would call special attention is the potting of roses from the cutting beds. Nearly all florists use manure in their first potting from the cutting bench. I think the use of manure in the first potting is injurious. We take a good, loamy soil of decomposed sods, or from an old fence row, and consider this far preferable to that SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 53 in which manure has been used. The rose requires very little sub- stance to start on. As soon as well started in two or two and one- quarter inch pots, we re-pot them in three inch pots, and use for fertilizer about one-twentieth or one-thirtieth of bone dust. The selection of the wood for cuttings is another thing that requires a great deal of attention. I have gone into large establishments and found thousands of cuttings, every one of which had turned black. The cause was easily accounted for. If you went through those establishments you would find the soil on the benches saturated with manure — with two, even three inches of fresh cow manure upon them. This makes a watery growth, and you will never grow good roses from such wood. In our growing of roses we use very little manure, but fertilize with bone dust and nitrate of soda principally, keeping the soil well cultivated all through the winter. Nitrate of soda, if used largely, has a tendency to cause the buds to grow on the cuttings in the cutting bench before the roots, and should therefore be carefully used. Mr. Myron A. Hunt, of Terre Haute, Ind. : Mr. President, the thorough manner in which this subject has been handled by the gentle- man who prepared the essay, would seem to make it unnecessary that anything should be added to what he has set forth. Those to whom I am well known here may feel surprised at any effort on my part to expatiate on the propagation of roses, for they well know that my knowledge of the business comes more largely from observation than actual experience. I have noticed, however, two or three points in the essay which have come under my observation, and as to which I may venture to offer some suggestions. First. In relation to two-eyed cuttings, of which the gentleman who has preceded me has spoken, I have to sa}^ that I do not think there is any special advantage as between the two-eyed and the one-eyed cutting, unless it is in the rapidity with which a plant can be prepared for market. If the wood is in proper condition, and is taken from blooming wood, I think a one-eyed cutting is as good as the other kind. In relation to heel cuttings or blind wood cuttings, whatever may be the experience of other gentlemen, my preference is for bloommg wood. In the case of the propagation of the Perle, I think serious objections can be raised to the use of heel cuttings, from the fact that in that rose, w^e wish to avoid the growing of suckers from the roots ; and heel cuttings being full of eyes, suckers always occur. With respect to temperature in house propagation, my observation is that in my own establishment, the highest degree of success has been attained with a temperature ten degrees higher than that which has been mentioned by the essayist. Concerning potting, I wish to emphasize the remarks of the last speaker. I think we make more failures in the first potting by having 54 PROCEEDINGS or EIGHTH CONVENTION, our soil too strong. I know that I have failed in successful potting many times_^when that matter has not been carefully watched, and the soil has been prepared by those not experienced in the work, who have made it too rich. For this use (the first potting of roses from sand) I believe that soil should be used without the addition of any fertilizing matter, other than such as may have been applied to the sod six months or a year before cutting and piling for this special use. Mr. A. WiNTZER, of West Grove, Pa. : Mr. President, having been a rose grower for about thirty j'ears, I beg to say that my experi- ence has been that it does not matter much whether a cutting is grown from a one-eye or a two-eye. I believe that the vitality and healthful- ness of the young plants depend altogether upon the constitution of the stock plants from which they are cut. I have found that in order to get the best results, roses for propagating purposes should be specially grown. The best results are obtained by growing the plants in the most natural manner without any stimulating fertilizers. This secures a hardy and vigorous stock. We propagate roses at any time from September to June, giving our cuttings in the house a temperature of about sixty degrees, more or less. In about three or four weeks, with proper handling, they are ready for potting. I think it very important that they should be carefully handled for the first few days after they are potted. After that they will bear the same general treatment as any other young stock. The details of propagating have been so ably treated by Mr. Pierson that it is not necessary for me to say more. Mr. Joseph Heacock, of Wyncote, Pa. : I move that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. Paul Pierson for his very able and instructive paper. Adopted without objection. The discussion here ended. THE EUROPEAN BULB MARKET AND THE AMERICAN BUYER. The Convention next listened to an essay on " The European Bulb Market apd the American Buyer," prepared by Mr. John Reck, of Bridgeport, Conn., which was read by the essayist, and greeted with much applause. It was as follows : — Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, — While I do not expect to be able to tell you something entirely new, I do believe that when a body of business men like this which is assembled here today, review a com- bination of existing circumstances which is detrimental to their interest, certainly some good must be derived from such action. The subject under discussion is " The European Bulb Market and the American Buyer." Brothers of the horticultural art, I presume SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. OO that there is not one among you who has not at one time or another felt dissatisfied with the margin derived from his investment in bulbs. This includes the importer, the grower, the commission dealer, and even that king of all kings — the retail florist — who can all be heard to declare, season after season, that there is no money in bulbs. Now there must be a reason somewhere. Let us look for it. Different men will give different reasons. One reason very often heard is unsatisfactory results in forcing. This very largely depends on the forcer, and cannot be brought into consideration. Another reason given is an overstock in the market. This seems to be a more likely subject to consider. • The reports of prices printed in horticultural papers are very unreliable, as the price of flowers, as well as of any other perishable product, is subject to great fluctuation, and an over-production of such perishable goods proves very detrimental to the general interest. We may now question, is there an over-production, if so what causes the same, and how can it be prevented ? All these preliminaries may seem to be a great deal removed from the subject at issue, but we shall get closer to them immediately. Years ago, when the prices of bulbs Avas much lower, their blooms sold at considerably higher prices then they do now. The grower and the retail dealer then derived a fair compensation from an investment in that class of goods. Such as hyacinths, narcissuses, and especially tulips could then be purchased in Europe for less than one-half of the present prices. A few of our wide-awake horticultural merchants at that time took advantage of the steadily increasing demand on this side. They went straight to the spot where the stuff was grown, purchased in Europe at low figures, and sold at high prices to the American grower. A large margin was derived by those gentlemen, but as the bulb forcing was carried on on a limited scale, the result to the American grower was always satisfactory. The high margin derived on importation of bulbs attracted others, and soon the increasing number of American buyers attracted attention in the European market. As a result, the most enterprising firms sent agents direct to this country. They did not come with their European price-list, but they studied and felt the market. Finding what high prices could be had and were received by the American importer, they returned home and reported to have found the new Canaan. Their next move was to raise their prices to the American scale, send agents to this country, circumvent the importer, and sell direct to the grower. This forced the most energetic bulb merchants on this side to take a different course. They must prove to the European grower that it is to his interest to sell to them, instead of running the risk and selling through their own agents direct to the American grower. How was this to be done ? 56 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Contracts for large purchases were made iu advance. Scarcity of bulbs in the European market was broadly announced, and given as a reason for the rise in prices. " Buy now or go without" was the war- cry. This continual cry of scarcity coaxed the 'American grower to make large purchases, for each one expected by buying great quantities to increase his profits largely. The bulb fever had started and the demand steadily increased. Now there always has been, since the discovery of gold in this country, an opinion among Europeans that money is a great deal more plentiful here than the average American tlorist finds it to be. Imbued with that idea our European brethren took full advantage of the situation. Combinations were formed to still more increase the prices. Year after year hundreds of additional acres of land were put under cultiva- tion, and although the produce became thereby a great deal larger, the high prices were maintained in the Netherlands and in Germany, while iu France, by reason of the collapse of combinations, the prices fell con- siderably. A year ago while in Europe, I found it to be the general opinion of growers that the large and steadily increasing demand from America had not only caused the steady increase in price, but also a decrease in quality of the product. This decrease in quality is easily explained. As mentioned before, 3'ear after yenv hundreds of additional acres are employed in the bulb production. These additional acres are mostly cultivated by irresponsi- ble parties, and all of these grow under contract for larger firms. In this way a large quantity of inferior stuff gets into the market, protected by the names of established houses, and America has got to be the dumping ground for the largest part of this inferior stuff. This contract growing system also explains why Narcissus Von 8ion are so often mixed with a liberal sprinkling of Incomparable or Poeticus, or how your Berlin Valley pips, supposed to be grown in the light soil of the Mark Braudenburgh, have been grown in Mecklinburgh, or in Friesland on heavy soil. This is about the present situation of the European market. Now let us spend a few minutes with the American buyer. The forcing of the European market by such large purchases as have been made these last few years from this country, has not benefited the American florist as much as it has the European grower and the importer. Our flower markets these last few years were so plentifully supplied with bulbous flowers that very often they were sold at the cost price of the bulb and sometimes for less, at the loss of the American buyer. The now prevailing idea that it is necessary to buy large quantities in order to make bulb forcing pay, has I believe, in most cases not proved a success. A few of the largest wholesale growers have a slight advantage. By reason of careful study they bring an even supply SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 57 in the market, and so catch the better as well as the poor prices, which may give them a small margin on bulb forcing. But the margin is certainly lost again by the effect on the price of other flowers which a large supply of bulbous stuff always brings about. It is much different with the smaller growers which are naturally in the majority. They also think it is necessary to buy large quantities, but not having the advantages of their larger brothers, invariably lose money. Reduce your purchase of forcing varieties. Down will come the prices of such bulbs. Your flower markets will not be over-stocked with the produce, and better prices will be received throughout. To accomplish this, united action is necessary, and there is no reason why such movements should not be successful in horticulture, and why the Society of American Florists now grown sufllciently strong and far reaching, should not follow in the footsteps of so many other trades associations by adopting measures which will benefit the majority. Let every member of this Society who handles bulbs, open a bulb account on his ledger. Let him charge on one page not only the cost of bulbs, but also the cost of boxes, pans or pots, or as the case may be, all labor and other expenses occurring from the day of arrival of bulbs until the flowers are shipped and sold and the money jingles in his pocket. On the opposite page let him enter his receipts, and at the end of the season, say the end of June, let him send a copy of the result to the American Florist. Let them post up the sums of all reports received, and publish the result. In this way every one of us will get to know facts, and the experience and learning of one will be the benefit of all. Another point in view. Don't buy without a guarantee. The best guarantee is not to pay for your bulbs until their bloom has convinced you of their being what you bought. European houses will agree to this, and the American bulb merchant will when he has to. Margins taken by horticultural merchants are sometimes larger than the remun- eration received by the grower. For instance, I found last year that the florist consumers of the middle and south of Germany, Austria and Russia, paid two hundred dollars per one thousand for Liliuni Harrisii such as are sold here at twenty-five dollars per one thousand. Considering the price of labor in Europe, forcing varieties of bulbs grown there should cost much less. Good workmen employed in the cultivation of bulbs receive a wage of fifty cents per day. It is plainly visible that a reduced demand for forcing bulbs from the American con- sumer would bring down the prices of bulbs in Europe to where they should be, and that a smaller supply of bulbous stuff in the flower markets of this country would gain a more reasonable margin for the American florists. Both these objects can be gained by a united action of the- American growers. Discussion was invited. 