Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-28
AMERICAN FLORIsTS.

[
 Mrs. George Robinson, of New York, is
 visiting friends in town for few days. AMERICAN FLORISTS.
 1 Their Recent Convention In PhiIadel- ph1a-A Grand Array of Rare And Choice Towering Plants - The Egyptian Lotus And The Victoria I Regfa-NOtes En Route.
 Snugly ensconced in rear seat of car on one of the Pennsylvania railroad trains, this | one leaving New York at.7:JO a. m, I found l myself greatly interested and surprised at the handsome manner in which all the grounds at all the stations and switching yards were laid out and adorned. and every 1 station like 8 private residence. The | otherwise waste ground was all graded and | turfed and were set with shrubs and beds of l flowers, the whole giving very pleasant ap- pearance. Here let me observe, in which all 1 travellers over this road will agree that it would be a great advance if similar improve ! ments could be made on every railroad in this country. The sesthetic and the culti- vating influence of these oases along 8 rail road journey, we refer to philosophers and poets to descant upon. Alas we neared Philadelphia I noticed the fine herds of Alderney cattle that are kept in that
  dodge was very noticeable, for every barn and shed that was in readable distance was painted, both roofs and sides, by some fam ing "ad." This, let me observe, is not very picturesque nor eesthetic. Arriving ill Philadelphia I went at once to the Horticul- tural hall and registered and fell to work taking notes of the exhibition and con- vention.
 The papers read before the convention were very able and to the point and were very well received. The discussion of ques- tions as they were handed into the box brought out some very pointed speeches and great deal of wit, especially from Robert McCrone of Thompsonville, Conn.,, who is an ex-representative of the legislature; who had his say and "vindicated the State of Connecticut" and Drought down the house." The making of flower work by MT. Le Moult of New York, was very interesting and instructive. He was assisted by corps of able assistants from his store.
 The exhibition of the Society of American Florists held in Horticultural hall, Philadel- phia, was very fine. The exhibits of straw work and florists requisites were very large, and the exhibitors had displayed great deal of taste in the selection of their varied de- signs and in the arrangement of the same Mir. Ed. Jansen, of New York, had the finest collection of new and very unique designs in Indian baskets, white
 birch bark designs, Swiss baskets and new
 
 and stained and wheat sheaves of the finest
 French and Italian wheat. The exhibit of Ernest Kraft was very fine and well arrang ed. The largest exhibits were from one oth- CT exhibitor, which occupied the entire stage of the room and contained some very fine straw work, also. There were enough de- signs to stock a halt dozen stores and made very creditable show.
 The display of letters made of immortelles for lettering flower pieces evidenced great deal of taste and patience in their make and finish. There were four exhibitors. The Immertelle Design company exhibited grand collection consisting of 125 designs in immortelles, grasses, cape flowers and dried flowers. A very noticeable design was pill low surmounted with sn arch with @ rising sun in center and made of white cape flow CTS; also very handsome scroll in new design. All of these designs were very skill fully wrought and every design was very perfect in shape and form.
 Some new designs were exhibited in bronzed grasses and dried flowers. A new design of sash bars was shown made from cypress, which had the merit of being very lasting. The agent gave out canes made from the same as souvenirs to the members All availed themselves of the same as long as they lasted. This display of plants and flowers was very fine. Gladiolas were ex- hibited by two parties, one sending one hun dred vases, all different varieties; another sent fifty varities. There were fine exhibits of striped, black and double petunias. Of gloxinias there were one hundred varities and all were very much admired for their beauti- full colors. There were one hundred varieties of geraniums shown by one of our largest growers. There were rare and beautiful exotic plants exhibited by several growers and they were great credit to the exhibit ors. One member exhibited two hundred varieties of the cactus family which were 8 very attractive feature of the exhibition. One can hardly imagine the odd and curious growths that they assume, much less de- scribe them. Asters were here of the most gorgeous colors and markings. Three vases of white fringed asters were especially fine. Some of the finest blue hydrangeas were grown in soil highly impregnated with iron. Two large tanks, ten feet square, were filled with the new varieties of water lilies and other aquatic plants that are attracting so much attention at present, and was the able of these were the Egyptian otus plants, which are vely striking plant, with their large leaves like the caladium, but on stalks ten feet high, and their flower stalks somewhat higher yet. The flowers were about six or eight inches in diameter and are of a delicate peach color, shading to white, and resemble the water ticeable were the Victoria Regias, or the Amazon lily, the leaves of which are about six feet across and the flower ten inches in diameter. On the first night the flower was very white, changing to beautiful pink on the last night.
 The remainder of the exhibit was made up of pots, terra cotta vases of beautiful de- signs boilers for heating, paint bulbs and point drivers, very ingenious and labor-sav- ing devices, new devices for ventilating, plant labels and new ways of setting glass, all very good and great help to those in the trade, both old and young.
 We were royalty entertained by the mem bers of Philadelphia, and everything that could be done to make it pleasant was done for us On Thursday we were treat treated to an excursion to Atlantic City, the great watering place of Philadelphia, and dinner at the United States Hotel, and there were 800 persons, or eleven carloads of us. Atlantic City is a beautiful place and should be seen to be appreciated. Our next excur- sion was to MT. George w. Childs' country seat at Wootton, and very enjoyable after noon it was All honor is due to our hosts for the royal manner in which we were en- tertained and language cannot express what the members felt.
 The next and last excursion was up the | Delaware river to Riverton, the home and nurseries of MT. Henry A, Dreer. Here, too, ! the members were entertained in the same manner as before and as I understand the l success of the meeting and the excursion l was largely due to MT. Dreer, for I under | stand he gave $500 at the start and said if | that was not enough he could be called upon l for more. This is the class of men that I made the convention what it was, decided 1 success.
 Mir. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia, was chosen president for the ensuing year and l the next convention is to be held in Chicago in 1887.
 Before saying good night to the typos, I l would speak of the comfortable accommoda- l tions and courteous officials of the North l amptop, on which boat went to New York | on the excursion to the land of brotherly l love. G. A. D.
 STATE CORRESPONDENTS.
 SOQthtngtoR. SPEECHES. SPORTS AND RIG TTME AT Tur