"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
link.net...
Yesterday I picked up a bunch of old copies of the AOS Bulletins. People
bring them to the society meetings all the time but I never really thought
I'd read old magazines. What a blast!

The first think that jumped out when I was reading 30 year old issues
(1974)
was there was no web sites or email addresses. You actually had to write
a
letter or call people to order something. We take this for granted today.
I seldom read an ad today that doesn't have a reference to the web to see
more about the product.



I picked up a bunch of old magazines called 'The Paphiopedilum World'
published in Southern California, but with a world wide distribution. It
went out of business in the late 70s. I too was struck not only by the need
to phone or write to everyone for information, but that THEY WROTE BACK!
What a concept! Also there were several articles about how people traded
paphs across international borders with aplomb, CITES had either just been
enacted or was about to be enacted. Made me very jealous.




It seems that more species were sold in 1974 than are advertized today.

I noticed the same thing, but even in the short time I've been growing
orchids. Used to be I'd look at the ads in the back of the mag and I had no
idea what these species names were! I had to look up each and everyone.
Now there are almost *no* species vendors. Just Countryside, and Andy's.


My
speculation is that 30 years ago duplication of plants was by division, so
awarded plants were just not available like today.

Very true. Flasking happened in the mid 50s, no? Mericloning even later.

The articles seem to be focused more on problems and culture. I'm finding
them interesting and fun to read. Wouldn't it be nice if someone compiled
a
"Best of AOS Bulletin" book comprised of the best articles of the past 50
years? I'd buy it.


That was one of the intents for the web page, making a 'Best Of' section.
Whether it was to be a Members Only section of what. They never got too far
along that discussion.



If you get a chance to get some old copies of the magazine pick them up
and
take a look. They do make fun reading.


I agree. They are a great learning tool.

K Barrett

"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
link.net...
Yesterday I picked up a bunch of old copies of the AOS Bulletins. People
bring them to the society meetings all the time but I never really thought
I'd read old magazines. What a blast!

The first think that jumped out when I was reading 30 year old issues
(1974)
was there was no web sites or email addresses. You actually had to write
a
letter or call people to order something. We take this for granted today.
I seldom read an ad today that doesn't have a reference to the web to see
more about the product.



I picked up a bunch of old magazines called 'The Paphiopedilum World'
published in Southern California, but with a world wide distribution. It
went out of business in the late 70s. I too was struck not only by the need
to phone or write to everyone for information, but that THEY WROTE BACK!
What a concept! Also there were several articles about how people traded
paphs across international borders with aplomb, CITES had either just been
enacted or was about to be enacted. Made me very jealous.




It seems that more species were sold in 1974 than are advertized today.

I noticed the same thing, but even in the short time I've been growing
orchids. Used to be I'd look at the ads in the back of the mag and I had no
idea what these species names were! I had to look up each and everyone.
Now there are almost *no* species vendors. Just Countryside, and Andy's.


My
speculation is that 30 years ago duplication of plants was by division, so
awarded plants were just not available like today.

Very true. Flasking happened in the mid 50s, no? Mericloning even later.

The articles seem to be focused more on problems and culture. I'm finding
them interesting and fun to read. Wouldn't it be nice if someone compiled
a
"Best of AOS Bulletin" book comprised of the best articles of the past 50
years? I'd buy it.


That was one of the intents for the web page, making a 'Best Of' section.
Whether it was to be a Members Only section of what. They never got too far
along that discussion.



If you get a chance to get some old copies of the magazine pick them up
and
take a look. They do make fun reading.


I agree. They are a great learning tool.

K Barrett

Give them to a local AOS Student.

K Barrett

"Steve" wrote in message
...

I started getting the AOS Bulletins in 1976. I was finally out of
college and had a job so I could afford to join the AOS and be
tempted by the ads. I still have every one of them stored away. It
seemed like a good idea at first but now I'm not so sure. When I
moved into this house in 1980, they fit nicely in a medium sized
box. When/if I move again, I don't think they will be coming with me.

Give them to a local AOS Student.

K Barrett

"Steve" wrote in message
...