58 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Mr. Wm. Scott, of Buffalo, responded : The paper to which we have listened is a very practical one, and as I am one of those whom the essayist would call " medium growers," I would like to say that I think he hits the nail on the mark when he says " order small." I would like to excuse the Dutchmen, of whom he has spoken, for slightly putting up the price on the tulips, because the demand became suddenly so enormous. Fifteen years ago, two thousand tulips would supply the city of Washington, and now possibly one million are grown and sold in this city. A few years ago we began to discover that the tulip would be a profitable flower to sell as a cut flower. The tulip craze soon spread over the country. I do not suppose that five years ago there were five hundred tulips grown in the city of Buffalo. Last year I grew about sixty thousand. Eight years ago we easily got one dollar a dozen for them. The Dutchmen never increased their price on the hyacinth, but sell them today for the same that they sold them for fifteen years ago. because there has been no specially great demand for the hyacinth. Now, my advice to you all is to deal with the people who live in America, and let them do the importing, for they know how to handle the foreigners better than we do. 3' Mr. Edwin A. Seidewitz, of Annapolis, Md. : Mr. President, I desire to say a word in regard to the Lily of the Valley grown in Ger- many. I think that the statement of Mr. Reck, that the Lily of the Valley is grown and sold there for eight marks per thousand, is incorrect. I visited Germany, and having had an experience of three years there, I know well that none are sold at a lower figure than twenty-four marks per thousand. On many nights I have been in an open shed there selecting the two-year pips. The gentlemen under whom I served at Leipsic and Hamburg, proved to me that they were not making any profit by selling the Lily of the Valley at twenty-four marks per thousand. The only reason why Germany can produce that plant at such a figure is, that the rate paid for labor there is so frightfully low. A German gardener receives fifteen marks (S3. 75) per month without board, and perhaps is given a barn as a place to sleep in. I do not think we should try to put the German down as a bad fellow and one who is trying to suck the life blood out of us Americans. This is why I protest against the remarks of Mr. Reck on this point. I esteem the integrity of the German above all things, and am proud of that people because there is German blood in me. [Applause.] Mr. S. V. Smith, of Baltimore, Md., remarked that he did not think the author of the essay would attempt to sell bulbs upon the prin- ciple which he advocated in regard to buying them. He thought it doubtful whether they could be bought in Europe upon the understand- ing that they would be paid for according to results. The discussion here closed. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 59 REPORT OF NOMENCLATURE COMMITTEE. Mr. J. N". May, of Summit, N. .J., here presented and read the following report of the Nomenclature Committee : — Washington, D. C, Aug. 15, 1892. The Committee on IN'omenclatui'e met this evening, there being present Messrs. Craig, May, Lonsdale, Dawson, Forsterman, Saul and Smith, and effected organization by the election of Mr. Craig, temporary chairman. On motion of Mr. Lonsdale, Mr. E. A. Wood was added to the committee, and that gentleman was elected Secretary. A letter from Mr. Herr was presented, protesting against the use of the names "Edwin Lonsdale" and " W. F. Dreer," applied to carna- tions by Mr. Haettle. The names having been previously registered upon the records of the American Carnation Society by Mr. Herr, it was moved that Mr. Haettle be notified that his use of the names could not be allowed. The attention of the committee was drawn to the fact that the carnation Caesar had been placed upon the market under the name of Zebra, and it was moved that Mr. Wm. H. Maule be requested to withdraw the name Zebra, Cresar being the correct name of that variety. It is the opinion of the committee that the carnation. Lady Emma, as grown around New York, is but a selected strain of Portia. The chrysanthemum exhibited last fall in New York and Phila- delphia, under the names of Marguerite Graham and Marguerite, was a variety grown by Mr. Henry Standen, and named by him Ruth. The committee would recommend that no prizes or certificates, or anv recognition whatever be (jiven to seedlings exhibited without names. This rule to be applied to " Florists' " flowers only. The committee wishes to note the fact that the hydrangea known commercially as Otaksa, is but an enlarged variety of Hydrangea hortensis, and is not the true Otaksa of botany. The chrysanthemum, "Annie May," awarded a certificate of merit at Philadelphia in 1890, has been disseminated under the name of " Ella May." The sub-committee on roses report that no re-naming of roses has been noted or reported, and that the work done by this committee ha& borne good fruit. The sub-committee on orchids and bulbs reported that no case of re-naming has been noted or reported. The committee desires to state that a list of synonyms of shrubs will be published in the Annual Report of the Society. Elijah A. Wood, Secretary. On motion of Mr. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia, the report was received. Adjourned until evening. €0 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, SECOND DAY — EVENING. HINTS ON HYBRIDIZING AND IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS. The session was opened with an essay entitled — " Hints on Hybrid- izing and the Improvement of Plants," prepared by Mr. Richard Bagg, of Bridgeton, N. J. In the absence of the essayist, the paper was read by Mr. John N. May. It was as follows : — The only law relating to this subject that I am aware of is " Like produces like or the likeness of some ancestor." Plant some variety of nasturtium seed, saj' Empress of India, and it will come true lo kind; if we ask wlw this is so, the answer is that for years the plants have been bred by careful selection of those for seed until the strain was fixed. In other words, there are generations of ancestors behind it of the required type. Plant General Jacqueminot rose seed, and the result will be a lot of nondescripts, with perhaps a few approaching its parent in size, color, etc. This seems to contradict the law; but, on second thought it can be readily seen that it proves it, for the Jacqueminot has no more ancestors now than the day it originated ; all the plants of this variety in existence are young wood of the original plant. If we were to select from General Jacqueminot's seedlings one or more that are most like their parent, save seed from them, sow and select again, and so on for a hundred years more or less, we could get a strain of seed that would produce true General Jacqueminot roses. Of course, any ad- mixture of foreign pollen would have to be guarded against. Apples, peai's, anything, in fact, could be made to come true from seed by fol- lowing this jilan. So far we understand this law and work in accordance ; but it does not satisfactorily account for fine varieties suddenly coming into exist- ence, often bj' unaided Nature; crossing and hybridizing may produce them, but if once why not always ? It is doubtful whether much advance can be made in this line unless ■seedlings are selected for crossing with a definite purpose in view, with a strict regard to get nearer a given ideal, and the ideal should be more than a flower — it should embrace the whole plant. Take the carnation for example, we want strong stems, compact, healthy foliage as well as fine flowers; and the time is comins; when size and color alone will not pass a carnation into favor, beauty of form and distinctive fragrance will be required in them as much as it now is in roses. People are learning to appreciate perfection in flowers faster than it is produced. TVe cross varieties, A with Z, B with X, not knowing exactly how it will result; for, though surely there are laws that govern this, they have not been discovered, consquently we work in the dark. The probabilities SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 61 are that the qualities of plants are decided in the embryonic state at the time of fertilization; but what are the influences that work when a fine variety of fruit or flower is called into existence V Are the conditions that govern its production hidden in the soil, the atmosphere, the plant, or is a combination of all required ? A carefully kept record of all the plants crossed, failures as well as successes, would help us to see into Nature's plan of working; and if we could find time when making a cross to note the state of the weather, amount of moisture in the air, temperature, etc., also the condition of the plants, it would be interest- ing to notice if it affected the results in any way. Hybridizing is crossing distinct species, and often produces plants incapable of bearing seed — mules in fact — and who can tell what a mule will be? Teas crossed with perpetuals belong to this class, and the seedlings from this cross seem to have some element of discord in their constitution; many are weak growers, some start off as if they always intended to climb and never bloom ; others seem strong and robust, but generally the flowers are not as large as those of either parent. Roses can be crossed at almost any time except perhaps during the short winter days. Seed should be sown as soon as ripe, and will srerminate in from three weeks to three months. Seedlings from teas crossed will bloom when a few months old ; those from teas hybridized will take from a few months to several years. I have some four years old that have not bloomed and they don't look as though they intended to. Carnations are easily grown from the seed. A large proportion will be double with a great variety of colors, shades and markings. In ever}- lot of seedlings there is almost sure to be a few equal to S07ne of the named varieties, but we want something better, and they come up scarce. The best time for crossing carnations is in March or in the early part of April ; later the sun makes the houses hot, and the seed does not set as well, and insects are more apt to interfere. When ripe, pick and put away. Sow soon after the middle of January, keep moderately wet until they germinate, then stop watering ; do not give any more until the plants are large enough to pot. Xever mind the soil looking dry, it will not hurt them at that season, and if watered they are liable to damp off. After potting treat the same as rooted cuttings, and they will begin to bloom freely in July. Those that do not bloom before it is time to house them are not apt to be as free as the earlier bloomers. There has been some discussion as to which parent seedlings Avill most resemble. The majority seem to think that the male has the dom- inating influence, but as this is an open question, we will take a walk among the seedling carnations now beginning to bloom, and see if any are advanced enough to help give light on the subject. There are eighteen plants of Anna "Webb crossed with Portia, thirteen of them have the Portia foliage, while in five it is intermediate, only three ^2 -PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, in bloom, two scarlet, cue crimson. Next, seven plants from Portia crossed with Anna Webb, two with foliage resemblino^ that of Anna Webb ; five with distinct Portia foliage, one in bloom of a crim- son color. Then nine plants of Hinze's Improved crossed with Buttercup. (Hinze's Improved is a seedling resembling Hinze's White, but with a somewhat stronger stem.) Five have foliage like Buttercup, the remainder intermediate, three in bloom with light yellow flowers and good stems. Next, eight plants of Hinze's Improved crossed with Lamborn ; all like Lamborn in foliage, and full of 'white bud and bloom, none averaging over a foot in height. Both parents appear to be represented in the flowers, but until cooler weather it is hard to tell much about it. This makes forty-two plants, the foliage in thirty of these resembles that of the male, and in twelve that of the female parent. Have crossed a single white petunia with a colored double one, and the results have been both double and single flowers, ranging in color from white through dull lilac to full red ; but the division of color does not often run so uniform between the parents. Some seem to assert themselves no matter which side they are on. Take the Wootton rose for example, cross it with Bon Siline, and the result is red roses looking like extra poor Woottons ; cross it with Madame Hoste, red roses again, reverse the cross but the results are similar, all the seedlings take after the Wootton in foliage, form and color of flowers. The most remarkable seedlings I ever had were about a hundred strawberry plants, every one was prolific and all except two or three bore large to very large berries. This set was produced by crossing Crescent with Sharpless, selecting a fine berry from the seedlings and crossing it with Parry. Have thought of trying these crosses again to see if the results would be similar, for it is such a strange experience to have nearly all the berries large, when usually they run small with perhaps a few of a fair size in the set. Should any one wish to grow some seedling strawberries be sure to take for the seed the first berry that ripens on the selected plant, for it will give the best results, and the last berry ripe is the poorest. It can be said that our path is literally strewn with flowers, but, for all that, we are not exempt from thorns. Difficulties known and unknown stand in the way ; unremitting attention is necessary to attain any degree of excellence, though so much has been done in the way of improvement of plants the work is only in its early stages of development. The field of possibilities spread out before us is greater than that of Columbus when he discovered the New World, or of Ponce de Leon when searching for the fabled " Fountain of Youth." The paper received the usual compliment of applause. