February 8, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



177 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BT 



(U«, 5^/^. A-^i^^ 





Questions by onr readers in line witli any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially r«^'^ed and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICUDiUKi!.. 



Chrysanthemums 



Where you have slow growing varieties or new 

 varieties that you want to increase as much as jiossible, 

 start now and work up a good batch. While some of 

 the growers for exhibition purposes have some of their 

 stock rooted by this time, for the general run of growers 

 for exhibition purposes, now is the proper time to be- 

 gin. Give all stock plants a well-lighted bench where 

 the temperature runs about 50 degrees at night. When 

 taking cuttings, only well-shaped, sturdy short-jointed 

 cuttings should be chosen for propagation. To place a 

 cutting in proper shape for the sand, all that is neces- 

 sary is to free it of the lowermost leaves. In the prop- 

 agation bed they will want frequent sprinkling, also 

 shading on sunny days. When they have made roots 

 about half an inch long they should be potted without 

 delay. 



Easter Lilies 



Lilies wanted for Easter should be far enough ad- 

 vanced now to show the flowers well above the foliage 

 and to be certain that they will be in on time, they 

 should be turning from green to white by the last week 

 of this month and not later than the first week in 

 March. Where not so far advanced as above mentioned, 

 they should be pushed by a brisk forcing temperature 

 of about 70 degrees at night with about twenty degrees 

 higher during the day. From this out lilies will con- 

 sume great quantities of water. To enlarge the flowers 

 and give color to the foliage, liquid feeding applied once 

 or twice a week will prove a great benefit. Just now 

 when the buds are well exposed to view, look out sharply 

 for the ever-bothersome Aphis and fumigate once or 

 twice a week to keep them in check. It is better to do 

 all hard forcing now than later so as to give the plants 

 a gradual cooling off. After most of the buds show 

 white and a bloom or two has opened, is the time for 

 this cooling process, first allowing the lilies to reach 

 this stage without retarding their steady growtli. They 

 can then be held back in good shape for ten days if 

 finally placed in as low a temperature as 40 or 45 

 degrees. 



Palms 



Before we get busier than we already are we should 

 take time to overhaul our stock in palms. Though a 

 most patiently suffering plant-family, neglect to do 

 right by them invariably tells. It will be found that 

 the appearance of specimen palms is wonderfully im- 

 proved by good sjwnging — an operation never too often 

 repeated — with a good insecticide such as Aphinc, 

 Lemon Oil or Fir Tree Oil. A badly infested plant is 

 hard to clean and should never be placed back among 

 others until it is freed of all insects. While any period 

 in tlie year is a good time for the transpl-inting of root- 

 bound stock, the repotting now of all palms will be 



especiallv good before they start too much root action. 

 Use a siibstantial heavy soil which has been plentifully 

 enriched with old manure and bone meal. Keep a con- 

 uenial atmosphere and temperature, not much below 60 

 degrees at any period now, as they will be making re- 

 newed root action from this out. 



Now 



Orchids 



that we will soon be reaching the middle of 



February, which means stronger sun, most orchids will 

 ')e better for some shade, but of course that does not 

 say to darken them up too much. Shading that can be 

 let up and down at will is the best, because when the 

 sun is weak up to nine o'clock in the morning and with 

 hss power from three o'clock in the afternoon, and on 

 (lark days, they can have the benefit of its moderate in- 

 fiuences." Keep all orchids that are starting into growth 

 well syringed every good day and as the season advances 

 it can be done twice'a day. Wet down paths and walks 

 two or three times a day so as to have abundance of 

 moisture in the atmosphere. The different pests will 

 spread now from this out, so it will be well to give 

 your orchids a good sponging often witli some good in- 

 secticide. 



Seeds to be Sown 



This is the season when many kinds of seeds must 

 he sown. All such seeds as asparagus, cannas, celosia, 

 cuphea, gloxinia, grevillea. begonias, dracaena, musa, 

 smilax, salvia, torenia and vinca can be started in_ a 

 temperature of about 65 degrees. Such seeds as antir- 

 rhinums, ageratum, asters, centaurea, hollyhocks, mar- 

 <,aierites, lobelia, petunias. Phlox Drummondi, stocks, 

 verbenas and wallflowers can be started in a tempera- 

 1 lire of about 55 degrees. The following perennials can 

 also be sown: coreopsis, dianthus, delphiniums, gail- 

 lardias, gypsophila, iberis, incarvillea, lavandula, lobe- 

 lias, lychnis, pentstemons, tritoma, etc. These can all 

 be sown in flats or pans provided with proper drainage 

 and for a compost there is nothing better than new 

 loam, leaf mold and sand in equal parts. Fill the flats 

 and press the surface firm and smooth. On this sow 

 the seeds. After thev have been thoroughly watered, 

 l;eep shaded and moist until the young seedlings begin 

 to appear, when thev should have full light. All these 

 voung plants will require careful watering, transplant- 

 ing and other attention. Many of the kinds named 

 :',hove mav be sown in successive lots up till March. 



Secure Easter Stock Now 



It is well to look over the stock of Easter plants now 

 r,nd see if you will be short of anything for that date. 

 Many a small grower has not room enough to grow the 

 slock that his trade demands so now is the time to buy 

 before the best is culled by early buyers. There are 

 quite a few plan's tliat are better to buy, as they can 

 lie more cheaply and better grown by the specialist. 



Mr, Farrell's next notes will be on the followins : Begonia Gloire fie Lorraine; Care nt Adiautuin Farleyense: P"*'^'' Bulbs for Eas- 

 ter: Euphorbia .Tacnulnaetlora ; Frames of Pansies, etc.; Geranium Lorraine; Care of Adiantum larleyense: Dutch Bulbs for i^aster, 



Stock riants. 



