1941: Horticulture

During 1941 the interest in horticulture and the horticultural problems, on the whole, fared well. While there are no Government statistics on the status of horticulture, such barometers as do exist all show an upward trend. Attendance at the big Spring Flower Shows throughout the country reached new heights as did also the circulation of the leading horticultural and garden magazines. Seed companies and nurseries reported very satisfactory gains over the preceding two years, despite the fact that the department stores, chain stores and even the big mail order houses are doing a rapidly increasing business in this field.

For the third successive year, one factor which was not entirely favorable was the weather. A late and mean spring was followed by a spell of premature summer weather which brought out simultaneously flowers that normally would bloom several weeks apart. This added to the severe damage done many hardy plants, particularly broadleaved evergreens, by an unusual combination of bare ground, extremely cold weather and high winds during late winter.

A late summer and fall drought of almost unprecedented extent and severity not only put an end to the season's effort of many amateur gardeners, but dealt extensive injury to commercial crops throughout the East and Middlewest and even left many towns and small cities without a water supply.

On the West Coast, on the contrary, unprecedented rains delayed both the planting and the harvesting of many seed and bulb crops.

Seed and Bulb Supply.

This factor, together with an almost total shutdown on the importation of seeds and bulbs from abroad has left shortages in many items for the spring of 1942. This has proved most serious in the case of a number of vegetables, such as carrots and onions, which will be wanted in greater quantities than normally because of the war garden program which is to be carried out on a national scale.

The latest survey on the available supply of vegetable seeds, however, indicates that, with care and the substitution of some varieties of the same species for others which are usually more in demand, there will be enough vegetable seed to go around. The Department of Agriculture urges that particular care be taken in the preparation of soil and sowing seeds more thinly so that less 'thinning out' than usual will have to be done, in order that there may be sufficient seed to meet the demand.

The supply of bulbs for fall planting, however, was much more adequate than a year ago, due in part to increased importations of some items from England, particularly tulips, which more than offset the absence of any importations from Japan. A much more important factor was the increase in American bulb production. The beginning of this industry in the United States really dates from the time of the first World War. There is every indication that the impetus given to this comparatively new enterprise in America by the present War will not only see it firmly established, but on so broad a scale that the American market for flower bulbs in the future is likely to be adequately supplied from home sources.

Science in Horticulture.

Perhaps the most important thing in the development of science as applied to horticulture during the past year has been the wide introduction of starter solutions in connection with transplanting and setting out seedling plants. The term starter solution has been given to highly concentrated liquid fertilizers applied in the furrow or the planting hole at the time of setting out plants, or to the surface immediately after.

The use of chemical starter solutions in this way is an outgrowth of the so-called 'Chemical Gardening' which has been in vogue for the last few years. The interest in Soilless Gardening — the growing of plants in water or in inert material such as sand, gravel or cinders — by means of adding carefully balanced chemical solutions has, so far as the amateur is concerned, practically disappeared. Some commercial greenhouse crops, such as roses, carnations, and tomatoes, have been grown very successfully and for these soilless culture is being extended. However, for the amateur with necessarily limited equipment, it has not proved very practical.

Starter solutions for transplanting, however, can be used by anyone. The highly concentrated fertilizers manufactured for the purpose are merely mixed with water and applied (in the home garden) with an ordinary watering can. Directions should be carefully followed as this — like other good things — can be overdone.

In reality the starter solution practice is not a new thing. Market gardeners of a generation or two ago frequently used liquid manure, made by mixing chicken manure or cow manure with water and then diluting it to the proper strength, in setting out such crops as lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes.

The automatic ventilation of greenhouses has been developed during the past year or two to a point where commercial installations are now being made. This of course offers a tremendous saving in labor and also results in the maintenance of a much more even temperature in the houses. For the amateur who has a small greenhouse and must be away during the day the advantages are obvious. The automatic equipment, which is not unduly expensive, does away with the danger of having a greenhouse full of plants injured by a sudden drop or rise in temperature.

In plant breeding the use of the drug colchicine, for which such marvelous results were predicted a few years ago, has given us little worth while. Most of the new varieties developed by the use of the drug, while frequently showing an increase in size of flower, or a change in the habit of the plant, has in most instances resulted in forms so abortive that they have had little appeal for the general public. However, colchicine has made possible crosses which could not before be accomplished and in this respect promises to be of real value to the plant breeder.

The use of X-rays in plant breeding has also fallen far short of the claims at first made for it. Two new calendulas introduced in 1942 under the name of the 'X-Ray Twins' are said to have resulted from X-ray treatment of the parents.

Preparations of Vitamin B — so widely hailed a couple of years ago as the most marvelous discovery of all time in horticulture — has disappeared from the public eye almost as rapidly as it gained ascendency.

Plant Breeding.

Plant breeding is of course the most important part of horticulture — and the most important thing in plant breeding during the past year has been the further swing of this combination art and science to America. Even before the War started there was a strong tendency in this direction. The events of the last few years, and particularly of the last twelve months, have inevitably accelerated this trend to the point where, in all probability, American leadership in this field will be maintained for a long time to come.

Most striking of the new annuals introduced during the past year was a new Morning Glory called 'Pearly Gates,' a sport from the popular Heavenly Blue variety of this species. It is interesting to note that 'Pearly Gates' received more votes from the expert judges who conduct the All-American Trials than any other annual submitted since the All-America Committee began its work in 1933.

Among perennials, one of the most outstanding developments was the strain of extra hardy chrysanthemums developed at the University of Chicago. This new type has not yet been distributed to the public so it is too early to tell how it will work out in actual garden tests, but the results of experiment at Chicago looks most promising.

In roses, for the majority of new varieties of which we have always looked across the water, American breeders are continuing the work of developing types entirely distinct from the garden or hybrid tea rose which has been sent to us by the hundreds from abroad. Good American hybrid teas have been developed also. 'Heart's Desire,' the only rose to be given All-America Committee recommendation this year, was developed in California. But it is for extra hardy and vigorous types of bush, shrub and climbing roses, resulting in many instances from crosses from native American species, that the American hybridizers have become most famous. And it is beyond a doubt roses of these types which will be of most practical use for the average American gardener, especially during war conditions when he will have to cut down the time he can devote to ornamental gardening for other activities such as vegetable growing.

Trends in Horticulture.

The one outstanding trend, of course, is the increased interest in vegetable growing. Despite the fact that the Department of Agriculture seemed to look with disfavor upon any great increase in the number of home vegetable gardens throughout the country (other than those on farms), this interest has continued to rise in an irresistible tide. Those individuals and organizations who went through the 'War Garden' movement of the first World War are interested in seeing that such gardening as may be done this time by the amateur shall be so guided and directed that results obtained will be more satisfactory.