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 63 THE world's fair AT CHICAGO. Mr. John Thorpe, Chief of Floriculture at the World's Columbian Exhibition, was here called upon bj President Dean, by whom he was presented to the Society with the remark that he needed no introduction. Mr. Thorpe was cordially greeted. He said that he appeared before the Society as a servant who had been trying, for the past year, to do what he could for his master's interest, and that, while he felt that the showing he had made was a poor one, he believed that he would receive charitable treatment in view of the difficulties he had encountered. Alluding to the unprecedented character and colossal proportions of the great undertaking at Chicago, he said that no one could have an adequate idea of its magnitude, and that it would prove to be, not only in the division of Horticulture, but in all that pertained to the material advancement of our country, an event of greater importance to the United States than any that had preceded it. He continued : — It is safe to say that, by this time next year, we will be at least fifty years ahead of where we are now. This may seem to you an extrava- gant statement, but I assure you it is fully warranted. I feel that I ought to ask you to do all that you can to help me in this great work, and to do this not for my interest, but for 3'our own interest, and not alone for your own interest but for your country's interest. I want evei-y member of the Society of American Florists to realize that John Thorpe is his servant, and to ask John Thorpe to do something for him; and it will be done. I regret to say that, in some divisions of the department, there is not that interest manifested by Americans that ought to be manifested. On the other hand, the Europeans are awake and know what they are about. They will occupy every square inch of space that is at our dis- posal; and they are making the most liberal expenditures with that object in view. I feel that it is not right that our people do not take a more active part in this great work, but are permitting the people on the other side to take precedence of them. We are making progress, however, and it is not yet too late to make amends for any remissness. I will take this opportunity to give you a brief description of the arrangement of the space allotted to the Department of Horticulture. The entire area of the floor space in the Horticultural Building is, roughly stated, 240,000 square feet; of which the two open courts in the centre of each wing of the building take up about 47,000 square feet. One of these courts is being prepared for the aquatic display, tanks being in course of construction. The other court will be devoted to plants from California. Of the remainder of the building, something like five and a half acres has been set aside for floricultural purposes. This space is divided into three distinct departments, in each of which the temper- ature can be maintained at the requisite degree to suit the different kinds I 64 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, of plants that will be on exhibition. As to the heating apparatus, the actual amount of piping necessary to heat the building will be more than fifteen miles in length. The area that I have stated does not by any means represent all of the space that will be devoted to floriculture. Other interests are to be provided for besides those of actual plant life, such as florists' supplies, designs, receptacles for plants and flowers, pots, fancy baskets, boxes, jardinieres, designs for laying out ornamental grounds, cultivating appli- ances, seeds, etc. All these will be represented in a separate portion of the building; and many Arms in these different lines will install excep- tionally fine exhibits, showing the great improvements that have been made. Greenhouse structures will be exhibited on the grounds near the building by many of the best firms in the country engaged in the con- struction of plant houses of all kinds. I have no doubt that the very latest methods and ideas in this class of construction will be exemplified, together with the many forms of ventilating apparatus and heating of plants, all of which may be examined and compared under varying conditions. The wooded island for outdoor exhibits, covering about seventeen acres, will present one of the most beautiful scenes ever witnessed on the face of the earth. It will be the key to the Fair Grounds, its location being such that every building can readily be seen from this point, either in perspective or directly in front. All the material requisite for the prosecution of our work on the island has been furnished. The dome of our main building in the Horticultural Department is admittedly one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture ever constructed. It is 187 feet in diameter and 113 feet high, and is sur- rounded by a gallery of twenty-seven feet. It is the present intention to build under the centre of the dome a structure representing a mountain, which will be eighty feet in diameter, at its base, and about sixty feet in height. On the various surfaces of this structure many of the large plants will be placed. At the base of the minature mountain there will be an irregular margin, averaging about thirty feet in width, gradually descendins; from the rock work to the irrade of the walk surrouudinsr the O o O whole. By using the material that has been promised to us we expect to give this structure an appearance different from anything of the kind heretofore erected. In Europe, with their many years of experience, and their numerous private conservatories, they have specimen plants which it has taken a century or more to produce. It is not the intention of the department to try to equal these particular specimens, but it is the intention of the department to cover the whole floral kingdom, as far as it can possibly be done ; in other words, to begin with the first letter of the alphabet and go through the entire list. Those which are exhibited may not all be SOCIETY or AMERICAN FLORISTS. 05 principal specimens, but they will be the best forms of their particular class. Let it be borne in mind that the exhibition is not alone America's Fair nor Europe's Fair but that it is '' the World's Fair." "We want to have displayed there everything beautiful in the world of floriculture which is obtainable by our means and is within the range of cultivation. It does not make an}' difference whether it be a five cent package of seed from which you can get the results of a quarter of an acre or whether it be an expenditure of a thousand dollars on a plant like Cypripedium Chamberlainianum — we want the five cent's worth of seed and we want the Cypripedium Chamberlainianum ; and we do not want to place the Cypripedium Chamberlainianum "behind bars." [Ap- plause.] The opportunity is offered to us to take care of all the native plants of America — and no man has more appreciation for the American plants than I do ; I may add that there are not many men who know moi"e about them. [Applause.] It is however a peculiar condition of things when I am forced to confess to you that, if I want to get a package of native American plant seeds, I am compelled to send to Europe for it. That does not reflect upon the Europeans ; it may be a reflection upon ourselves. I want to say, in regard to that department with which I am identi- fied, that we hope to have on the first of May next year such an aggre- gation of beauty as has never been seen in America. You will have to help me — all of you — in creating this aggregation. We want to have that display kept up, in its several sections, throughout the exhibition, which will continue from the first of May to the end of October. It is proposed that the divisions shall be so arranged that eveiything worthy of exhibition may be fairly represented. The arrangement is that at least thirteen or fourteen specific periods shall be set apart for the diffei'- eut plants and flowers as they reach their respective seasons of maturity. I regret that I have not fixed the dates of those periods; but you will understand that we want to have roses in .Tune, gladioluses in August and chrysanthemums as early as we can get them in October. In regard to applications for space in our department, I may say that the applications already made cover more than double the amount of space that is at our disposal. As I have already stated, upwards of 250,000 square feet in the building have been applied for by intending exhibitors in this country, and about seventeen acres have been applied for on the outside grounds. But the total floor area is only about 240,000 square feet, and of this about two-fifths has been allotted to foreign countries; some of which, notably France and Germany, are anxious to obtain large areas in excess of those already assigned them. This of course will necessitate considerable cutting down when the assignments of space are definitely made; but the same care and expense for an ex- hibit smaller in area than originally intended, will have the effect of enhancing the beauty and attractiveness of that exhibit, without impair- ing its usefulness as an advertisement. 66 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, I repeat, that the amount of space asked for by Europeans exceeds by one-half the total applied for by Americans. This is not as it should be. The Society of American Florists, for instance, ought to have a pretty fair representation in the World's Fair. You have an opportunity to be fairly represented. I want to ask if all of you cannot grow some- thing for exhibition, if only just a wee little thing. It does not matter how small it is so that it is something of your own handiwork, upon which you can have your own tag, and which will enable your children and grandchildren, in later years, when thej' look back at the great Fair, to say : "That was at the World's Fair, in 1.S9.3; my father showed that." Now will you not think about this and try to grow something for us ? This Society has now more than a thousand members. Suppose each member should grow five plants for us. What an aggregation those five thousand plants from the Society of American Florists would make. Let every member put his name upon his exhibit and let the people examine them. Do not forget that fifty millions of people are going to see the show. I am informed this morning through the mail by Mr. Samuels, Chief of the Department of Horticulture, that he has received a letter from Mons. M. L. de Vilmorin, at Paris, stating that Mons. Lefebre, the famous French horticulturist, formerly in charge of the Trocadera Gardens, the most famous in France, has been selected to take charge of the French horticultural exhibit in Chicago. Mr. Samuels also asks me to say to the members of this Society, that he hopes they will do all that they possibly can to keep their end up with that of other countries, as otherwise they may not be able to compete with our enterprising neigh- bors across the water. Mr. Thorpe at this point exhibited a handsome lithograph of the World's Fair Horticultural Building, and stated that he had made arrangements for supplying each of the members, when leaving the hall, with a copy of the picture. He then added that he would be glad to respond at this time to any inquiries by members concerning the work committed to his hands. He retired amid long continued rounds of applause. Mr. E. G. Hill, of Richmond, Ind. : Mr. President, it was ray good fortune to be in Chicago a few weeks ago and to have the pleasure of looking over Mr. Thorpe's work while there. I am afraid that you may infer, from Mr. Thorpe's preliminary remarks, that things are not going just as he would have them go, that is that they are not upon the scale that he desires. Now I do not want you to under estimate the value of what Mr. Thorpe is doing, for I can tell you he is planning magnificently. In fact I do not know of any one who can compare with Mr. Thorpe in the thoroughness of detail and beauty of conception which characterize his magnificent plans for that grand enterprise at Chicago. [Applause.] SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 67 It was my privilege to visit the Paris Exhibition and to inspect its horticultural display, and I can say to you in all sincerity that that exhibition will be immeasurably surpassed by the one we are going to see with our own eyes next year in the city of Chicago. To Mr. Thorpe we are indebted for the inception of the magnificent plans now being carried into execution. They are still partly in embryo, but if you will go to Chicago, look at the houses and talk with Mr. Thorpe and his assistants, you will recognize that everything has been done that it was possible to do. I can assure you that jou need have no fear about the outcome at Chicago under Mr. Thorpe's management. I think, as Mr. Thorpe has stated, we have all been remiss in making applications for exhibition space. I do not want you to think that I am not going to be at Chicago, for I did apply for space, but it must be conceded that we have not held up Mr. Thorpe's hands as we should have done. I know of firms who occupy acres of ground in the growing of trees and shrubs from whom not a single application for space has been received. This is not I'ight. The wooded island which has been spoken of may be monopolized by the foreign nurserymen. It would be a singular spectacle and a sad one, if upon going there we are obliged to make the humiliating confession that the Englishman or the Frenchman has shown more interest in and given more help to the advancement of horticultural science than have we Americans, and thereby swelling his own pocket-book. This ought not to be, and therefore I want you to take to heart tonight Mr. Thorpe's appeal, and to follow his advice. If we cannot grow fifty plants for the exhibition, let us grow five plants, or if not five, then a single plant ; and when we have put our card on it, send it to Chicago, and thus encourage " Uncle John " in the grand work he is doing there. [Applause.] Mr. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia : I had not intended to speak on this subject, but in view of its conceded importance t have thought it would interest those present to know what we in Pennsylvania are doing for the World's Fair. The State of Pennsylvania appropriated for all purposes for the World's Fair the sum of .'^300,000. A number of horticulturists con- nected with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society applied to the State Commission fgr recognition, and asked that $25,000.00 or $.30,000.00 be set aside for the purposes of a horticultural display. The Commission evidently did not appreciate the importance of horticulture, and the appropriation made to us was only $12,000. In view of the amount of space that is to be tilled in that large building at Chicago, we concluded that it would not be wise to try to purchase plants with such a small sum, and we therefore endeavored to interest amateur growers owning large and fine collections and induce them to loan their specimen plants. In this I have been associated with Mr. . Joseph Coates Walker, the 68 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Chairman of the Horticultural Commission, and we have been working npon the plan for the past month. We have received a very prompt response on the part of the amateurs. Mr. George W. Childs is going to send to Chicago at least two carloads of plants. Mr. Drexel also will send all of his tinest specimens. We expect to receive from individual florists a number of plants which it has taken years to grow ; and the collection, we hope, will be further augmented by the loan of plants from a number of institutions around Philadelphia. We will also receive from Mr. Chas. Clark, Capt. Vandegrift and other amateurs in Pittsburg and vicinity very valuable contributions, and some from Allegheny Park conservatories. I believe that if similar steps are taken all over the country by the horticultural societies or by the florists' clubs in the different localities, a great deal could be accomplished in the way of helping Mr. Thorpe to till the Horticultural Building in a creditable way. As Mr. Thorpe has remarked, our own country does not seem to appreciate the importance of horticulture as foreign nations do. For instance, the government of Japan appropriated for all purposes for the World's Fair the sum of ."$600,000.00 and one-sixth of this (#100,000.00) for a Japanese garden ; while throughout Europe — in France, Germany, Belgium and England — a wonderful degree of interest has been mani- fested in securing proper representation in horticulture. 1 think it is not yet too late for decisive action. I understand that in many of the States the money for World's Fair purposes has not all been allotted, and I think it would be a proper thing for the florists' clubs connected with this Society to apply to their respective State Commissions for a share of the money. This has been done in Pennsylvania, and it may have been done in some other States. I merely throw out the suggestion as one that may bear good fruit. [Applause.] Mr. Hill. I am requested by Mr. J. M. Gasser, of Cleveland, Ohio, to inquire of Mr. Thorpe as to what provision has been made for the display of cut flowers. Mr. Thorpe. All flowers will be represented in their season. We expect to have tulips in May and chrysanthemums in November. All the herbaceous plants will be exhibited in their season, with everything on the catalogue, and probably many things not on the catalogue. I think the ground will be fully covered. • THE QUESTION BOX. The Question Box was here taken up, and the President announced as the first question for consideration, the following : " What are the Best Twelve Varieties of Carnations for Commercial Purposes? " A response prepared by Mr. H. E. Chitty, of Paterson, N. J., was read as follows : — SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 69" THE BEST TWELVE CARNATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. Mr. President, Ladies and Oentlemen, — The task has been assigned me of naming to this Convention the best twelve carnations for commer- cial purposes. The question does not very clearly define what is meant by commercial purposes, but I have taken it for granted, and acted upon the presumption that the object and purpose was to so canvass the subject as to assist in determining if possible what twelve carnations were of the greatest value for general culture ; that whten their flowers were placed upon the market would command the readiest sale, realize the most remunerative prices, and so return to the grower the best possible result for the capital which he has invested in their culture. Although the duty assigned me seems to present seme perplexing features in consequence of the variable conditions of climate, soil, taste and fashion, I still regard it as a pleasant one, because I believe the honest efforts of any member of our fraternity to elucidate and render valuable whatever question this association may deem of sufficient importance to call up for consideration, will be regarded with favor, and appreciated by a very considerable portion of this honorable assemblage. And while I am fully aware that a carnation may possess conspicuous merits and become highly esteemed in one or more of our leading cities, obverse action of a part or all of the conditions mentioned might result in rendering it comparatively valueless in other sections of the country. For instance, a beautiful soft scarlet variety named Florence is quite a favorite in the city of Boston, while to me its flowers did not command sufficient respect to make its continued culture desirable, notwithstanding diligent and persevering efforts on my part. Again we are occasionally informed through the horticultural press, that the old white variety, President Degraw, is still successfully and advantageously cultivated in certain places, and this variety was at the height of its popularity twenty or more years ago. These and other instances that might be cited would seem to indicate that while some carnations will attain an almost national importance, others will not reach far beyond a mere local value. These considerations, therefore, have induced me to confine my selec- tions to such varieties as have gained a widely extended popularity in consequence of possessing in a marked degree, several attributes of quality generally recognized as essential in the make up of a first-class carnation ; and as the white varieties form at least half of all the carnation flowers sold, I have placed them first upon my list. No. 1. Lizzie McGowan. — This very distinct carnation has already become very popular, and has evidently come to stay, and is destined to take the lead as a white for some time to come. The plant is of a thin wiry habit of growth, the flowers are pure white, large, and produced in greatest profusion continuously, on long, stiff, though slender stems. It is also a most excellent shipper. The peculiar thin wiry habit of this 70 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, variety will admit of at least twice the number of plants being set to a given space as could be used of Silver Spray, or any other white variety that I am at present acquainted with ; and the fact that during last December and the first half of this year, in the neighborhood of three- quarters of a million of young plants were distributed to the trade of this one variety, will secure for it a very extensive test during next winter. Xo. 2. Silver Spray. — In habit this is exactly the reverse of Lizzie McGowaij, being a strong, heavy grower, an abundant and con- tinuous bloomer, and possessing so many desirable qualities as to endear it to a large number of growers in the vicinity of New York, and in fact throughout the country its flowers have formed a very large i)roportion of all the white carnations sold during the last three years. No. 3. Grace Wilder. — Second in importance are the pink carnations, and probably no variety of any color ever gave such general satisfaction, or became such a universal favorite as this one, and it has supplied fully half of all the colored carnation flowers that have been sold in New York during the last seven or eight years. In addition to its adaptability to general and profitable culture, its chief fascinating feature is found in its peculiar and lovely tint of peach-blossom pink, which makes it so desirable, and secures for it a ready sale wherever offered in reasonably good shape. I anticipate that next winter will develop some startling experiences in carnation culture, but I very much doubt if a successful rival to Grace Wilder is yet in existence. No. 4. Daybreak. — A rnagnificent carnation, and although quite new, has already become very popular. Its color is a peculiar shade of delicate, soft "pink ; vhe flowers are a good size, handsomely fringed, fragrant, on long stems, and as a grower everything that can be desired. Wherever flowers of this varietj' have been placed on the market, they have commanded a ready sale at best prices. I predict for this carnation a long and useful career. No. 5. Tidal Wave. — This is a deep rich pink, bordering on Magenta ; it is a splendid grower and prolific bloomer, a most desirable and very popular variety. No. 6. Portia. — As a scarlet carnation, this good old sort, and relia- ble standby, may still be regarded as unrivalled, and during the last few years its flowers have formed a very large proportion of all the scarlet carnations sold in New York city. The freedom of production, brilliancy of color, and the uniform health and vigor of the plant, has secured for this variety very extensive culture, and if its flower stems were a little more robust and its flowers a ti'ifle larger, it would long remain a most obstinate rival to future introductions in this particular color. No. 7. President Garfield. — As a companion scarlet to Portia, this variety may be regarded as a very successful second, and although some- what late, seems to cotne in just at the nick of time, when its tine, large. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 71 deep, rich scarlet flowers are most desirable, and wheu Portia and many other sorts are taking a rest after their fall and winter efforts. The flowers of President Garfield, have for some years formed quite an important feature on the Xew York flower market. No. 8. Ferdinand Mangold. — A good crimson carnation, has long been regarded as a very important factor on the flower mart, and there are fewer of this shade that may be considered as really good than in most other colors. This variety is a deep, rich, velvety crimson, the flowers are of good size, excellent form, and handsomely poised on moder- ately strong erect flower stems, and seem to till the bill in a graceful and efficient manner. No. 9. J. J. Harrison. — This programme would be far from com- plete without one or two of the many handsome variegated varieties, as they also have their place and seem to increase in popularity as the years roll by ; to be of greatest value the variations however must be chaste and delicate and the colors of such tints as would be esteemed in self-colored flowers, and this variety is regarded with more than ordinary favor in consequence of a combination of many good qualities rarely met in one flower. No. 10. American Flag. — As a variegated companion to the last, this is an interesting and very attractive sort, and has become immensely popular in a comparatively short time. It is a sport from the well known Portia, and is evgn more vigorous and a better grower that its parent. Present indications would seem to point to largely increased popularity for this beautiful carnation. No. 11. Golden Gate. — Yellow carnations, although not as much inquired for in the past as were the roses of the same color, are still a necessity, and form quite an important feature of the florist's stock in trade, and a marked and noticeable increase in the demand has followed the advent of the very superior varieties of this color now in cultivation. This variety is a rich, clean yellow, possessing many excellent qualities, and has met with remarkable favor during its brief career. I predict that its popularity will increase. No. 12. Buttercup. — I have thought it well to end my list with this magnificent carnation, every perfect flower of which is a golden crowa fringed with pink and carmine. I have often thought if necessity com- pelled me to grow but one carnation, that Buttercup would be my choice ; it has always appeared to me as the very acme of perfection, and the crowning triumph of an enthusiastic carnation specialist, and in my imagination has always formed a golden halo around the name of our departed friend, Charles T. Star of Avondale. Mr. R. T. Lombard, of Wayland, Mass., responding to the call of the Chair for an additional response, said that he presumed he was 72 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, talking to people who knew something about the carnation, so he did not propose to give them a history of the plant. In enumerating twelve varieties as the best for general commercial purposes, he did not consider it proper to include in the list those sent out the past winter for the first time. He would give a list of such varieties as had already had an ex- tended treatment in diiferent soils and varied conditions, and had in the experience of men in different parts of the country, proved their value for general cultivation. The requisites of a first-class carnation he stated to be : first, health and vigor of plant ; second, early and continual blooming ; third, large, well-formed flowers ; fourth, strong calyx, without any tendency to burst ; fifth, long, stout stem ; sixth, ease of propagation. AVhile the plants on his list did not all possess every one of these qualities, yet ever}' one had some of them. The ideal carnation had not yet appeared. His list was White. — Silver Spray, Mrs. Fisher, Lizzie McGowan. Pmfc.— Grace Wilder, Tidal Wave. Scarlet. — Hector, Portia. Crimson. — Ferdinand Mangold, Anna Webb. Yellow. — Buttercup. Salmon Pink. — Mrs. Ferdinand Mangold. Variegated. — J. J. Harrison. He said that there was a strong probability that Puritan would supplant Silver Spray, and take the head of the li^t in white ; that Golden Triumph would take the place of Buttercup ; Aurora that of Grace Wilder and Tidal Wave, and that Daybreak would come into great public favor ; but they had yet to be tested. He was fully aware that Lizzie McGowan and Mrs. Fisher had strong advocates in certain localities, but for general cultivation there had been no white sold that had taken the place of Silver Spray, which in his opinion, was entitled to the head of the list, though he did not grow a plant of it. [Applause.] The President announced as question number two, the following : "What ai*e the Best Twelve Hybrid Roses for Bedding Purposes?" Mr. .ToHN Saul, of Washington, D. C, responded : He prefaced his list by stating that this class of roses was a ver}- mixed one, and came into existence about fifty years ago. The first hybrid perpetual, as far as he could remember, was the old Bourbon rose. That crossed with the Gallicas, Hybrid Chinas, and other roses of the time, was the starting point of the hybrid perpetuals. The earlier varieties raised, such as William Dewar, Prince Alfred and others, partook more of the Hybrid China and Gallica than anything else, and as they came down these roses again were crossed largely with the Noisette, and latterly with the teas, so that at the present time the hybrid perpetual roses embraced some five or six classes. In his list there were six that bore SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 73 the closest resemblance to the hybrid China, and six that had more of the Noisette blood in them. Again, he had given six that were closely con- nected with the teas and some crossed with the mosses. He would give the names of twelve varieties that he thought were adapted to the north or cold climate. These were : — Boule de Neige, Crimson Bedder, Earl of Dufferin, Lord Macaulay, Marchioness of Dufferin, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Marchioness of Lome, Mrs. John Laing, Queen of Autumn, Silver Queen, Ulrich Brunner and Sir Rowland Hill, all hardy and free bloomers. For the Middle or Southern States he preferred the hybrid teas. They were Augustine Guinoiseau, Denmark, Duchess of Albany, Countess of Pembroke, Distinction, Captain Christy, La France, Lady Helen SteWart, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Madame Oswald de Kerchove, Meteor, Queen of Bedders ; the last not strictly a hybrid tea. He thought Queen of Bedders one of the finest autumn blooming roses. The President announced as question number three, the follow- ing : " What are the Best Twelve JSronthly or Everblooming Roses for Amateurs ? " Response by Mr, P. O'Mara,* of Jersey City, N. J. Mr. O'Mara'slist was as follows : Hermosa, Agrippina, Perle des Jardins, Clothilde Soupert, Souv. de la Malmaison , The Bride, Sunset, Mad. Hoste, Catharine Mermet, Mrs. Degraw, Bon Silene, Mad. Pierre Guillot. An additional response, prepared by Mr. E. G. Hill, of Richmond, Ind., was also read. It was as follows : — Souv. de la Malmaison, Mrs. George Paul, Krou Princess Victoria, Clothilde Soupert, La France, Duchess of Albany, Gloria de Polyantha, Sombreuil, Mad. \yelche. Meteor, Grace Darling, Agrippina. The President announced as question number four the following: " What are the Best Twelve Palms for Florists ' Use ? " A response by Mr. Julius Roehrs, of Carlton Hill, N. J., was read as follows : — " The Best Twelve Palms for Florists' Use " are, Latania borbonica, Kentia Belmoreana, Kentia Forsteriana, Areca lutescens, Corypha Aus- tralis. Phoenix tenuis. Phoenix rupicola, Chamterops excelsa, Raphis flabelliformis, Areca Baurei, Seaforthia elegans, Cocos Weddeliana. *NoTE.— The paper of Mr. O'Mara, in the absence of that gentleman, and the written responses of other gentlemen not present at the evening session, were read by Mr. Wm. McRoberts, of Baltimore, who kindly consented to assist Secretary Stewart in this par- ticular. 74 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, An additional response by Mr. W>i. S. Clark, of Washington, D. C, was also read. It was as follows : — I have been asked to give the names of the best twelve palms for florists' use. According to my ideas, I would divide them into two lots; the first six, namely : Latania borbonica, Areca lutescens, Kentia Bel- moreana, Kentia Forsteriana, Cocos Weddeliana and Phoenix reclinata, are of quick growth, stand well as house plants, and the seed or small plants can be easily obtained at very reasonable rales. The second six, namely : Phoenix rupicola, Chameerops tomeutosa, Raphis flabelliformis, or R. humilis, Corypha xlustralis, Cocos plumosa, and Sabal umbraculifera, are much slower to get up ; in fact, it takes nearly twice the time to get them in the same saleable condition as the first six ; therefore, they can't be sold at a profit for the same prices, but after the}' attain a decorative size the}' are extremely valuable, and the amount of wear and tear they will stand is simply wonderful. I suppose, strictly speaking, Cycas revoluta is not a palm; but to the general public it is the Sago Palm, and I would like to offer it as the one to make the baker's dozen. The President announced as question number five, the following : " What are the Best Twelve Ferns for Florists' Use ? " The response by Mr. J. D. Eisele, of Philadelphia, was read as follows : — In answering this question, I take it for granted that it refers to such varieties as are suitable for use in filling fern-dishes and other similar work, and limit my list to such varieties as can be procured in quantity. I would place at the head Adiantum cuueatum, which but a few years since was used almost exclusively, but is now used proportion- ately less considering the enormous increase in the demand for other hardier varieties. Davallia tenuifolia stricta, one of the most useful and graceful varieties in cultivation, thought not strictly an evergreen, may be kept in good condition always by growing it in a high temperature, say 65 to 70 degrees. For the balance of the twelve I would specially recom- mend Cyrtomium falcatum, Lastrea aristata variegata, Lastrea opaca, Nephrolepis exaltata, On^'chium Japonicum, Polystichium capense, Pteris cretica albo lineata, Pteris palmata, Pteris serrulataand its many crested forms, and Pteris tremula. Many others, such as Onychium auratum, Pteris nobilis and Pteris Victoria would add materially to the diversity of the collection, but are yet too scarce to permit of their use in large quantities. The same holds good with that most beautiful of all ferns, Adiantum Farleyense. The President announced as question number six, the follow- ing : " What are the Best Twelve Orchids for Florists' Use? " SOCIETY OF AMERICAN" FLORISTS. <0 The response was made by Mr. Wm. Scott, of Buffalo, N. Y., who read the following list : — Cattleya Mossice, May ; Cattleya Trianse, mid-winter ; Cattleya Per- civalliana, late fall ; Cattleya Gaskelliana, spring ; Dendrobium Wardi- anum, winter and spring ; Dendrobium nobile, winter and spring ; Dendrobium formosura giganteum, fall ; Cypripedium insigne, mid- winter ; Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, winter ; Coelygne cristata, March and April ; Lselia autumnalis, October and November ; Oncidium tigri- num, October and November. Mr. Scott then said that his advice to small florists was to go into orchid growing heavily, if they went into it at all ; that is, to the extent of about $2,000. He thought that, for them to realize any profit from orchids it was necessary that they should have a considerable stock on hand. If their stock was limited to a few dozen or a few hundreds, they would be more apt to suffer loss than to make a profit. Mr. Wm. McRoberts, of Baltimore : I would like to inquire of the gentleman from Buffalo, what is his objection to the La3lia auceps ? Mr. Scott. The Lselia anceps is one of the most beautiful orchids that blooms. It blooms during the month of November, but it lasts scarcely four or five days. It is their durability that renders orchids valuable. In that view I cannot recommend Lselia anceps, as it looks beautiful today and in three days is gone. Mr. McKoBERTS. I have been engaged in orchid growing for a number of years and I have yet to find any difficulty in keeping Lselia anceps, not merely for three days but for a week or two weeks. It is an orchid of beautiful color, with long stem, is easily grown and is just as profitable as any. With regard to the growing of orchids in quantity I have this to say. It is just as unprofitable to grow orchids in a small quantity as.it is to grow a small quantity of anything else. You can find a market for a large quantity of any product more readily than for a small quantity, and this is as true of orchids as of anything. A few orchids may answer well enough where but a few roses or a few of anything else suffices to meet the demand. Mr. John Spalding, of New London, Conn., in reply to Mr. Scott's advice to small growers, said that he differed with that gentleman and that his own recommendation to small florists, if that term might be used, was to grow orchids, if only a few, for the prestige of the thing and not merely to make money by it. He continued : It is a source of gratification to the small florist to have something that is worth showing to a lady customer. She will say, " I am so pleased to see an orchid ; that is just what I want to see." For my own part, I do not take into 76 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, account the money I make out of orchids but I find it profitable to have them on hand as something with which to interest parties who come into my place. I think it will be an advantage to the small florist to grow even a few orchids, whether he makes money out of them or not. It may not be profitable at first but I can assure you there will be a profit in the long run. [Applause.] The President announced as question number seven, the follow- ing : " What are the Best Twelve Hardy Herbaceous Plants for Cut Flower Purposes ? " A list prepared by Mr. J. Woodward Manning, of Reading, Mass., was read as follows : — Astilbe (Spirfea) Japonica, var., grandiflora ; Gaillardias, best hybrid forms, for flower decorations ; Pseonies, in self colors, both single and double sorts ; Hybrid pyrethrums, both single and double varieties ; Iberis sempervirens and Iberis tenoriana ; Achillea " The Pearl ; " Anemone Japonica and varieties ; Coreopsis lanceolata. Euphorbia corrolata, Gypsophila paniculata. Rudbeckia speciosa, Lathyrus lati- folius, var. albus. Adjourned. THIRD DAY — MORNING. The Convention reassembled at 10.30 o'clock a. m. ; President Dean in the Chair. election of officers. The first business in order was the election of officers. Secretary Stewart, on motion of Mr. C. W. Hoitt, of Nashua, N. H., was instructed to cast the ballot of the Society for the only nominee for the office of President, Mr. Wm. R. Smith, of Washing- ton, D. C. The ballot was cast accordingly. President-elect Smith appeared upon the platform, when the Cou- venlion, upon the suggestion of Mr. M. H. Norton, of Boston, Mass., indulged in a round of cheers in honor of Mr. Smith's election. President-elect Smith responded as follows : I feel like exclaiming, with " Holy Willie," " What was I or my generation that I should get sic exaltation " as this? In electing me as your President, you have confei-red upon me the highest earthly honor. I have only to say that SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 77 this Society has had a warm corner in my heart ever since its inception. I regard the promotion of its objects as the noblest work in which men can be engaged. The results which it seeks are grand and edifying. There is no more enviable occupation, in my mind, than that of the industrious, hard-working, earnest florist ; and for my part I would rather be your president than to be elected president of the United States. I say this in all candor and sincerity. This is the rounding up of an old man's career ; for according to recent statement I am seventy-two y6ars of age, though really I have not quite reached that mark. