Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-18
Florists and is a member Of the executive COM
mittee Of the society for 1891 and 1892.
Las. Evenings Session.

Florists and is a member Of the executive COM
mittee Of the society for 1891 and 1892.
Las, Evenings Session.
At last evenings session of the Society of
American Florists, Mr.. Richard Bagg Of Bridge
ton. y. j., being unavoidably absent, his paper
on Hints ON Hybridizing and the Improve
ments of Plants" was read by Mr.. J. n. May.
Mr.. Bagg was of the opinion that crossing and
hybridizing can only improve the plant where
the utmost care is taken in the selection of the
seedlings TO be used. In crossing plants, he
held. effort should be made to improve the
whole plant. perfect flower cannot be ex-
pected from weak and slender stem and even
if such result should be produced it should
not satisfy the florist, and the effort to improve
should continue until the plant itself is
strengthened and perfected. The work of cross
ing plants is largely carried on in the dark.
While there are doubtless conditions and prin-
ciples that will invariably produce certain re-
suits. these principles are not known, and in
hybridizing plants the result is greatly matter
of chance. Mr.. Bagg argued that careful
record should be kept of all experiments in
crossing plants, the character of the soil. the
condition of the atmosphere, the state of the
temperature and the conditions of the plants
Themselves BY this method the laws affecting
the combination of two plants in one might be
discussed and some accurate knowledge OBJ
tanned of the best methods of producing de-
sired results. Roses are easily crossed, but the
results are very uncertain. The best time to
cross carnations is in the latter part of March
or the early part of April. Mr.. Bagg's paper
also discussed the problem of parental re-
semblance. In his own experience he had dis
covered that the resemblance of the offspring
to the male parent is the rule. In selecting
seed for the purpose Of crossing strawberries
the first berry ripening on the plant selected
should be taken, as its seed will produce the
best result.
THE PROPOSED FAIR EXHIBIT.
At the conclusion Of the paper Mr.. John
Thorp, chief foriculturist at the worlds fair,
gave an interesting account of the floral ex-
hibits to be made At the great exhibition. Mr..
Thorp said the importance Of the fair to horti-
culturalIsts could not be overestimated. At
this time next year, he remarked systematically,
we will be fifty years ahead of what we are to-
day. He was sorry to see that there is a lack of
interest on the part of American florists regard
ing the fair. Europeans. however, are fully
awake to its importance. and anxious to
occupy every inch of space they can obtain.
The main horticultural building at the fair
covers an area of 240. 900 square feet. exclusive
of the two open courts in the central portion of
the building, which contain 1000 square feet.
One of these courts is TO be taken up by an
aquatic garden. The other will be entirely
occupied by plants from California. In the in
terror of the building an area OF about five and
half acres has been set apart for Horticulture.
1llS. however. docs NOT take up near all the
space the building affords. Room is also pro-
vided for an exhibition of all manner of goods
pertaining TO the florists work. There are to
BE- greenhouses, each one constructed by diff
ferent builder, so that the best styles wIth all
the variations possible can be obtained. The
exhibition on the wooded island. which is also
to be under the division OF horticulture, Mr..
Thorp said. will make the island the most beau
tiful spO; on the face of the globe.
INTERESTING POINTS.
He described the architecture of the building
for horticultural exhibits at some length. The
dome is ll3 feet high with diameter at the
base of ls7 feet. 1t has been impossible in
ranging the exhibits under the dome to obtain
plants of such size that they would not appear
diminutiye in comparison with the great
height Of the structure. To obyiatc the diff
Guilty miniature mountain Of rockwork has
been erected. II rises to height of sixty feet
and has base eighty feet in diameter. Upon
this the plants will be arranged. and it is
thought the effect will be very satisfactory.
American florists, the speaker thought, are
not in n position to compete with the florists of
Europe in the matter of special classes Of
flowers II is the intention. however, of the
department of the fair with which he Is identi-
fed to cover in the American exhibit the entire
floral kingdom as far as it can be done. All the
specimens may not be perfect but all the spe-
cies will be represented. From Europe they
want everything exhibited that is beautiful and
that can be made amenable to American con-
ditions. He was sorrv to have to state that
when he wanted package of seed from Ameri-
can plants he generally had to send to Europe
for il. This, he thought, discredit to
European florists. but how it reflected upon
American growers he did not like to say. He
hoped. however. that the American florists
would make such record for themselves at this
fair next year that they could never more be
justly charged with lack of enterprise.
The exhibits at the fair would be so arranged
that time will be allowed for each class of
flowers. according to their seasons. That is,
there will be roses in June, gladiolas in August,
chrysanthemums early possible. Regard
ing applications for space. Mr. Thorp said the
Europeans have asked for more by one-half
than have the American florists. There was
yet time. however. for the Americans to redeem
themselves. and he urged each member of the
society to grow someth:ng-if only one plant
and send it to the fair the result of his own
h.ndiwork. Fifty million people. ne said, will
see the show and European florists will have
advertisements as big as town lots in Chicago
THE QUESTION BOX.
Messrs. Craig and Hill urged the members of
the society to follow Mr.. Thorps advice. and
the remainder of the session was spent i'll read
ing answers to questions dropped in the ques-
ton box. Most of these related to the best
variety Of flowers to be grown by florists. The
questions were answered by III. E. Chiefly of
Paterson. " j.. John Saul of this city. Z. G..
Hill. Julius Rears, W. s. Clark. J. D. Isely,
Vim. Scott, j. W. Manning, j. n. May and ].
Dunlap.