I started getting the AOS Bulletins in 1976. I was finally out of
college and had a job so I could afford to join the AOS and be
tempted by the ads. I still have every one of them stored away. It
seemed like a good idea at first but now I'm not so sure. When I
moved into this house in 1980, they fit nicely in a medium sized
box. When/if I move again, I don't think they will be coming with me.

Crap! I wish you were still there - it's a short distance away.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"TRAINMAN9" wrote in message
...
The second thing that I noticed was how many vendors that no longer are
in
business 30 years later.

We were one of those vendors who advertised in both the AOS Bulletin and
Orchid
Digest in the 80's. When we first started the commercial end of the
business we
had an active paph hybridizing program with about 25 crosses using mostly
multi-flowering species or primary hybrids.

Unfortunately we made a poor business decision and abandoned our breeding
program and concentrated on importing asian species and buying plants from
wholesale sources.

Back then it took a long time to get a business established and when it
seemed
that we were finally making progress my partner disagreed on the direction
we
should take and the business was closed down.

The house where our greenhouse was located was sold after my partner's
father
died. The greenhouse is now gone without a trace. The only thing left is
the
small storage shed and the work room we built.

The name of the company was "Crystal Orchids" and it was located in
Harleysville Pa.

Crap! I wish you were still there - it's a short distance away.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"TRAINMAN9" wrote in message
...
The second thing that I noticed was how many vendors that no longer are
in
business 30 years later.

We were one of those vendors who advertised in both the AOS Bulletin and
Orchid
Digest in the 80's. When we first started the commercial end of the
business we
had an active paph hybridizing program with about 25 crosses using mostly
multi-flowering species or primary hybrids.

Unfortunately we made a poor business decision and abandoned our breeding
program and concentrated on importing asian species and buying plants from
wholesale sources.

Back then it took a long time to get a business established and when it
seemed
that we were finally making progress my partner disagreed on the direction
we
should take and the business was closed down.

The house where our greenhouse was located was sold after my partner's
father
died. The greenhouse is now gone without a trace. The only thing left is
the
small storage shed and the work room we built.

The name of the company was "Crystal Orchids" and it was located in
Harleysville Pa.

All

It must have been 1992, as my then-girlfriend was very
unsympathetic, when I saw the owners on CNN, having been wiped out by the
hurricane. I don't know what impact the Benomyl had, but the storm must
have did them in.

Just a historical note and update re Jones and Scully. Benlate, not Benomyl,
got them first. They were the first orchid company to settle, so benefited
well. Hurricane Andrew got them just as they started rebuilding from Benlate.
By this time, management was in the hands of the younger Scullys, who decided
enough was enough.

But Orchid growers don't always fade away. Robert Scully, Jr., was at the helm
of the Board of Trustees of Selby Gardens, during the Management Turmoil and
The Phrag Kovachii incident, so often reported in the local media. Bob is still
growing orchids here in Sarasota, and always looking for some of those
wonderful old Jones and Scully crosses that got sent flying across the
Everglades by Andrew. Bob and his wife Sue are great and generous assets to the
Sarasota Orchid Community.

Cheers

Karen and Jerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Camp Lot A Noise Tropicals (C.L.A.N.) http://www.clanorchids.com/
Orchid Species, Hybrids, Supplies, Ezine, Books and Photos.
Chat (941)351-2483 Order only 1-800-351-CITE

All

It must have been 1992, as my then-girlfriend was very
unsympathetic, when I saw the owners on CNN, having been wiped out by the
hurricane. I don't know what impact the Benomyl had, but the storm must
have did them in.

Just a historical note and update re Jones and Scully. Benlate, not Benomyl,
got them first. They were the first orchid company to settle, so benefited
well. Hurricane Andrew got them just as they started rebuilding from Benlate.
By this time, management was in the hands of the younger Scullys, who decided
enough was enough.

But Orchid growers don't always fade away. Robert Scully, Jr., was at the helm
of the Board of Trustees of Selby Gardens, during the Management Turmoil and
The Phrag Kovachii incident, so often reported in the local media. Bob is still
growing orchids here in Sarasota, and always looking for some of those
wonderful old Jones and Scully crosses that got sent flying across the
Everglades by Andrew. Bob and his wife Sue are great and generous assets to the
Sarasota Orchid Community.

