January 4, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^^Ar>,%9h . ^a/iA/^ 



Qnestlons by our readers in line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promtply answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such eommuuications should invariably be addressed to the oftce of HORriLULiUKh.. 



Coelogyne cnstata 



As the days begin to get longer it will be well to let 

 the temperature rise to 55 to 58 degrees which will be 

 quite high enough for this orchid. Take advantage of 

 every suitable occasion to give ventilation so as to keep 

 the atmosphere fresh and sweet. From this out they 

 will require very careful attention in watering and firing. 

 When there is a spell of damp and mild weather always 

 keep on some air and enough of fire heat to insure the 

 right temperature which should be about 60 degrees. 

 The changeable and trying weather will demand con- 

 stant watchfulness with airing and firing. These or- 

 chids do not like to be forced into flower and should 

 never be kept any higher than 58 degrees at night. 

 When over forced they are very apt to hang fire in open- 

 ing and the flowers are never so good as when grown 

 cooler. Do not keep them too wet while in flower. 



Bedding Plant Cuttings 



Bedding stock propagation should start now and con- 

 tinue up to March. Keep on putting in, as time will 

 permit, all such plants as roses, lantanas, fuchsias, be- 

 gonias, antirrhinums, petunias, heliotrope, geraniums, 

 coleus, etc. These will give good-sized plants that will 

 bear quite a few cuttings later on. All these cuttings 

 will need attention and care such as shade, careful water- 

 ing and airing until they are well-rooted. Do not make 

 the mistake of leaving them too long in the propagating 

 bed. Just as soon as they have a nice bunch of roots 

 they should be potted up. When potting use a rather 

 light compost for a general run of cuttings — say fibrous 

 loam four parts, well-rotted manure one part, and enough 

 of sand to make it porous. See that this young stock is 

 given a bench well up to the glass, so they will not draw. 

 Do not stick tliem around in any old place and oxjiect 

 them to do well. 'Whether they will eventually pay you 

 in the end depends much on how they are handled and 

 taken care of now. 



Cyclamen 



As soon as young stock of cyclamen becomes large 

 enough to handle nicely they should be moved into small 

 pots. Use fibrous loam four parts, cow manure that has 

 been well rotted one part, leaf mold one part and enough 

 of sand to make it slightly gritty. This should be run 

 through a coarse sieve. When potting do not place the 

 little bulb too deep but just even with the surface of the 

 soil. To keep them in vigor they will require a tem- 

 perature of about 55 degrees at night with from 10 to 15 

 degrees higher on all bright days. Take great care in 

 watering, for while they like an even amount of moisture 



at the roots they will not tolerate a saturated condition 

 and either too dry or too wet will give them a severe 

 check. WTiere it is possible give these young plants a 

 place well up to the glass. Keep the house well venti- 

 lated whenever possible and the atmosphere of the house 

 in a moist state. 



Ferns from Spores 



Now is a good time to sow spores for small ferns for 

 table use. \Miere possible the soil should be sterilized, 

 to kill all foreign vegetation and fungus. Mix up a 

 compost of new loam two parts, peat or leaf mold two 

 parts, and one part of sharp clean sand. See that the 

 pans are well drained with plenty of crocks. Upon the 

 crocks spread some sphagnum moss and then fill the 

 pans to within half an inch of the top, with the com- 

 post, but the last half-inch should be finely screened. 

 Press the whole surface firm, absolutely level, water 

 thoroughly and leave them three or four hours before 

 sowing the spores. After they have drained out scatter 

 the spores all over the surface and cover each pan with 

 a pane of glass. These pans should be placed immedi- 

 ately in a frame that is covered with sashes. The tem- 

 perature of the frame should be kept at 70 degrees with 

 a reasonable amount of humidity. Wlien the spores show 

 signs of germination they should be given a little air 

 every day and gradually increase it so that when the 

 first' fronds are seen they will be sufiiciently hardened 

 off to stand the full air of the house, \\nien large 

 enough to be handled they should be transferred in 

 chimps to other well-ilniined pans and grown on. 



Poinscttias for Stock Plants 



Do not forget to save a good batch of poinsettias as 

 stock plants. Select the best and when lifting leave all 

 the soil that will remain and set closely together in 

 boxes or flats, covering the intervening bare spaces with 

 soil from the bench. These can be placed under a bench 

 in a house that stands anywhere from 55 to 60 degrees 

 at night. They can stay here until March or even later. 

 During all that time they should be kept on the drj' side, 

 as it is their season of rest, but, of course, you should not 

 let the wood shrivel for the want of a little water. This 

 will give good stock to increase from when the time 

 comes. It is better not to cut them back too hard, as the 

 top canes which are well ripened can be cut into small 

 pieces and propagated from. 



Spiraeas 



It is time now to bring in the astilbes, as Easter is 

 early this year. Give them a cool house until there is a 

 slight root action when they can be placed in a house 

 where the temperature is about 50 degrees at night. 

 Keep them as near the glass as possible and never let 

 these plants suffer for want of water, as they need 

 plenty of it all the time. When root action becomes 

 very active they can be given a temperature of 60 to 65 

 degrees at night so as to be in on time. 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Asparagni; Bedding Geraniums: Bougalnvilleas: Suiilax : Marguerites; Salvias. 



