The farmer and mechanic., 1911-04-18

tulips have fallen into mediocritv
Ihey are chiefly used for outside orna-
mental bedding. No one takes any
decided interest in them and they are
as cheap as any potted plants sold.
Sweet Peas in High Favor.
Sweet peas are rapidly gaining in
favor for cutting purposes not ONLY
in America but in Europe. This
spring season. the United States
Agricultural Department distributed
seven and one-half tons OF sweet-pea
seed, chiefly to private growers This
OF course, would represent but frac-
ton Of the quantity raised by the
florists for their own use. In England
the interest in sweet-pea growing is
now at its height One Of the London
newspapers is offering prizes amount
ing to $500 900 for sweet peas grown
by amateurs The American Sweet
Pea Society is one Of the most active
floral clubs Of the country. Among
its efforts this year Will be the pro
ouctlon Of sun-proof crimson bios
som of goodly size. There have been
some experiments in producing double
sweet peas but these do not obtain il:
popular favor. The single flower in
its natural form, with a greater Va
Iiety Of brilliant shades, and an III
crease In size, especially in white and
light colored flowers, seems the grea.-
est requirement Of the trade
NioletS, of course. are ever in
favor 1t may interest the reader to
know that the California violet is TO
longer sold to any great extent. 1t
is replaced in the trade by the variety
known as the Princess of Wales
The Rich in Perfume Carnation.
Next to the rose in favor for all
the year-round sales comes the carna
tion with its rich perfume. The Car
nation Soc ETY. of America has done
much to improve this magnificent
foWer. which through its influence
has had increased popularity in Lon
don. One Of the greatest drawbacks
in the production OF large carnations,
especially those forced III the hot
houses, is the tendency OF the calyx
to split down one side and thus ruin
the flower. Only the ingenuity Of Z
Yankee could overcome this difficulty
by the invention Of an artificial calyx.
This is a little arrangement Of gum
paper which fastens around the base
of the flower and holds It n shape.
AS it is Of the right shade of green
it is not noticed by the customer.
Some florists only use the paper
calyx while the flower is growing and
remove it before the flower leaves
| the shop. Others have discovered that
these artificial calyxes keep the bios
SONS in good condition longer, so they
are utilized extensively on the cut
howers used for decorations. Small
tissue paper caps have also been de-
vised to prevent roses from opening
/! too soon. These, however, do not
| Deem as practical as the artificial
! calyxeS for carnations, ana as yet
| are not in general use.
The Florists Growing Trade.
The florists trade requires con-
,fv 1ar fnn 6an
! it now extends INTO channels unknown
! q generation ago. The demand for
| floral decorations was never so great
| and the progressive florist is con-
] stantly on the alert for new ideas
| that will give attractive results.
| Philadelphia florist who visited Rome
| last wear conceived the idea OF a terra
! Gotta reproduction Of the RUNS Of the
Forum which could be used in Horal
! decoration. Representations of the
/ stones at the top and base, as Well
| as several OF the broken pillars pro-
| vide receDtacles for flowers and this
| bit Of classic art formed an attractive e
window piece during the past winter
| Even funeral pieces require more
| skill and ingenuity than in the con-
ventional pillow, wreath. cross OF an
! Choir that filed the needs few years
| ago One of the most elaborate tun-
| aral pieces ever produced In this coun-
| trv was the floral world made last
month by firm in the West. It was
ordered for the funeral Of publisher
of a periodical called ''The World
! and consisted of an immense globe
| showing the continents formed OF
yiolets filled in with white carnations
| to represent the oceans. This piece
has been extensively photographed
and was much admired as unique
| and beautiful design.
Great Flower Shows
| u,he GREAT annual flower show held
/ ~, +ha American Florists Society in
Roston at the beginning Of this month
was in many respects the greatest
| exhibition Of it's kind ever held IN the
world. The expenses were fabulous