May 10, 1913 



HOETICULTUEE 



701 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS* STOCK 



CONDCCTBD BY 



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pi.f-a^Az^ 



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 HORTICULTURE. 



Care of Azaleas 



It pays to carry over any unsold plants of azaleas, as 

 they usually flower earlier and more heavily the follow- 

 ing season if given rational treatment. If leaf mold 

 can be had in sufldcient quantity to prepare a bed about 

 C inches deep plant the stock out. The finer the soil 

 the better, and a liberal amount of sand should be mixed 

 with it, as also well-rotted cow manure. If soil is scarce 

 pot culture for the plants is best, in which case the pots 

 should be plunged up to the rim in soil, ashes or other 

 material, for it is almost impossible to keep the soil in 

 pots moist if they are exposed. Proper attention to 

 watering is needed for the stock planted out. The least 

 neglect in this respect will be ruinous to the plants in 

 the pots, so care should be taken to select a place where 

 water is handy. Shade is not necessary ; in fact the 

 plants grow better and set more flower buds when given 

 the full sun. A dose of liquid cow manure every other 

 week is of great benefit to the pot plant. They can be 

 kept well syringed all summer and to prevent drying 

 out a mulch of old hotbed manure or any other well de- 

 cayed manure can be given. 



Gladioli 



The earliest outdoor planting of gladioli is now well 

 above ground and has had one cultivation. Plantings 

 are made once a fortnight in order to insure a constant 

 succession of flowers, this planting being continued until 

 the end of June. The bulbs are set at an average depth 

 of six inches. This keeps the stems more rigid when 

 rain and windstorms prevail; those planted nearer the 

 surface will in many cases be laid flat. In order to get 

 the most out of gladioli, plan so that you are able to cut 

 good flowers over the longest period possible. Make use 

 of a deeply cultivated soil and avoid shallow planting. 

 You can plant in double rows about 6 inches apart, and 

 place the supports to tie the plants to between them. 

 In this manner you will get flowers from the earliest 

 date until the season closes and will avoid having an 

 over supply at one time with a shortage right afterwards. 

 When the weather l)ecomes dry you can give weekly 

 waterings and it is always better to plant a batch where 

 the water is handy as you can force these in ahead of 

 the others. 



Planting Out Carnations 



We are now at the time for planting out the carna- 

 tion stock into the field. Wliat is of as much impor- 

 tance as anything is to do this work with as little check 

 to the plants as possible, especially if you have to haul 

 them a long distance. You can plant twelve inches be- 

 tween plarrts and fifteen inches between rows and leave 

 out every sixth row. Be sure to plant in straight rows 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the fnllowing: Antirrhinums; 



Tube 



both ways; that allows you to turn the cultivator both 

 ways. When planted out at least one good watering is 

 of much value, for it will settle the soil firmly around 

 the roots and the plants will get established quickly. 

 Usually there are sutficient rains to keep the soil moist 

 enough but should a dry spell set in following the plant- 

 ing the grower will make no mistake in using the hose 

 freely, giving water sufficient to go down in the soil, and 

 this should always be followed up by cultivating as soon 

 as the soil is dried off enough and every week until they 

 are housed. 



Growing Ferns During the Summer 



Ferns will now require to be kept shaded, but never 

 too heavily as it tends in a good many cases by pro- 

 ducing fronds that will be soft and weakly in growth. 

 Keep a nice circulation of fresh air in the house as ferns 

 never do so well when kept too close. Now is the sea- 

 son that all kinds of ferns will want an abundance of 

 water at the roots. Plants that are fairly well pot 

 bound will make better fronds if given some stimulant 

 in the way of weak liquid manure once or twice a week. 

 Young ferns that are in small pots should be shifted 

 before" they become too pot-bound. A good compost to 

 use is equal parts of new loam, leaf mold, peat and some 

 sand. 



Lycastes 



Lycaste Skinueri, one of the best, has fine lasting 

 qualities either on tlie plant or when cut. The flowering 

 season is now- over and just as soon as they start mak- 

 ing new growth to any extent they should be repotted. 

 Wliere the compost is in good condition, however, they 

 can go over for the second year and do well. They 

 thrive in equal parts of fern fibre and fibrous loam from 

 whioli all the fine soil has been screened out and about 

 one-quarter of very dry cow manure can be added. Fill 

 the pots or pans half full of clean crocks. The compost 

 should be rather firmly pressed in and about the roots 

 leaving the base of the pseudo bulbs on a level with the 

 rim of the pot. Keep rather close and under quite 

 heavv shading until they begin to make new roots. After 

 this "they want plenty of indirect sunlight, moisture and 

 sufficient water at the roots to ensure active growth. 



Winter Flowering Marguerites 



Where you want nice large flowering plants by next 

 winter now is the proper time to propagate. Wlien they 

 are rooted pot off and keep shaded for a short time when 

 they should be exposed to full sun and when these pots 

 are filled with roots either plant out in the field or grow 

 under pot culture; the latter I think is best. Keep 

 shifting until you have reached an 8 or 10-inch pot. 

 using a good rich com]io=t as these daisies are rank 

 feeders. 



LI*KARY 

 ■OTANlCAt 



Chr.rsanthemums ; Cine rurijis 

 roses. 



Cyeas Stems, Increasing Begonias; 



