Discount Book Offer Comprehensive Flower and Plant Guide- "Care and Handling of Flowers and Plants" Published by the Society of American Florists Introduction by A.H.S. President, Dr. Henry M. Cathey At last there is a complete reference guide for the care and handling of all fresh and growing products handled by professional florists. The book contains over 120 full color illustrations including fresh flowers, decorative foliage, flowering plants and green plants. Each illustration is accompanied by authoritative and precise information concerning care and handling. You will find information on temperature, light, water, fertilization, and common pests. There is also an abundance of other cultural facts designed to be passed on to the consumer. Published by the Society of American Florists, this book is soon to become the definitive care and handliJ1g guide for the floral industry. No one in­ volved with flowers and plants from production to sales can afford to be without this new and exciting guidebook. Photographs are reproduced on high­ quality paper treated with special Milar coating which assures that the pages cannot be ripped out of Large new full-color photographs are the binder. a special feature of the new SAF pub­ A Complete Reference Guide lication, the Care and Handling of Flowers and Plants. The back of each The publication is equally at home on the counter, fully-illustrated page contains all the used as a sales tool, or in the workroom used as a reference source. The pages are encased in an attrac­ information you need in an easy to use tive, durable heavy laminated binder that will last format. Four big sections in a three for years. The 3-ring, loose-leaf feature allows the ring binder: Fresh Flowers, Decorative book to lie flat for easy use and provides for future Greens, Green Plants and Flowering expansion or re-arrangement. Every step possible Plants. has been taken to assure a sharp, high quality image of every subject. The large illustrations clearly show ---------- -, the plant's or flower's specific characteristics. Ex­ r Please send me copies of the "Care and Han­ treme care has been taken to assure true color repre­ dling of Flowers and Plants". I enclose $50.00 per book, sentation. Above each illustration in bold print is I which includes postage and handling. I the botanic name, correct pronunciation, and com­ - Please Print: mon name of each subject. I Name ________________________________________ I Discount Price Address _______________________________________ This publication is not available to consumers, I I but the Society of American Florists is offering this City ___________ State______ Zip, _____ invaluable reference to members of the American I Horticultural Society because of their outstanding I Payment must accompany order. Address all orders to: working relationship with the floral industry. This "CARE AND HANDLING OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS" publication is normally available for $55.00, but is I c/o American Horticultural Society, I available to members of A.H.S. for $50.00 including Mount Vernon, VA 22121 postage and handling. L ---------- ...J American HCDrticulturist Volume 56 Number 2 April, 1977 For United Horticulture . the par­ ticular objec ts and business of The MURRAY KEENE, Editor American Horticultural Society are to JANE STEFFEY, Editorial Assistant promote and encourage na tional in terest ANTHEA DE VAUGHAN, Editorial Assistant in scientific research and education in DONALD WYMAN , Horticultural Consultant horticulture in all of its branches. ALEX BERRY, Art Director TOM STEVENSON, Book Department AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the JOHN SIMMONS, Production Coordination official publication of The American Horti cultural Society , 7931 East The American Horticultural Society, Publisher Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121 22308, and is issued in February, April, 703/768-5700 June, August, October and December. Membership in the Society au tomatical­ Iy includes a subscription to American Hort icu lturist and $1.50 is designated for An Editorial each issue of this publication. Member­ ship dues start at $15.00 a year. 2 " Dear Dr. Cathey-"-Henry M. Cathey Refer editorial matters to: Murray Keene American H orticulturis t A Sneak Preview Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121 3 -Editor Refer advertising m atters to : Publisher Services, Inc. 621 Duke Street Education Alexa ndria, Virginia 22314 6 Ivies-Henri and Rona Schaepman AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is d e­ 10 A Refresher for Gardeners-Milestones-Seedlings to Terrestrial voted to the dissemination of knowl­ edge in the science and art of growing Gardening-Henry M. Cathey ornamental plants, fruits , vegetables, 19 In Search of the Elusi ve Redstemmed Dogwood-Michael A. Dirr and related subjects. Original papers 36 New Vegetables and Flowers for 1977-Tom Stevenson which increase knowledge of plant m a­ terials of economic and aesthetic im- portance are invited. For manuscript specifications please address the editor, Gardener's Notebook Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. 