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great honor you have done me, and I hope to be able with your assistance to aid in making the coming year a steadily progressive one. [Applause.] The remaining nominees were then severally chosen, and their unanimous election announced, as follows : — On motion of Mr. J. M, Jordan, of St. Louis, Mo., the ballot of the Society was cast by Secretary Stewart for Professor W3i. Trelease, of St. Louis, for Tice-President. On motion of Mr. C. "W. Hoitt, of Nashua, N. H., the ballot of the Society was cast by Mr. E. A. Wood, of West Xewton, Mass., for Wm. J. Stewart, of Boston, Mass., for Secretary. On motion of Mr. M. II. Norton, of Boston, the ballot of the Society was cast by Secretary Stewart for Myron A. Hunt, of Terre Haute, Ind., for Treasurer. review of new plants. The regular business of the session being proceeded with, a " Review of New Plants," by Mr. Wm. Falconer, of Glen Cove, N. Y., came next in order. Mr. Falconer prefaced the review as follows : — In this report I have adopted the same method that I did in m}' report on new plants last year, namely, to call to my aid some of the foremost florists and horticulturists in the land and let them give what they consider to be the new plants in their business. To confine our- selves to strictly new species or varieties of plants would be too arbitrary and in many cases misleading, besides, no one man could do this of his own experience. But with the aid of the Kew Bulletins, Garden Alma- nack, Garden Oracle, the European garden weeklies, our own American horticultural press and the mass of catalogues of florists and seedsmen, it would have been an easy matter for us to compile a huge list of " new " plants, but for our purpose what would be the use of it ? I have got all of these books and papers, and could easily have gotten up such a com- ''^ PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, pilation if I wanted to, but I don't believe such a list would have been to your profit. - I concluded to get for you the opinions of persons qualified by practical acquaintance with the plants they mention to tell you about them. In answer to my application to several eminent firms and indi- viduals for information regarding the worthy new plants that had recentl}' come under their hands or observation, not a few have merely mailed me their catalogues, some marked and some unmarked, but I could not avail myself of this information. The reports here presented by my correspondents are original matter. In some cases the same plants may be referred to by two parties, and in one or two instances plants that were mentioned last year are again referred to, but this repetition is limited enough to be admissible, indeed it is well, now and again, to get the opinion of more than one expert about a new plant. It will also be noticed that some of the plants referred to are quite old in cultivation, although they happen to be new in the trade of the person mentioning them, or for certain purposes in the trade. In justi- fication of this we must also take into consideration the many young members in our Society to whom these plants may be perfectly new ; it is unfair to expect that this paper should be so severely " new " as to be food onl}' for the intensely old or advanced in floriculture. We have here contributions from twenty-seven different parties, and covering a wide range of subjects. Ernst Asmus, Antoine Wintzer, J. N. May and W. H. Spooner have written about roses ; Fred. Dorner and Edwin Lonsdale about carnations and chrysanthemums ; E. D. Sturtevant and Wm. Tricker about aquatics ; Wm. Robinson and Pitcher & Manda about orchids ; hardy plants by Robert Lindsay and T. S. Ware ; annuals by W. Atlee Burpee, Denys Zirngiebel and Wm. Thomp- son ; bulbs by Max. Leichtliu ; trees and shrubs by Jackson Dawson and T. R. Trumpey ; miscellaneous plants by Peter Henderson & Co., Henry A. Dreer, John Saul, V. Lemoine, Backhouse & Son, A. Blanc and others, and a valuable paper on the awards of the Massachusetts Horti- cultural Society by the Secretary, Mr. Robert Manning. (Mr. Falconer at this point suggested that the reading of the review prepared by him be dispensed with, and that the same be published in the official report of the proceedings.) On motion of Mr. J. X. May, the suggestion was complied with and it was ordered the report be spread upon the minutes. It is here inserted, and is as follows : — ORCHIDS. BY WM. BOBIXSOX, XOKTH EASTON, MASS. Cypripedium aphrodite. — A hybrid between C. Lawrenceanum, and C. niveum, and is no doubt the handsomest of the Marshallianum group. Though raised in 1887, it is yet scarce. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 79 Cypripedium aylinzi is another hybrid raised between niveum and ciliolare, though not so fine as the preceding, is very pretty ; it partakes more after niveum, flowering in summer. Cypripedium astrce, is a charming hybrid. I would imagine it to be a cross between C. Ipevigatum and Spicerianum ; a beautiful form, flowering in summer, and lasting long in perfection. Cypripedium macrochilum is a marvel hybrid raised at Chelsea, between Uropedium Linden i and Cypripedium I'oezlei. As the name implies, it is notable for the large size of its lip. It agrees more with the pollen parent than the other, but is larger. The upper sepal is yellow with green veins. The petals are pendulous, seven to eight inches long ; 3'ellow at the base and pale rose the rest of the length. The long pouch is suffused with soft rose on straw-yellow ground. Flowers in midsummer, and lasts a long time in perfection. Cypripedium Yomigianumis a hybrid between C. Isevigatum and C. superbiens. This handsome h)'brid seems to improve each year. In my opinion, it is as good as C. Morganiae. Cypripedium, volunfeanum is far ahead of Hookerse ; and since it has become established this superiority is still more pronounced. Cypripedium nitidissima is a fine hybrid of good constitution, raised between C. caudatum and C. conchiferum. Cypripedium McFarlanei^ another very pretty hybrid between C. calophyllum and C. Spicerianum. Cypripedium insigne Amesiana. — A variet)' named by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, for Mr. F. L. Ames, is a distinct unspotted form. Cypripedium insigne Macfarlanei. — N'amed after Mr. McFarlane, the artist, is also an unspotted form in the way of Amesiana. Cypripedium insigne Greavesiania. — A beautiful form, and has large sized flowers. The dorsal sepal resembling the spotting on a partridge. Named for Thomas Greaves, gardener to E. W. Gilmore, North Easton. Cattleya lahiatn autumnalis. — Though not anew plant, flowers from September to January, and is of fine form and color, and lasts a long time in perfection. Its re-introduction in large quantity lately allows everyone to secure it. Cattleya rex. — A beautiful species, introduced by M. Linden. In habit it resembles C. aurea ; flowers of good form ; sepals and petals white ; lip beautifully friuged, and reddish pink in front portion. The rest of the lip yellow with pink veining. Cattleya 0''Brieni. — A beautiful delicate pink ; formed in the way of C. Loddigesi, but dwarfer in habit, and flowering in the autumn. Dendrobitim venus is a charming hybrid raised between D. nobile and D. Falconeri, with large flowers freely produced and which last well on the plant. Blooms in March and April. Dendrohium atroviolaceiivi is a beautiful evergreen species flower- 80 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, ing iu earl\' spring. The spikes being produced from top of bulb. The sepals and petals are pale yellow with violet spots. The lips pale yellow found deeply suffused with violet ; lasts a long time in perfection. Dendrohium Bleichroderianum is an evergreen species of the D. macrophyllum Veitchi type, and which it much resembles. The plant is robust. The flower spike is produced from top of stem ; erect, and carrying about fourteen flowers, each over two inches across. The whole flower is of a pale greenish yellow, spotted, and hairy at the back. The lip is three-lobed with deep purple lines. It blooms in summer, and lasts several months in perfection. Dendrohium Cassiope. — A pretty hybrid raised between D. nobile albiflorum and D. endocharis. Of good habit, free flowering and very sweet. Deudrobium 2)halcenopsis Schioderianinn. — This grand orchid is the best introduction of '91. The shades of color varying from light pink to rich purple, and presumably white. It is of comparatively easy culture and free flowering, and lasts long in perfection. The flowering season is late summer to early spring. Laiia grandis tenehrosa. — This flne variety of grandis has been recently introduced. The sepals and petals are dark, bronzy purple ; lip very large, having an intensely deep purple maroon throat. Flowers in June and July. Lalia rattleya pallas. — A hybrid raised between C. Dowiana and La'lia crispa. The sepals are of a soft lilac ; the petals are broader and darker. The lip takes after C. Dowiana in its large size and rich purple lammoe. Autumn flowering. Lalia Arnoldiana. — A hybrid raised between La?lia purpurata and Cattleya Warneri. Lcelia cattleya marriotiana. — A hybrid between Lielia flava and Cattleya Skinneri, is of intermediate habit. Odontoylossum Eohinsonium. — A natural hybrid with branching spikes. Color of flowers j-ellowish ground with dull brown marking. It is very distinct in color. AVas sent out by Sander & Co., and named in honor of Mr. Robinson, of North Easton, Mass. Miltonia Amesiana vexillaria var. — The finest varieties we have got yet. The flowers are large, and light pink ; the petals are deeply suffused with red. The lip measuring three and one-half inches across ; at its base is a deep maroon blotch with tine radiating lines. After the way of Miltonia vexellaria superba, but is much larger in every way, and more beautiful. It flowers in April, while superba flowers in summer. It was named in compliment to Mr. F. L. Ames, of North Easton. Miltonia vexillaria fairy queen is a pure white flower, with a delicate lemon crest. Masdevallia Measuresiana is a hybrid between M. tovarensis and M. amabilis. The flowers have a white ground slightly suffused with violet. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 81 Masdevallia Schroderiana. — A chvarf species. The flowers rise well above the foliage. The upper half of the sepals is of rich wine color, basal half a creamy white. Blooms in raid-winter, and lasts a long time in perfection. Bodriguezia Lindeni. — A beautiful species with long racemes of snow-white flowers. Introduced by Linden as Burlington ; flowers in autumn. Sobralia Low!,. — A dwarf form, with deep purple flowers produced in winter. Although it is very showy when in bloom, its flowers do not last long. Cochliodia Noezliana is a cool house, autumn-blooming orchid, with spikes of orange scarlet flowers. NEW ORCHIDS. «V PITCHER & MAKDA, SHORT HILLS, N. J. Cypripedinm Fallens (C. Spicerianum and C. Dayanum). — Leaves short, rather broad, light green with fine tasselation, short stem; flower large; dorsal sepal recurved, white with green veins, lower sepal small, pale green ; petals green, spotted and shaded with purple; lip large and shaded with purple; staminode pale lilac. Gypripedium luridum (C. Lawrenceanum and C. Villosum super- bum). — Leaves large, rather broad yellowish green, beautifully tasselated with darker green ; stem ten to twelve inches high, dark brown. Flower very large and bold; the dorsal sepal large, recurved, yellowish green, veined with brown. Lower sepal large, yellowish green. Petals and lip yellowish green shaded with brown. Cypripedium Greyanum (C. Drur)ii and C. ciliolare). — This beau- tiful and distinct hybrid was obtained by crossing C. Druryii with the pollen of C. ciliolare. Leaves rather short, thick, dark green tasselated with a darker green ; four to six inches long by one and a half inches wide. Stem ten to twelve inches long, dark and hairy. Flower large, well proportioned ; dorsal sepal nearly flat and pointed at the top ; ground color pale yellow tinged with green, with a broad, dark vinous purple line through the middle, and delicately veined and shaded with a similar color, and having a few spots at the base. Petals broad, nearh- six inches from tip to tip, prominently marked with a broad stripe of reddish purple through the middle, and thickly spotted at the base with small brown purple spots, and continuing into fine veins to the end of the petals, which are beautifully tinged with pink. Lip large, of a yel- lowish green cast, shaded with light brown, and finely dotted in the upper portion. Cypnpedium insigne Gravesianum. — Distinguishing itself from the type by its much stronger growth and large flower on a tall stem. Flower the shape of C. insigne maximum, with a broad white margin around the dorsal sepal, on which are large brown spots running upwards in 82 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION regular lines, and bunch of smaller spots on the sides of the lower part of the dorsal sepal. This beautiful variety is named after Henry Graves, Esq., of Highland Avenue, Xew Jerse3\ Gypripedium insigne Boiesianum. — Flower shape and size of C. in- signe Maulei ; the dorsal sepal being spotted all over, save the white margin, with dark brown spots in the regular lines. Petals and lip greenish yellow, shaded with brown, learned in compliment of Col. H. M. Boies, of Scranton, Pennsylvania. CypripecUum insigne Banil. — Flower shape and size of C. insigne "Nilsonii, with white margin and few brown purple spots at the top ; the other part of the dorsal sepal being thickly covered with small dark brown spots running in regular and irregular lines. Petals and lip yel- lowish green, shaded with dark brown. Named after Wm. Barr, Esq., Llewellyn Park, Orange, New Jersey, Gypripedium insigne McFaddenii. — Very distinct type of C. insigne, much resembling C. insigne Amesianum, having broad dorsal sepal with wide margin; the lower part is beautifully shaded with and covered with minute brown spots, running in regular lines. Petals and lip yel- lowish green, slightly shaded with brown. This distinct variety is named after the late F. T. McFadden, Esq.. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Gypripedium insigyie Savageanum. —Ylower shape of C. Chantini but much larger, having a broad white margin in the dorsal sepal, which is thickly spotted with large brown spots. Petals and lip green shaded with brown. This fine variety is named in compliment of Geo. Savage, gardener to W. S. Kimball, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y. Gypripedium insigne Wrightianum. — Distinct variety having stronger growth, and the large bold flower which is of C. insigne Coul- sonii type. The dorsal sepal is large and long, having a very broad white margin ; the lower part is covered with large brown spots running in irregular lines. Petals broad, standing out, yellowish green slightly shaded with brown. Lip large, green, shaded brown. Named after J. Hood Wright, Esq., of Fort Washington, N. Y. Gypripedium insigne Robinsonianum. — Very distinct type of C. insigne, having flower the shape and size of C. insigne Maulei. The •dorsal sepal has a shade of pink on the boundary of the white margin and the spotted portion, which is very distinct. This beautiful variety is named in compliment of Wm. Robinson, gardener to F. L. Ames, Esq., of North Easton, Mass. Gypripedium Amesianum grandiflorum. — This great improvement on the type was raised by crossing C. villosum giganteum with the pollen of C. venustum. It differs from the type by its large dorsal sepal, large petals and lip. The growth also differs, being large, with shorter but much broader leaves. Gypripedium Amesianum atratum. — Differs from the type by its short and broad leaves, also the flower which is very large. The lower SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 83 part of the dorsal sepal is very dark brown, the petals very broad, much spotted at the base and a dark brown line through the middle. Lip large, heavily veined with dark brown. Cypripedium vernixium atratum. — This very distinct variety differs from the type by its broader and shorter leaves, longer stem and large flower ; the dorsal sepal is mottled and lined with brown purple ; petals also spotted all over with the same color. Lip same as the type. Cypripedium Leeanum aureum. — This beautiful and distinct variety of Leeanum was raised by crossing C. insigne aureum with the pollen of C. Spicerianum. Leaves much shorter and narrower than the type, pointed. Flower medium size and well formed ; the dorsal sepal yellow at the base, with a light purple line through the middle and a few spots on the sides ; petals yellowish, slightly shaded and spotted ; lip also yellowish, slightly shaded. Cypripedium Leeanum incurvum. — Distinct type of Leeanum ; dis- tinguishes itself by its dorsal sepal which is much spotted and incurved, instead of recurved at the lower part. Lip is also distinct from the type, being pinkish and shaded with brown. Petals same as the type. Cattleya Gravesiana. — Bulb long and narrow, smooth and of a yellowish color. Leaves oblong, pointed and standing up straight. Flower very large, nine inches or more in diameter, well proportioned ; •petals and sepals of a deep rosy color, lip broad, fringed and flat ; lower portion of a soft rose with deep purple veins ; the upper part of the expanded lip has tw6 large blotches of a rich orange yellow color which continues right through the throat, giving the flower a most unique appearance, which judging by the bulb, growth and flower suggest an intermediate form between C. speciosissima and C. Mossite. AQUATICS. BV WILLCAM TRrCKBR, DONUAN HILLS, STATES ISLAND, N. Y. Among aquatics nothing has gained so much in public favor as those of French origin, and deservedly so. Indeed, there has not been suffi- cient stock in the trade to supply the demand. Among them are Nymphosa Ma rliacece albida, which is one of the very best of white flowers, after the style of N. alba. The flowers are large and a pure dazzling white color, and fragrant. * Nymphoea Marliacece caniea is similar to the preceding except in color, which is of a lovely shade of pink, — the lightest colored of pink pond lilies. The reverse of the leaf is reddish. Nymphoea 3farliacecE rosea resembles carnea, with the exception that the color of the flower is much deeper. The leaves also are more deeply colored on the underside. Nymphcen odorata sulphurea is one of the very best new lilies. The large cup-shaped flowers stand up above the water like a lotus. The color is more of a canary yellow than sulphur, with deep yellow stamens; 84 rROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, the petals are somewhat narrower than those of N. chroraatella aud of less substance. It is very free blooming, and its flowers have the fragrance of the of X. odorata. The leaves are deep green heavily blotched with reddish brown. Nymphma odorata exqidsUa is the deepest colored of all the hardy nymphoeas. Flowers large and of a rich rose carmine color, with deli- cious fragrance. The leaves are green on surface, reverse intense red. It has not equalled the other varieties in growth, being rather slow. Nymphom odorata. — Southern variety, found growing in the rice fields, is presumably the same as Nymphoea odorata gigantea. It is superior to the Eastern Nymphoea odorata, being a stronger grower, and it has larger flowers, six inches in diameter, and the petals are wider and more numerous. Nyyuphixu odorata CaroZimen.sj.'*, (Bahnson's variety), is a very large,^ full flower, with a suffusion of pink. So far, however, it has not pro- duced such a deep shade of pink with us as is found in the wild plant in North Carolina. But I find a great variation in the tints in the flowers of N. odorata rosea ; the flowers are much lighter as the season advances, and I am inclined to think that the sun's duration and strength bleaches the flowers. This may or may not be the cause however; in fact the trouble may be local. It is nevertheless a magnificent flower and a great aquisi- tion. Nymphii'd pyr/iiHca hclrola is deserving of special mention, being admirably adapted for the aquarium and small basins and tubs. It is a free-growing plant, no larger than the type, but an abundant bloomer, and the flowei'S a trifle larger, — three and a half inches diameter; petals more pointed, and sulphur-yellow. The leaves are deep green, blotched Avith reddish brown. If. Mexicana still maintains its superiority over X. flava, but as it is not quite hardy it must eventually give place to its now more popular rival, N. sulphurea, which has larger flowers and is sturdier and quite hardy. Its flowers are also fragrant, though not of so good a color. N. Laydekcn rosea is another hybrid of the X. p)^gmea type. The plant is a stronger grower and the flowers are larger. It is one of our best additions to this class of plants. The flowers on opening are a delicate pink with deep golden centre ; the second day the petals ate many shades deeper, the sepals retaining their whiteness. The outer stamens are rich yellow, while the centre is orange, a very pleasing com- bination ; the third day flowers assumed a deep rose color. The plant is a free grower and profuse bloomer. It frequently has all the different flowers in the different stages at one time which presents a novel feature, as it would appear that the one plant produced several different colored flowers. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 85 AQUATICS. BY EDMUND D. STURTEVANT, BORDENTOWX, N. J. Besides the aquatics mentioned last year, the following new varieties are fast becoming popular : — Nymphoea Marliacece albida. — This plant belongs to the same class as X. candidissima, with flowers of a more pearly whiteness, and some- what less stiff in form. It is hardy and free blooming. NymphV(?(//rtrt. Eisele. — Similar in color to Source d' Or, flower larger and more graceful in form. 3frs. Robert C. Ogden is a large light purple flower. Ada McVicker is white, with very broad florets; were it full to the centre this would take rank as one of the very best of the year. A)iHii M((>ida is apparently an improvement on Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. It has a stiffer stem, and the shape of the flower is more spherical. Wm. Falconer is a sport from Louis Boehner; the color is a deli- cate shade of pink, much more pleasing than that of the parent. W. A. Manda is a yellow in the same class as the last two named. Harry May is a very fine flower of a bronzy shade of yellow. Mrs. J. M. Schley is a delicate pink. Charles J. Oshoiire. — Bronzy yellow. Mrs. Marie Simpso)i. — Yellow, in the way of Coronet, but better. Edward Hatch. — Very large; pink, shaded with a yellowish tint. Maud Dean. — Good form; light pink. 3lrs. L. G. Madeira.— A bright yellow flower; has a pet name, " The Golden Ball," which describes its form; it has more florets than any other flower that I know of. Mrs. Robert Craig is a beautiful and pi'omising white variety. Roselyn. — Delicate pink. Emily Ladenburg. — Bright crimson. Golden Wedding. — Large, and a beautiful shade oi yellow. Good Gracions. — Eesembles Kiot^ in form, and is pink in color. Dr. Covert. — Bright yellow, and of good form and size. E. Hitzeroth. — Yellow, and a very full and large flower. Col. W. T. Smith. — Tawny yellow, large and graceful in form. Daisy. — Makes a fine pot plant. It is a healthy grower, and when in bloom is a mass of perfect daisy-like flowers, resembling as closely as possible the daisy of our fields in June and July. SOCIETY OF AMEKICAN FLOPaSTS. 95 DIrs. E. B. Adams is a fine white. O. P. Bassett is a crimson, after the style of CuUingfordii as to color, but the flower is larger. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. BY HENRV A. DBEER, PHILADELPHIA. Leila. — An entirely distinct and novel variety on account of the peculiar twisting and overlapping of the petals, which gives the floAver a grotesque but at the same time graceful appearance ; this, together with its color, of the most delicate soft Mermet pink, will undoubtedly make it a valuable and popular cut flower variety. Logan. — A magnificent large incurved variety ; fiower white, beauti- fully striped with rose, reverse of petals silvery pink. Spring Grove. — Flowers very large, of a rich crimson color, reverse of petals deep bronze. Mrs. H. B. Hall. — A pleasing shade of pearl pink ; flowers very large and of perfect shape, petals narrow. Will become a favorite cut flower variety. Mrs. J. D. Eisele. — Almost as early as Glorisum; color, rich orange shaded with crimson ; flowers large and of good substance. Bosstrevor. — A grand variety, and entirely distinct from all others ; in color it is a pleasing shade of bronze yellow and of large size, borne on stout stiff stems ; petals stiff and crisp, beautifully incurved, forming a rounded surface very similar in shape to* the popular Harry E. AVidener. 