Cheers

Karen and Jerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Camp Lot A Noise Tropicals (C.L.A.N.) http://www.clanorchids.com/
Orchid Species, Hybrids, Supplies, Ezine, Books and Photos.
Chat (941)351-2483 Order only 1-800-351-CITE

They may not all be "out of business" just 'cuz you're not seeing them in
the AOS mag anymore. We advertised in AOSB nka Orchids for a couple of
years, but it never gave a decent return on the investment. We get much
better returns on our adv. $$ in other places.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
link.net...
Yesterday I picked up a bunch of old copies of the AOS Bulletins. People
bring them to the society meetings all the time but I never really thought
I'd read old magazines. What a blast!

The first think that jumped out when I was reading 30 year old issues
(1974)
was there was no web sites or email addresses. You actually had to write
a
letter or call people to order something. We take this for granted today.
I seldom read an ad today that doesn't have a reference to the web to see
more about the product.

The second thing that I noticed was how many vendors that no longer are in
business 30 years later. I guess people retire and their business just
fades away from memory. I'm sure there is an interesting story behind
each
one of these advertizers that are no longer around. I only recognize
about
10% of the companies that advertised. I have a stack from 1962 that I'm
sure are going to even worse for this.

It seems that more species were sold in 1974 than are advertized today.
My
speculation is that 30 years ago duplication of plants was by division, so
awarded plants were just not available like today. The hybrids that were
available aren't varieties that I recognize. There seems to be a big
demand for cymbidiums which you seldom see advertized today.

Prices are interesting, too. It seems funny to see plants for $2 each and
some awarded ones for hundreds of dollars.

The articles seem to be focused more on problems and culture. I'm finding
them interesting and fun to read. Wouldn't it be nice if someone compiled
a
"Best of AOS Bulletin" book comprised of the best articles of the past 50
years? I'd buy it.

If you get a chance to get some old copies of the magazine pick them up
and
take a look. They do make fun reading.

On 27 Mar 2004 15:20:54 GMT, (Clanorchid) wrote:

Just a historical note and update re Jones and Scully. Benlate, not Benomyl,
got them first.

Here's some more info from the Dupont website. The problem was with
the dry-flowable form of Benlate, the active ingredient of which is
benomyl. Some batches were contaminate with the herbicide atrazine.

deg

"Before its production ceased in 2001, Benlate® had long been one of
the company’s most successful fungicides and was registered worldwide
for many crops. The active ingredient in Benlate®, benomyl, was first
synthesized by DuPont research Hein L. Klopping in July 1959. Benlate®
was introduced in 1970 in a wettable powder form made at the Belle,
West Virginia, plant. In 1987 DuPont introduced an alternative,
dry-flowable form (Benlate® 50 DF) that was recalled in 1989 and 1991
due to the presence of the herbicide atrazine in some lots. The
recalls generated hundreds of claims, and growers and their lawyers
began blaming Benlate® 50 DF (even product free of atrazine) for a
wide range of plant problems. DuPont initially paid many claims to
maintain good customer relations, and at the same time initiated the
most intensive investigation in the history of U.S. agriculture to
determine whether Benlate® 50 DF could cause plant damage. When the
testing could not duplicate the claimed plant injuries, the company
declined to pay any further claims. "

What a concept! Also there were several articles about how people traded
paphs across international borders with aplomb, CITES had either just been
enacted or was about to be enacted. Made me very jealous.


We used to bring in about 200-300 paphs a year from Thailand until the CITES
ban went into effect. It was said at the time that European collectors stripped
complete sites and sold callosums and other species as pot plants which were
thrown out after they flowered, not unlike Home Depot and Lowes plants.

At the Eastern Orchid Congress held in King of Prussia Pa in the early 80's,
before CITES, Chester Kawacomi from South River Orchids was selling
bellatulums, concolors, niveums and other species bare root for $5.00 each.
They were piled two and three feet high and when there was room he just opened
another carton and tossed them onto the tables. He must have sold two or three
thousand during the show.