4 Lawns-Tom Stevenson Replacement issues of AMERICAN 14 The Flowering of Spring-Judy Price HORTICULTURIST are available at a cost of $2.50 per copy, but not beyond 22 Come into the Garden-It's Spring!-Martha Prince twelve months prior to date of current 25 Under the Spreading Black Walnut Tree-Isabel Zucker issue. 32 Shingle Oak-Harrison L. Flint The opinions expressed in the articles 34 White is for a Woodland Spring-Martha Prince which appear in AMERICAN HORTI­ CUL TURIST are those of the au thors and are not necessarily those of the Society. They are presented as contributions to My Favorite Plant contemporary thought. 28 Sanguinaria and Trillium-Hemy Teuscher 31 Euonymus Likes our Illinois Woodland-Mrs. Ralph Cannon COVER PHOTO BY: John Armen-Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cyp rip edium Ca/ceo/us) This yellow beauty is a favorite of many wild flower enthusiasts. Mr. Armen has prepared an article "Gathering Wild Flowers-With a Camera" which is scheduled Second class postage paid at Alexandria, to appear in a subsequent issue of American Horticulturist. Virginia and at additional mailing of­ fices. Copyright © 1977 by The Ameri­ can Horticultural Society. Color separations by CHROMA·G RAPHICS INC 1 An Editorial "Dear Dr. Cathey. .. ff Letters, inquiries, referrals, and conversations often Yet, many of the traditional steps are still required to request the same recurring information: become a qualified horticulturist: " I want to become a horticulturist! Is it a profession • Interest with a future? Where can I receive good training? • Experimentation with plants Will there be a job for me when I am trained?" • One-to-one exchanges with others Thirty years ago these questions could be answered • Monitored work experiences easily and confidently. Then most people viewed hor­ • Study of horticultural literature, including seed ticulturists as commercial growers of cut flowers, con­ catalogs tainer (then pot) plants, nursery stock, vegetables and • Visits to gardens and shows fruit. The full intent of the training in the state­ • Involvement in community (and national-AHS) supported schools was to teach you to become a small horticultural activities businessman or (if you were very lucky) a grower for a • Focus on a specific career-molded to your basic large commercial firm. Enrollment in horticultural interests classes was small with emphasis on general training in There is much help available to give the training and agriculture with a major in a particular aspect-such as work experiences you require: Agronomy, Poultry, Animal Husbandry, and Horticul­ (1) The Directory of American Horticulture (1977 Edi­ ture. The smallest classes were in what we now call tion Revised)-available for $7.50 from AHS, Mount Urban Horticulture-house plants, bedding plants, Vernon, Virginia 22121. It gives a complete listing of and teaching new gardeners the basics. It took a great organizations, schools, correspondence courses and lo­ deal of interest to relate some of the courses to what you cations of display and research facilities. (WAIT! Don't wished to do professionally. Often working for a local send f or the Revised Edition until Jun e-we are making florist or nursery was more instructional than receiving the revisions now!) 'a wide range of credits in required agricultural courses. (2) Profession~1 organizations have career brochures I was fortunate to find a career in horticulture. It was available to send you: due to several factors: American Society for Horticultural Science Mount Vernon, V A 22121 • A strong need and experience instilled in me by American Association of Botanical Gardens and my family and community. Arboreta • An opportunity to talk on a one-to-one basis with Deparhnent of Horticulture gardeners (down the street and around the block) who New Mexico State University shared their knowledge, observations and enthusiasm Las Cruces, NM 88003 by the oral tradition. Garden Writers Association of America • Exposure to growing, marketing and instructional 101 Park Avenue, Room 607 situations which permitted me to become familiar with New York, NY 10017 thousands of plants and gardening problems. Society of American Florists • Years of trying to grow all kinds of plants-with 901 N . Washington Street many failures and some great discoveries. J earned Alexandria, VA 22314 money to buy plants by selling several hundred wa­ American Association of Nurserymen, Inc. tercolors of plants and birds. 230 Southern Building Later, professional training with a science orienta­ Washington, DC 20005 tion became necessary if I was to work with plants as a (3) Publications (American Horticulturist, Hortic ul­ Research Horticulturist. ture, Flo wer and Garden , Popular Gardening Indoors , Horticulture, today, is a vastly different profession. Plants Alive) often list job opportunities and discuss the Every aspect is bigger and more varied-career oppor­ new areas in gardening which are unfolding. (Blossom­ tunities, enrollments in classes, locations offering ing may be a more appropriate term.) training, and identity. The competition for jobs is (4) Shoe leather and door banging activities are still greater than ever.