March 8, 1913 



II () i; r I r i i.T U R K 



321 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



Q^A^J;P^. fhyit/^ 



Questions by our renders In line with any of tlie topics presented on this page will be cordially refe'^ed ?nd P^eSPP^y answered 

 by Mr. I-^arrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the otBce of HOETICULTUKli. 



Acacias 



Acacias intended for Easter will want very careful 

 handling. If they are somewhat backward they should 

 be moved into a temperature of from 50 to 54 degrees at 

 night, but where they seem to be coming along all right 

 a temperature of from 40 to 45 will be more to their 

 liking. This class of plants always likes the roots kept 

 in a moist cool state, so see that they never become thor- 

 oughly dry at the roots. Turn the plants around once 

 in a while and see that they have plenty of room between. 

 Give plenty of ventilation whenever the thermometer 

 will allow. To hold the color of the flowers they should 

 have some shade when they are fairly well out. Keep 

 the plants picked clean of any faded flowers. 



Callas 



During the next couple of months we may expect our 

 finest crop of flowers. They should now be generously 

 fed, not only with liquid manure, but good top-dressings 

 of a rich mulch on all those grown in benches. By this 

 time the working roots will have used up the best part 

 of the available food from the soil so an occasional top- 

 dressing worked over the surface lightly will greatly 

 benefit. For these mulches sheep manure and fine bone 

 are ideal. In using sheep manure a good plan is to mix 

 it with equal parts of screened loam before applying. 

 Give plenty of water at the roots from this out and keep 

 up a vigorous syringing every day to keep the plants 

 clean of thrips and red spider. Give air on all favorable 

 occasions and keep a temperature of from 58 to 60 

 degrees at night. 



Easter Preparations 



Have a good lot of made-up plants in pans, baskets, 

 etc., to meet the Easter demand. Where you have a show 

 house, the display should be re-arranged every day dur- 

 ing the ten days preceding Easter Sunday. Every un- 

 sightly flower or plant should be removed; so with all 

 faded flowers. Don't overlook picking the pollen from 

 the lilies. When a plant is sold remove it to a cool shed, 

 tag it, and put another in its place. Where any stock 

 is a little backward a full week of forcing with clear 

 skies overhead with proper attention as to watering and 

 sprinkling will do much in opening buds and finishing 

 up laggard stock in good season. It should be the aim 



Mr. Furrell's next notes will he on the following: 



to have them far enough in advance to give them a course 

 of gradual hardening off, if possible. 



Orchids 



Most orchids will now be starting into growth and root 

 action, which will necessitate more attention in the way 

 of watering. Each plant should have daily inspection. 

 It is a well known fact that orchids thrive best where 

 the atmosphere is kept in a pure state by proper ventila- 

 tion. But take care to avoid east winds and chills 

 through the house. For a cool house a night tempera- 

 ture of from 50 to 55 degrees and a day temperature of 

 G5 to 70 degrees with sun will do. For the intermediate 

 house a night temperature of from 58 to 64 degrees and 

 a day temperature of from 70 to 75 degrees with sun. 

 For the warm house a night temperature of from 65 to 

 70 degrees and a day temperature of from 80 to 85 de- 

 grees with sun. On cloudy days it is wise to let the tem- 

 perature rise from 5 to 8 degrees above the night temper- 

 ature. 



Potting Soils 



Keep the sheds well filled up with potting soil placed 

 so that it will have time before being used to reach a 

 warmth very nearly that of the houses. Good soil is the 

 foundation of success. While partly decayed cut-down 

 sod and manure will be fit for nearly all kinds of cut 

 flower bench cultures and for the transplanting of large 

 plants of most species, a somewhat more decomposed 

 compost intermixed just before used with sand and leaf 

 mold should be reserved and either broken up or sifted 

 for the starting of seeds or the boxing or potting of 

 rooted cuttings. 



Ventilation 



The one thing to be borne in mind is to ventilate on all 

 possible occasions, but so as not to cause cold draughts to 

 l:)low over the plants. Ventilation serves the double pur- 

 pose of keeping down the temperature and supplying a 

 circulation of fresh air. The thermometer is the grow- 

 er's infallible guide and authority. When the proper 

 temperature has been reached ventilation is in line to 

 hold it there and keep the air pure and sweet. So give 

 ventilation whenever possible. 



JOHN J. M. FAEEELL. 



Aohimenes; Asters; Chi-ysnntliemunis 

 gating Bench. 



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