April 12, 1913 



HOETICULTURE 



549 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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pi.^a/iAZ^ 



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

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICUtTURE. 



Bougainvilleas 



Bougainvillea cuttings may be struck in April from 

 half-ripened wood, cut up into 6-inch lengths, placed in 

 sand over bottom heat, and in a night temperature of 70 

 degrees, allowing it to rise 10 degrees with sun heat. 

 Keep moist and shade from the sun and they will root 

 in a few weeks. Give them a good watering; afterward 

 frequent sprinkling or syringing will aSord the necessary 

 moisture. When rooted they should be taken out of the 

 sand and placed in small pots filled with good loam con- 

 taining a liberal sprinkling of clear sand. After the 

 first potting it will be well not to give them very much 

 water at the root for a week, but instead to syringe them 

 twice daily, and protect them from the sun by some shad- 

 ing. When the young plants get established they will 

 make roots rapidly, and should tlierefore be shifted fre- 

 quently until they are in 6 or 7-ineh pots. A good com- 

 post for their shifts is turfy loam four parts, well-rotted 

 manure one part, and some .sand; the last shift can be 

 made richer. AMien the plants are in active growth they 

 will need every attention. 



Camellias 



Plants of camellias that have been in their resting 

 quarters should be brought into a house where the tem- 

 perature is from 50 to 55 degrees at night. Some will 

 probably need repotting. For a compost give them a 

 turfy loam four parts, well-rotted cow manure and leaf 

 mold one part each. Give plenty of drainage with clean 

 crocks and pot firm. The soil in the pots should be kept 

 moist and give good syringing in all bright weather 

 which will keep mealy bug and red spider in check. They 

 will require some shade but do not overdo it. During 

 their summer growth they like plenty of ventilation. 

 These plants will be benefited by an occasional turning 

 them around so as to admit every branch to the light. 

 These plants are good subjects for the holiday trade. 



Flowers for Memorial Day 



Lilies should now be well above the ground. If six 

 inches high now they will be in season. Give them a 

 night temperature of 60 degrees but do not water too 

 freely until satisfied they are well pot-bound. Hydran- 

 geas should now have their heads Just peeping. In or- 

 der not to draw the plants, a night temperature not ex- 

 ceeding 55 degrees is to be preferred, but in case they 

 are late give them 10 degrees more for a time. A spray- 

 ing overhead on clear days will greatly refresh the plants. 

 They will take water from this out in great abundance 

 and manure water can be applied two or three times a 

 week until the flowers show color. Spiraea japonica and 

 its various forms should be brought along now. A tem- 

 perature of 55 to 60 degrees at night will suit them bet- 

 ter than a higher one. Where fine plumes of flowers are 

 wanted give liquid manure twice a week and an abundant 

 supply of water. Benches containing ten-weeks' stocks, 

 gladioli, snapdragons, candytuft and other Memorial Day 



crops should be scratched over at least once a week and 



have all weeds removed. 



Hardy Roses 



These can be planted any time from now and up to the 

 20th of April. A proper site for roses is one with a 

 southern exposure where they can have all day sun, with 

 some shelter from the north winds, and clear of all roots 

 of trees or shrubs. Wliile roses will grow and give good 

 returns in any fertile soil, the ideal soil for them is a 

 deep loam that is well-drained. The soil should be 

 plowed or dug deep and if poor renew with sod from an 

 old pasture, which should be liberally enriched with 

 well-rotted manure, cow manure preferred. When plant- 

 ing Teas and Hybrid Teas give them about 18 inches 

 apart each way; Hybrid Perpetuals will need at least 

 two feet apart each way and where lots of space is avail- 

 able six inches more for both will be better. Dig holes 

 sufficiently large and work the soil well through the roots 

 leaving it well firmed. If the weather becomes dry they 

 will need some water at the roots until they get a start. 



Planting Shrubs 



EveiT florist who has the ground to spare should make 

 a planting of shrubs and by a plan of careful selection he 

 can have flowers from April until September. All that 

 is necessary is to plow or dig the soil to a depth of 12 or 

 14 inches and give them a square deal in the way of 

 plenty of manure incorporated through it. When plant- 

 ing give each shrub plenty of room to grow and set them 

 just as deep as they were before; put high shrubs at the 

 back and the low ones to the front. Cut back the tops 

 rather severely so as to balance the loss of roots. In 

 order to hustle them along they should have water at the 

 roots during summer droughts. When the hot weather 

 sets in give the surface a covering of two or three inches 

 of stable manure. This will add tenfold in keeping them 

 moist at the roots. The choice of varieties is perplexing 

 because there are hundreds of lovely shrubs, but these 

 embrace some of the best for April and May flowering : 

 Forsythia, Cornus florida, spireas, deutzias, flowering 

 almond, Calycanthus floridus ; for June and July, hale- 

 sia, lilacs, lonicera, Azalea nudiflora, weigelias, haw- 

 thorns, syringas, laburnum, viburnum; for August and 

 September, althaea. Hydrangea paniculata, Desmodium 

 pendulifolium and Clethra alnifolia. 



Pansies 



There are many gi'owers who make a large sowing of 

 pansies either in December or early in January, and 

 prick them out in flats. These now should be large 

 enough to be planted out in a frame, where with a little 

 attention they will grow into fine stock for late sales. 

 Where you want to push them along there is nothing 

 better than a mild hot-bed where they will develop in 

 the shortest time possible. Here they will make fine, 

 stocky and bushy specimens. Give them plenty of ven- 

 tilation and water at the roots. 



,;JC 

 V ,■•, ^ 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: 



AUamand .ts; Coelogyne cristata ; Ramblers for Next Easter; Poinsettlas: 

 Peonies; Stevla. 



