April 5, 1913 



HOHTICULTURE 



497 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



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Questions by our readers in line with any of the toplrs 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. 



Calanthes 



Every florist who grows any orchids should have 

 some of these truly superb orchids in his collection. 

 Where you have not started them as yet you should not 

 lose any time in getting them under way. Prepare some 

 flats by placing plenty of crocks over the bottom and on 

 this spread a layer of moss, then fill with sharp sand. 

 The bulbs can be placed in these flats quite close together, 

 in a house where they can have a temperature of from 

 65 to 70 degrees at night. These flats should be watered 

 sparingly with water that has had the chill taken off 

 until they have established good root action, after which 

 they can be potted in a mixture of fibrous loam two parts, 

 that has all finer particles screened out, well decayed 

 cow manure one part, and some gritty sand. One bulb 

 to a 5 or 6-inch pan or three bulbs to 8 or 9-inch pan. 

 Fill pans one-third full of crocks. Give them a bench in 

 a house where they can have the above mentioned tem- 

 perature. 



Care of Cyclamen 



Cyclamen are free-rooting plants, but by no means 

 want overpotting; yet when the roots have filled the pots 

 they should not be stunted, but should at once be given 

 a shift. From the pans they will need a 3-inch pot and 

 from 3-inch to 4-inch and finish with a 6-inch or 7-inch, 

 or perhaps from 3-inch to a 5-inch, and the last shift 

 into an 8-inch depending on size and vigor of plant. 

 For a compost use fibrous loam two parts, leaf mold two 

 parts, rotted cow manure one part, and some sand. 

 Cyclamen should have an average temperature of not 

 over 55 at night. In order to keep them sturdy they 

 should have plenty of ventilation, avoiding any cold 

 drafts. Be very careful when watering not to let them 

 get in a soaked condition. They do better when allowed 

 to go on the dry side once in a while. Give an overhead 

 sprinkling on bright days, now and then a spraying with 

 tobacco water and a syringing with it from underneath 

 so as to reach the lower surface of the leaves. 



Cround for Carnations 



Carnations will grow on almost any soil, but it is all 



important when planting them out in the field, that it 



is well drained, either naturally or artificially for they 



will not do well on soil where the water does not freely 



pass off. It is well ever to keep the fact in mind that 



it will always be more profitable to fertilize 



one piece of ground well than imperfectly. Ground 



that was plowed and manured last fall will prove the 



best. New soil, particularly when broken up from 



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



Shrabs ; 



pasture land that was turned over in the fall makes 

 excellent land for carnations. Such land, however, 

 should be well pulverized by the use of the smoothing 

 harrow or good results may not follow. A proper 

 amount of plant food can be supplied by well rotted 

 manure, followed by a good sprinkling of bone dust and 

 wood ashes which should be thoroughly incorporated 

 with the soil. Ground in good condition is an impor- 

 tant factor in carnation growing. 



Perennial Border 



Now is a good time to make a new border or extend the 

 old ones. See that the soil is deeply dug or, still better, 

 trenched, as these plants are left undisturbed for some 

 years. They require a soil that has been well enriched 

 with plenty of rotted manure, bone dust, and wood ashes. 

 The time to plant a perennial border is just as the plants 

 are emerging into renewed life. Do not plant while the 

 ground is in a wet condition. Select an open and sunny 

 situation, far away from the food robbing roots of trees 

 or large shrubs. See that each plant has enough of room 

 when they are full grown. Mass your plants instead of 

 dotting them here and there. Blend the colors through- 

 out so as to prevent too many of one shade of color com- 

 ing together. 



Stock for Vases, Boxes, and Baskets 



See that all climbing and drooping plants have every 

 attention from this out. As they advance in growth see 

 that they do not become all tangled up. Climbing plants 

 should be staked as they may need it and the drooping 

 plants given a place where they can hang down. They 

 should never be allowed to become dry at the roots. 

 Coleus, achyranthes, petunias, ageratums, acalyphas, 

 centaureas, dwarf nasturtiums, crotons, salvias and Vinca 

 rosea are all desirable vase plants, while geraniums 

 should be used in the majority. For trailers use trades- 

 cantia, Kenilworth ivy, selaginellas and moneywort. 

 For centers there is nothing to equal Dracaena indivisa 

 or other grassy-leaved species of the cordyline, which 

 stand sun and wind well. 



Spiraeas (Astilbe) 

 Plants wanted for Memorial Day will require atten- 

 tion in the way of watering from this out for if they 

 are neglected in this line they will soon show bad effects. 

 To improve them both in flower and foliage they should 

 have manure water twice a week now. It may take a 

 little time but it pays in the end. To keep them in per- 

 fect shape give them plenty of room. When they are 

 out in full bloom a light shading over them will be found 

 very beneficial. 



; Camellias; Flowers for Memorial Day; Hardy Roses; Plantinc 

 Fansles. 



NEW Y0J?| 

 eOTANlCAi 



