The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-31
MIR. HERMAN M. OWEN, BIR1INGHAM'S NEWEST FLORIST, TALKS ABOUT THE "CITY BEAUTIFUL

I houses of T. c. owen & Son in Columbus, Miss
 Mr. Owen is a very charming and cul- tured gentleman, and knows his business from the ground up which is the way, of course that a florist should know his busi- ness.
 The 5S greenhouses from which he gets his supplies and which furnish wonderful plants, flowers and shrubs to many south ern cities. are composed of over 3OO,0OO feet of glass and last year two carloads of Easter lilies alone at one time were sent to St. Louis from these wonderful green houses, to be used during Eastertide. MT. Owen is young man-quite young but thoroughly versed in his profession, having had splendid opportunities and talk ing advantage of them, and, best of all, he is very much interested in the city beautiful idea in Birmingham, the place which he has chosen as his home
 Long before I decided to come to Bir- mingham I had heard of your city beau- tiful plan," MT. Owen said in chatting with me d few days ago about the parks and trees and streets of our city. "Bir- mingham has quite @ widespread reputa- tion as city. beautiful center and natur- ally I am very much interested. The work of beautifying a city is big task, especially young city. where there is so much to be accomplished, and the first and most important step is in the matter of planting trees and cultivating the parks Too much attention cannot possi- ply be given to such things. Being new conner to your city, l have studied things from every viewpoint and have made good many mental observations as to it's growth and development from the city beautiful standpoint. Birmingham is cap able of very satisfactory treatment in the matter of Identification. It has unusual advantages in its natural topography, the rolling lawns, and terraces, the broad streets. and wide sidewalks, the number of pretty parks and playgrounds, all mak- ing it conducive to the most attractive treatment.
 'Of course, it is difficult to predict ab- solutely the public's ultimate decision on an innovation in anything" MT. owen continued. 'To get right down to the city beautiful subject, although inaug urated here, I am told some time ago, but more specifically taking form last year. it is still new-in fact, vague to many, as yet. It should be a source of public interest and pride in the hearts of property owners. In truth, city beautiful can be made most valuable asset to Bir- mingham. Attainment of this end, how ever. demands great deal of interest. A little public spirit, a little hearty boost ing on the part of every individual will
 
 Have you ever considered rose grow ing? I would like to make a few sug- gestions for the benefit of those who are contemplating it for the coming season, now that they are starting their gardens and city beautiful plans," MT. Owen said. Rose growing, and. by that l mean watching the development, growth and habits of the different varieties, is a most interesting study. For instance, small rose bed of your own-even in ever so limited space. In choosing your faVorite varieties, be careful that you secure wig orous plants. No sooner than you realize success you will insist on having a large garden. The work is so healthful and pleasing that it is rapidly becoming as much fad as is amateur photography. In preparing a rose bed, select a sunny location. Dig out the bed to a depth of one or two feet, and about two feet in width. Then refill with a mixture of good soil and well routed COW manure, making provision for good drainage. Plant your roses in the center being careful to press the soil firmly about the roots soak the bed thoroughly at the finish. Everbloom- CTS may be set IS inches apart, the hybrid perpetuals about two feet When your plants have been set out keep the soil loose over the entire surface of the bed by frequent stirrings. An occasional mulch of routed manure, or wettings with weak manure water, Vess prove a great help throughout the bloonNng season. ''Of course, the main factor in promoting the city beautiful plan," MT. Owen sug- gested, 'is taking lively interest in youp own garden, trees. grass and plants. As result your work will inote others to try their hand. Delightful arrangements in odd shapes, and by combinations of various classes, may be worked out ac- cording to the individual planters fancy and ingenuity Some of the most desirable roses for city beautiful use are the Amer ican Beauty, Madam Joseph Schwartz, Golden Gate, President Smith, Maman Cochet, white and pink, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, Richmond, Mrs. Aaron Ward, Duchess De Brabant, Helen Gould, Xiii larney, white and pink, Radiance, La France, Mrs. George Shawyer, Paul Ney ron, Marie Gillott and Sunburst. With sincere hope of success for the city beau tiful, I shall make liberal donation of shrubbery and plants for the park sit uated between Fifteenth street and Four teenth avenue, which is capable of very beautiful treatment and is one of the most prominent public places in the residential section of the South Highlands"