May 24, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



777 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTBD BY 



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Questions by our renders in line with anj of tbe topics presented on 

 by Mr. Farrell. Sucb communications sboold 



_ _ _ this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 Invariably be addressed to the office of HOKTICDLTUBB. 



Lilies 



Liliiim lungifloruiii and various other lilies intended 

 for summer flowering will need a cool house in order 

 to keep them back. Lilium speciosum and longifloruni 

 for summer flowering should have a house without 

 much shade. Give them an abundance of air at all 

 times as they resent coddling. As buds show it will be 

 well to give the stems some support. The stalks may 

 keep erect now, but it will be otherwise when the flowers 

 start to open. Do not omit fumigation. Once green 

 fly gets a good foothold it will deform or run a great 

 part of the flowers. Strong sunshine and heat will 

 necessitate constant close attention to watering at the 

 roots. Keep them well syringed on all bright days un- 

 til the flowers begin to open. When they are open 

 enough pick the pollen out and place in a cool and dry 

 shed or cellar. This will keep them in good condition 

 longer than if left in the house. 



Planting Dahlias 



The increasing demand for the dahlia is largely due 

 to the advent of new forms and the great increase in 

 the popularity of the cut flowers. Planting can be done 

 any time from now and up to the middle of June. All 

 dormant roots if not already done should be planted 

 now. Those that were grown from cuttings should not 

 go out until the first of June. Given a well-enriched 

 soil, well drained and in a sunny position dahlias will 

 prove a great factor for the cut flower trade. They 

 should be planted at least two feet apart in the rows and 

 about five feet between the rows. When planting out 

 from pots see that they are thoroughly soaked through, 

 and firm each plant well. Keep the cultivator agoing 

 every week. 



Planting Violets 



It is always well to plant out the violet stock early so 

 that they become established before they get torrid heat, 

 so if you have not already selected the house for them 

 do so at once. Clean it out well and if the benches 

 have been used for some time, they would better be re- 

 moved ; in fact, if you can use them in other houses, 

 this would be a good plan, even if you have only used 

 them for one season, and so have your violet benches of 

 entirely new material. Clean the paths and ground 

 under the benches and against walls, etc., and remove 

 all stray weed or plant growth.. See that all the piping 

 is in perfect order, the same with ventilators, etc. Clean 

 all the sash bars and other woodwork and give a good 

 coat of white paint. You will also want to thoroughly 

 fumigate the house two or three times. For soil use 

 cut sod three parts, well-rotted cow manure one part, 

 with a little of bone meal. Plant the doubles 8 of 9 

 inclies apart each way and the single one about a foot 



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



Asparagus 



rianting Astwrs, 



each way. Shade the house and keep on plenty of 

 \intilatiou both day and night. 



Single-Stemmed Chrysanthemums 



The proper time to propagate single stemmed 

 chrysanthemums is from now and up until June 10. 

 They will require every attention, such as several damp- 

 ings overhead during the day, to keep the cuttings fresh 

 and plump. The propagating bench should be well 

 soaked for the first two weeks and then gradually reduce 

 the amount as the roots begin to form. From now on 

 they will need more shading and copious waterings and 

 spraying. When potting use good rich soil. A turf 

 loam three parts, well-rotted cow manure oue part and 

 a fair sprinkling of pure ground bone will make a good 

 compost for the present. Be sure that they have ample 

 drainage. Great care must be used after potting in re- 

 gard to watering. The soil, if watered too freely for the 

 first month is likely to get soured but when they get a 

 good hold of the soil they should be watered thoroughly, 

 otherwise the plants will become hard and woody. Give 

 frequent syringings which will encourage good growth 

 and also help to keep down red spider which often 

 becomes troublesome. Give full ventilation both day 

 and night. 



Tender Nymphaeas 



All tender nymphaBas that were started late in April 

 or early in May in 6 or 7 inch pots will make fine stock 

 to plant out by the first week in June. Wlien started 

 early and grown this way they do better than when 

 planted out in the natural way. The best method with 

 tender nyniphaias is to plant them out in boxes about 

 3 or \ feet square and place them where they are to 

 remain. These boxes should be sunk so that the first 

 leaf floats on the surface of the water and so place them 

 so they can be gradually lowered until they are covered 

 with about 10 to 12 inches of water. A good compost 

 to use is heavy loam three parts, leaf mold one part, 

 and well decomposed cow manure one part. Do not 

 place these boxes too close together as they require quite 

 a little room in order to do well. Each box should be 

 allowed at least about 60 square feet. All nymphfeas 

 like full sun. 



Stock Plants for Next Winter 



Now before you sell, or plant out all your stock, set 

 aside an ample number of the diiferent kinds to increase 

 from, such as abutilon, acalypha, achyranthes, ageratum, 

 alternanthera, begonia, coleus, geranium, fuchsia, helio- 

 trope, double lobelia, iietiiiiia, pyretlirum, salvia, trade- 

 scantia, verbena, etc. By making a little timely prepa- 

 ration now you will advance the sucress of another year 

 to a big degree. 



plumosus; Bouvardias; Amaryllis; Ericas; FcciIinK Orchids; 



