May 21, 1910 



rtORTlCUi-TU«E 



773 



SEASONABLE NOTES ON THE 

 CULTURE OF FLORISTS' 



STOCK. 



Acacias. 

 Only two or three of the acacias are 

 of special value to the commercial flor- 

 ist, and of these Armata is the freest 

 flowering, the most compact growing, 

 and best adapted to pot culture. Any 

 plants unsold should be cut back 

 about half of last summer's growth, 

 and those needing repotting should be 

 potted at about this time. A good 

 loam that is not too finely broken up 

 with some well-rotted cow manure and 

 about a fourth of leaf mold will grow 

 them well. They will be better now 

 for being plunged out of doors and 

 fully exposed to the sun until the fall, 

 as they grow and ripen their wood 

 much better outside than under glass. 

 They will require copious watering 

 and must never be allowed to become 

 dry. 



Growing Carnations Indoors. 

 Carnation growing under glass in- 

 stead of in the field, should have close 

 attention right along. I think it is 

 better to plant the latter part of May 

 if possible. It will save shifting and 

 the plants are more easily cared for 

 when planted out on the benches than 

 when they are kept in pots. If they 

 are not planted before the first week 

 in .lune and bench room is not yet 

 available, they should be shifted into 

 4-inch pots, and the best place for 

 them would be plunged outdoors where 

 they can have sufficient water to keep 

 them growing. They should be plant- 

 ed out before they become too pot- 

 bound. The soil should be the same 

 as that used for the field-grown ones. 

 After planting, give a good watering 

 around each plant to settle the soil, 

 after which water should be given 

 sparingly until the plants get well 

 rooted, but be careful that the toll 

 does not become do*. They should 

 have a light spraying two or three 

 times daily on warm days. Do not 

 syringe so late as to leave them wet 

 over night. At all times give all the 

 air possible so as to make short-joint- 

 ed and sturdy growth. Always select 

 the best plants for indoor planting. 



Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 

 The early propagated stock which is 

 regarded as most valuable for the far- 

 off holidays, should now be sufficiently 

 advanced to require 4-inch pots. In 

 the shiftings from now on a larger 

 portion of well-decayed cow manure 

 should be added to the potting soil, 

 making the mixture about four parts 

 of fresh turf-like soil to two parts of 

 manure, and about one part of clean 

 sand. Good cultural encouragement 

 just at this time before the hot weath- 

 er starts in, will be a permanent gain 

 on the stock in the early autumn. 

 Careful watering, avoiding too mucn 

 or too little, is most important at the 

 present time.- Avoid heavy shade. The 

 house should now only have a light 

 shading. A light but firmly nailed 

 lathe frame, on which some cheese- 

 cloth is stretched, will make the best, 

 most convenient and lasting shade 

 The plants should be pinched back to 



BRASSO-CaTTLEYA FOURNIEKAE 

 Pboto at Julius Rochrs Co. 



two or three joints, to insure a strong 

 growth and shapely specimens. Dis- 

 continue pinching after August. 



Memorial Day. 



Much necessary work is often neg- 

 lected during the rush of Memorial 

 Day trade. Watering, especially, is 

 done in a haphazard way. Now when 

 the days are long and the sun's rays 

 causing a fierce heat under glass, with 

 most of the plants in full bloom and 

 pot bound, watering is no easy job. 

 Watering is the principal means of 

 keeping your stock in good form, so 

 don't neglect it. Many plants will 

 have to be shipped to distant points. 

 These should have their foliage diy 

 and ball of earth soaked. At 'hi.s time 

 of the year all plants of a soft tSiOwth 

 should be stood upright in their ship- 

 ping boxes. Plants in bloom, of what- 

 ever description, are always in demand 

 and are the chief money-bringers, so 

 have them in as good shape as pos- 

 sible. 



Odontoglossums. 



This is one of the most interesting 

 of all orchids. Care must be taken 

 never to let the compost become dry. 

 A copious supply of water is always 

 essential at the roots, and the floors 

 and benches' must be dampened over 

 often to keep the atmosphere moist. 

 They enjoy a bright location but must 

 be shaded from the direct sunlight 

 either by a thin muslin or a light coat 

 of shading, but where the uouse has a 

 northern aspect shading is unneces- 

 sary. Fresh air should be given at all 

 times when possible, in greater or 

 lesser quantities according to the out- 

 side conditions, in order to keep the 

 atmosphere from becoming stagnant. 



They like fibrous peat, with a liberal 

 top dressing of green sphagnum, and 

 when decayed it should be replaced by 

 some fresh compost. Sometimes this 

 will have to be done twice a year. 

 Very liberal drainage should be given 

 in all cases. The winter temperature 

 should be as near 50 degrees as p-.s- 

 sible. 



Primulas. 

 If you have any old plants of Pri- 

 mula Forbesi or obconica that have 

 done flowering, they can be torn apart 

 and the divisions planted into small 

 pots and grown on. They will do well 

 during the summer in frames. Pre- 

 pare a frame with some coal ashes for 

 the pots to stand on and if given at- 

 tention in the way of watering, fumi- 

 gation, ventilation and shading they 

 will grow into good bushy stock for 

 next year's trade. They should be 

 kept out of the greenhouse as long as 

 the weather will allow in the fall, a 

 cold frame that has close-fittint; sashes 

 being at that time a better place lor 

 them than to subject them to any forc- 

 ing. Seeds of obconica and sinensis 

 sown now will make nice plants for 

 late winter and early spring trade. 

 JOHN J. M. FARRELU 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on 

 Boronhis; Carrying Roses Over; Cycas; 

 Gardenias ; Repairing and Cleaning Houses ; 

 and Sowing Hardy Perennials. 



A letter just received from Mr. E. 

 W. AVilson, the explorer, now on his 

 way to China, informs us of his ar- 

 rival at Moscow, Russia, and start 

 therefrom for Peking, where he was 

 due to arrive on May 16. He expresses 

 gratification at the prospect of soou 

 being In the field of work In which he 

 is so intensely interested. 



