APRIL 7, 1S98. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 



771 



A Cluster of Hyacinths. 

 SIMPLE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. 



will pass through freely, with the ad- 

 dition of one-fifth of rotted cow ma- 

 nure and a liberal sprinkling of pure 

 hone tlour will be an excellent com- 

 post. A "liberal sprinkling" is rather 

 indetinite. so I will say one pint to a 

 bushel of soil can be used safely. If it 

 were mixed wi,h the soil a month oi- 

 two months before planting, so much 

 the better. The chrysanthemum is 

 called a free and even rank grower, 

 but over rich soil produces very large 

 soft flowers. The flowers produced 

 on a soft forced growth are in poor 

 condition to withstand the hand Ing 

 Lhey have to undergo before th y 

 reach the retail counter and to produce 

 durable, firm flowers a well matured 

 growth of the wood is as necessary as 

 is a good dry house and abundance of 

 fresh air. 



This unnaturally stimulated growth 

 may not be the whole cause of the 

 rust, which is fatal to some of our best 

 varieties, but it is certain that it ren- 

 ders the plant in an excellent condi- 

 tion to be attacked by the disease. The 

 rust usually appears In September and 

 later when there is promise of gr^at 

 flower buds. It is then that we are 

 subject to great changes of temp ra- 

 ture; if the growth is soft, produc d 

 either by too rich a soil or too much 



water at the roots or even too much 

 moisture in the house, produced by 

 water not draining off freely under the 

 paths and benches. That grand varie- 

 ty Golden Wedding has been grown 

 in the neighborhood of Buffalo since 

 its introduction. We hear of its fa 1- 

 ure in many paces, but where there 

 is no stagnant water in the house, and 

 the roots have received it sparing y, 

 and planted in a soil that water passes 

 freely through, I have not seen a VcS- 

 tige of disease on it. This grand gold- 

 en yellow will hold its own with any 

 new varieties, particu arly when the 

 grower wi.l learn to withhold water. 

 It cannot be done right in a soil that 

 the water does not pass freely through. 

 To sum up this particular point, en- 

 courage a free growth till buds are 

 selected, then gradually withhold wa- 

 ter which matures the wood and as- 

 sists bud formation. To the inexpe- 

 rienced let me say that no serious 

 check in growth must be given but 

 merely less water than formerly, 

 which will firm the growth. 



For early varieties, where crown 

 buds are used, care must be taken not 

 to resume free watering until the buds 

 are well formed, otherwise we will not 

 get perfect flowers, but many unsala- 

 ble ones. After the buds are well form- 



ed the judicious use of animal manure, 

 either in the shape of a mulch or li- 

 quid, is safe and beneficial. I prefer 

 to apply in a liquid form, as we can 

 keep better track of the condition of 

 the soil. 



While a free circulation is at all 

 times necessary as well as keeping the 

 house dry, from the time the buds 

 show color till the flowers are cut, a 

 gentle fire heat should also be put on 

 as soon as we get cool, damp weather 

 and the ventilators kept open day and 

 night as long as possible. A sprink- 

 ling of air slaked lime at intervals 

 through the growing season under the 

 benches and walks will keep the at- 

 mosphere sweet and help the plants. 



The chrysanthemum is affl.cted with 

 most of the plant enemies we have to 

 contend with. The black, yellow and 

 green aphis can be kept down with a 

 moderate but regular smoking, but 

 make sure to clear them of all aphis 

 before the buds are far advance d. 

 Thrip and red spider sometimes make 

 their attacks during hot spells, but can 

 be kept down by a proper use of the 

 hose. 



When the young plants are set in the 

 soil of the bench give them a thorough 

 watering to settle the soil around the 

 roots. Plant all varieties firmly. For 

 tall growing sorts inclined to weak 

 stems, a uniform pounding of the soil 

 after the plants have made new roots 

 will make the root action slower and 

 stronger and the stem will be corre- 

 spondingly stronger and shorter joint- 

 ed. 



Be always very careful when water- 

 ing, particularly with the early varie- 

 ties, and a good look over the bench 

 before you begin will let you be aware 

 of spots in the bed that may go another 

 day or two. X have often noticed that 

 where all parts of the bench were wa- 

 tered alike, the outside rows came into 

 flower considerably earlier than the 

 interior plants. The outside rows get- 

 ting more light and air dry out quick- 

 er, thus hastening bud formation. By 

 care in keeping the bench at an even 

 degree of moisture you can bring in a 

 crop evenly, which is a cons deration 

 both as to price you get for your flow- 

 ers and your ability to clean up the 

 bench for succeeding crops. Syringe 

 during the growing season once or 

 twice a day, as the weather may re- 

 quire, but always carry enough to al- 

 low foliage to dry before night. 



In using liquid manure do not apply 

 when the soil is very dry. If applied 

 after a moderate watering there is less 

 danger of over feeding, which should 

 be discontinued entirely after the flow- 

 ers show color. In concluding these 

 rather lengthy remarks on watering 

 I will say when you do water be sure 

 that it is enough to wet the soil clear 

 through to the boards of the bench or 

 bottom of the pot as the case may be. 

 When you have acquired the science 

 of watering and practice it carefully, 

 wisely and faithfully you will have 

 gained about 17 points out of 20 to- 

 wards being a good gardener. 



August the 10th is as early as it is 

 generally advisable to take the buds of 