3frs. W. F. Dreer. — A magnificent variety ; flowers large, reflexed, very double, the outer petals dark brown, shading to light in the centre. Mrs. B. (\ Ogden. — An immense symmetrical flower of a beauti- ful bright pink color, of good substance and form. Bockland. — Flowers large, rich golden amber shaded with bronze, petals slightly toothed ; fine flower, beautiful form and an improvement on Frank Wilcox. Marguerite Graham. — Incurved, of perfect form; flowers erect on stout stems ; when opening, a pale lemon changing rapidly to pure white ; an acquisition for cut blooms. Bev. J. C. Hanna. — Very large perfectly formed flowers, pink with end of petals tipped with silvery white. Victor. — One of the best ; flowers exceptionally fine and perfect in shape ; in color it is a rich golden yellow slightly shaded with bronze. CANNAS. BV HENRY A. DREER, PHILADELPHIA. Among the recent introductions in cannas we are only able to name a very few varieties owing to the extreme dry weather during June and 94 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTIOK, July; but a limited number have flowered, among the prominent sorts are : — Admiral Gervais. — Somewhat on the style of Mad. Crozy, but smaller. The flowers are of a crimson scarlet, edged with golden yel- low: the lower part of the petals or centre of the flower also being marked with the same color. Countess Olivier de V Etoile. — A most beautiful golden yellow, regularly and evenly spotted throughout with vermilion; undoubtedly the finest spotted variety that has come to our notice. Chas. Henderson. — A tine compact growing variety, with broad, heavy l>etals of a rich cherry carmine; a beautiful flower; a distinct and hand- some variety. Emperor William. — A compact growing variety, with flowers of medium size of a crimson scarlet color. Maurice Mussy. — Very large orange crimson flowers, free and distinct. Nardy Pere. — Foliage green, with purple stems and veins; flowers of fair size, very bright cherry carmine; promises very good. Paid Bruant. — Large flowers, with broad, bold petals, of a rich orange scarlet; very dwarf and free. Secretary Stewart. — Bronzy purple foliage; flowers large, arranged in close, erect heads of a bright cherry carmine. The following varieties, to which we called attention last season, are showing up exceptionally tine, and should be well known : — Alphonse Bouvier. — This is the gem of the lot, and will undoubt- edly take the place among crimsons that Mad. Crozy does among the scarlets. f'apt. Suzzoni. — A fine spotted yellow. J. D. Cabos. — Orange salmon. J. Thomayer. — Rich orange scarlet. P. 3Iarquant. — Bright salmon scarlet. Among the best of the older varieties, introductions of 1889, 1890 and 1891, the following are all good : — Ampere, A ntoine Crozy, Antoine Chantin, Boucharlet Aine, Comte Horace de Choiseaul, Commandant Dubois, Chevallier Besson, Doyen Jo. Sisley, E. Chevreul, Edward Michel, Francois Crozy, Geoffry St. Hillaire, Gen. Baron Berge, Henri L. Vilmorin, La Guill, Mr. Lefebvre, Mad. Antoinette de Allemany, Mdlle. de Cruillon, Mr. Cleveland, Presi- dent Hardy, Perfection, Princess Susignani, Souv. de Jean Charreton, Secretaire Nicholas, Segionaire, Petit Jeanne, The Garden, Vitticeulteur Gaillard, W. Pfitzer. BEDDING PLANTS. BY WM. TEICKER, DONGA N HILLS, N. Y, One of the best additions to this class of plants is the old Sanchesia nohilis variegata either as single plants or in masses. The color is a SOCIETY OF AMERICA:sr FLORISTS. 95 striking and pleasing bright yellow ; a new departure from the coleus class, and eifective. Acalyphas grows in favor every season. They delight in bright sunshine and warm weather. PhyUanthus roseo-pictus is much to be desired. Its color is unique and pleasing. It makes a grand plant for sub-tropical work or general a Frnichcnr (Hybrid Tea). — Delicate flush deepening to carmine in the centre, long pointed buds. Ver}- free, gives promise of being a good garden rose. ^nU. Bertha Lndi (Hybrid Poly.). — A fine pot variety, pure white chauiring to rose ; flowers larcre for its class. Mmi\ Caroline Testont (Hybrid Tea). — A strong growing, free blooming rose of the La France type. The coloring is deeper than the latter variety, and it is quite distinct from it in habit and foliage. ^farfjaret Diclson (Hybrid Tea). — A massive white hardy rose on the style of Merveille de Lyon, but superior to it in form and color. This promises to become a standard sort. 112 raOCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, Chrysanthemums. — Golden Weddinn. — Deep golden yellow, medium to late. This peerless variety adds a new form to the race. The upper petals are gracefully and irregularly overlaid and twisted, the lower ones hang down and twist inward toward the stem, the whole forming a loose globe. Flowers range from five to seven inches across ; the foliage and stems are perfect. Good Gracious. — A large pink variety, might be called a pink Kioto ; entirely distinct from anything in its color as yet offered. Gcttyshury. — A deep crimson variety which sported from Omar with us. The color is superb. In shape it is tlal with broad ribbon-like petals. Geraniums. — Gloire de Flessis. — A good variety of the Souvenir de Mirande type ; clear white, edged vermilion. P. Crozy. — Another year's trial has confirmed our previous good opinion of this fine sort. It has possibilities for development hardh' possessed by any other variety. The above are the really distinct varieties in a host of new soi-ts which we have been able to test up to the present. MiscELLANEoi'S. — Agcratum, Ldrcje floivermg rose. — This variety forms compact plants about twelve inches high, bearing large trusses of rose-colored flowers in such abundance as to almost cover the plant. Aster, White Comet. — A pure white aster, the flowers being very large, three to four inches across, suggestive of a Japanese chrysanthe- mum. Begonia, Vernon. — The color of the flowers is a deep scarlet. The foliage is remarkable ; at first green, when the plants are about two months old the leaves begin to turn red on the margins, and gradually the whole leaf and stem are colored. Seed sown in spring will produce blooming plants early in the summer. It is also valuable for winter bloomino;. Striped Tuberous-rooted Begonia. — In this new striped class will be found many handsome and unicjue combinations of color, such as yellow, oi-ange, scarlet, crimson, etc., all of which will be more or less striped and flecked with some other color. Calceolaria, Vesuvius. — A grand variety, the color being an intense scarlet ; the blossoms are of great size, perfectly formed and produced in large compact trusses. It comes perfectly true from seed. Pansy, Meteor. — A splendid new bedding pansy of a novel and most attractive tint, a bright terra cotta color which in the sunlight throws a striking fiery reflex ; of good size and perfect form. New Guillaud Pinks. — This new race originated with ]\I. Guillaud, a celebrated French specialist. The Guillaud pinks bloom profusely in the summer and autumn from spring-sown seed, the flowers are large and of perfect shape. This strain contains clear yellow and yellow stripes. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 113 Netc Cyclops Pinks. — These new piuks are the happj- result of a long series of crossings of Dianthus plumarius and caryophyllus, and will produce a new series of colors of great beauty ; in addition, each flower is ornamented with a large eye-like zone of velvety blood-red. In cold localities, the plants should be well protected, or better yet kept over in cold frames. They will flower the first season if the seed is sown reasonably early. Petunia, Carmen hyhrida nana compacta rosea. — This is very dwarf, not over a foot high; flowers brilliant rose pink with a white throat. It is very effective for beds and equally well adapted for pot culture. Poppy, Empress of China. — An extremely beautiful large poppy, probably the finest single annual variet}'^ in cultivation ; the flowers measure four to flve inches across, are pure satiny white with a distinct feathered margin of scarlet. The plants grow about two feet high. We had a plot of about twenty plants in our trial ground the past season which was a perfect picture when in bloom. Dwarf scMrlet salvia, Wm. Bedman. — This forms a compact bush fifteen inches high and two feet across. The flowers are of heavier substance than the older sort and remain in bloom longer on the plants. As a border or vase plant it will be indispensable, and as it will bloom abundantly in pots it will be of the greatest value as a market plant for florists. Zinnia elegans grandiflnra Ji. pi., Gen. .Tacqueminot. — This zinnia belongs to the compact-growing section, the plants are of even branching habit, about two feet high, and the flowers are large, very double and of perfect form. The color is rich, velvety crimson, exacll)'^ the shade of the famous Jacq. rose. Neir large Jf QIC ering rose Candytuft. — This is without doubt the finest candytuft grown, forming upright, bushy plants about one foot high, bearing immense umbels of exquisite rosy-flesh-colored flowers so abundant!}' as to hide the plant. For a bed in the garden, it is imusually effective. Coleus, Fire Crest. — This grand red bedding coleus originated with Mr. Wm. Ball, Spuyten Duyvil, N. Y. The habit is close and compact, very short jointed, so that the leaves overlap each other and give the effect of the entire plant as being one mass of brilliant red ; exposed to the brightest sunlight this coloring is intensified. It in no way competes with Verschaffeltii, in fact, the contrast is so marked that both could be planted together with advantage. Heliotrope, Lemoine^s giant hybrid. — These are grand improve- ments. In our trials of the past season, seed sown in April produced plants eighteen inches to two feet high in July. The clusters of bloom were immense, many measured six inches across. Colors lavender, white and shades of purple. (From seed sown in the greenhouse in March I raised many plants, set these out in open ground middle of 114 PROCEEDINGS OF EIGHTH CONVENTION, May and they began blooming end of June. Fine flowers, tine colors. Had trusses nine inches across. — W. F.) Nei-o French mirigold, Gilt Edge. — A large flowering variety of the double dwarf French marigold, differing from it in the more robust growth and in the larger and more perfectly double flowers. Oiant red mignonette, Guihieneuf s Buhy. — This new giant red- flowered mignonette is a most beautiful novelty, far superior to all other so-called reds ; it has large dense spikes of bright red flowers, the petals and feathery parts being substituted in this variety with large pro- tuberant red stamens of striking effect. The plants are of dwarf, compact, pyramidal habits, stems and branches short and erect. In addition to its merits as a bedding plant, it is of great value for pot culture. Variegated Moon Floiver. — The foliage is beautifully marked clear white and vivid green; the flowers are identical with the moon flower. Myosotis alpestris Victoria rosea. — The flowers of this new variety are of a lovely rose color, with the characteristic central double bloom as well as the habit and growth of the well known blue Victoria. Myosotis dissitiflora grandiflora. — This forget-me-not was raised by a specialist in Scotland, where it has received the highest enconiums from their critical gardeners as well as a certificate from the Royal Botanic Society, and is considered by authorities as the finest grown. The flowers are much larger than any other variety. BY W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., DOYLESTOWN, PA. Platycodon grandifioi-umpumilum. — From Japan, comes quite true from seed ; dwarf, compact and of erect growth. Flower large, bright blue. Blooms freely from seed the first year, and is perfectly hardy Giant-fioivered Bed Mignonette.— A variety secured in Germany last year, and undoubtedly one of the largest and most showy mignonettes in cultivation. A selection from Machet. Marguerite Carnations. — These have flowered freely with us the first year from seed sown in the open ground. They have also with- stood the winter without protection, and flowered again this summer, but not so fredly as they did the first season. Aster, Queen of Spring.— Resembles the Queen of the Market aster, but flowers from two to three weeks earlier. Of low dwarf growth, and suited for pot or border plants. Large pure white double flowers with Ions stems. Fine for cut-flower work. Triumph Aster. — Rich scarlet. It comes perfectly true from seed. 2^ew Comet Asters. — Seedlings come true in character, growing twelve to fifteen inches high, and forming regular floral pyramids of large double flowers measuring from three and one-half to four and one- half inches in diameter. SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS. 115 Begonia Venion. — Grows quickly from seed and comes true. It is a valuable bedding variety, as it grows and thrives in the sunniest posi- tions if kept well watered. From seeds sown in February it comes into flower in .June, and continues to make a brilliant effect until frost. The foliage is abundant, stiff and glossy, and of a rich green color spotted -and margined with bronze. Sunset Coleus. — A bedding strain embracing all the brilliant colorings. New Double Corn Flower. — Fully eighty per cent, come double and ^emi-double, and are much improved in size and variety. Fordhook Hollyhocks. — All come perfectly double, and there is a large variety of colors. Lobelia., Empress Augusta. — The largest pure white-flowered lobelia in cultivation. It is a sport from Emperor William, and notwithstand- ing that it has been selected for a number of years, and that even the seeds are white, it will still throw quite a large percentage of blue flowers ; but the white plants are so much superior in size of flower to any other white lobelia that it is well worth growing. Marigold, Brown Marble. — Of compact bushj^ growth, eight inches in height ; flowers perfectly double, and of a rich reddish brown color marked with orange. Marigold, Orange Ball. — Similar to the above, but with bright orange flowers. Pansy, Bosy Morn. — A beautiful shade of rosy red with a distinct white edge around each petal, while the three lower petals are blotched with a deep purplish red. Pansy, Fire King. — The three lower petals each have a large blotch of deep brown red, or magenta margined with yellow, while the upper petals are of a bright reddish brown. Pansy, Peacock. — So named because of the lovely ultramarine 6Iue contained in the upper petals of the flower. Pan.^y, Victoria Red. — A beautiful deep rich red color, far superior in color and size to the lied Kidinghood pansy. Petunia, Green Margined. — The large flowers are of a light rose color with handsomely veined throats, and a broad margin of clear light green. Petunia, Compact Veined. — So compact in growth as to make excellent pot plants without any support. The flowers are light rosy red, hand- somely veined. Petunia, new dark blue. — Flowers large and of an intense dark blue color like that of Clematis Jackmanii. PolyantJia Eo.^es, from seed. — From seed started in a cool green- house in spriu