July 19, 1913 



HOKTICUIiTUEE 



69 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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9>t.Pa/iA^^ 



Questions by our readers Id line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell Such commnnlcatlons should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Bougainvilieas 



It is well to give these plants every attention from 

 this out. Bougainvilleas will now be at the height of 

 their active growth so give them every opportunity to 

 extend themselves. Now is a good time to give them a 

 shift if their pots are filled with roots. They are rank 

 feeders so they need a rich compost. Mix up three parts 

 of lumpy well-decayed sod, one part cow manure and a 

 good sprinkling of bone meal. See that they have plenty 

 of drainage in their pots and give them a bench where 

 they can have the full sun all day. Go over the plants 

 twice a day so they can be kept watered at the roots, as 

 now they will need lots of it. They will stand any 

 amount of syringing, say at least twice a day for the 

 next five or six weeks. 



Calanthes 



These plants should now be making a strong and 

 healthy growth. Do not fail to keep the air humid by 

 several dampings down during the day, but never allow 

 a stagnant atmosphere at any time. Watch the plants 

 so they do not suffer for water but do not keep them in 

 a wet state all the time as the compost will become sour. 

 It is always better to permit these orchids to dry out 

 occasionally so the compost will be kept sweet. When 

 the short and dark days come give plenty ventilation 

 without allowing direct drafts. When they have filled 

 the pots with roots give them weekly waterings of weak 

 cow manure once a week. This can be kept up until the 

 flowers expand. Keep an eye out for thrips. 



Care of Chrysanthemums 



Chrysanthemums that were benched early will now 

 be making lots of roots through the compost and will 

 be greatly benefited by extra feeding. There is nothing 

 better to meet this demand than a nice mulch of well 

 rotted cow manure and soil in equal parts. Before doing 

 this give the surface of the beds a good sprinkling of 

 bone meal and on this place the mulch, about half an 

 inch thick all over. It is from now on that we will 

 have to lay the foundation for fine flowers with good 

 foliage. They will need a copious supply of water at 

 the roots. Syringing will also have to be practiced fre- 

 quently. During the hot weather blackfly and green- 

 fly will be quite troublesome so keep them in check by 

 a systematic spraying with some insecticide or fumiga- 

 tion once a week, for if not combated right along they 

 will soon overrun your plants. 



Cocos Weddeliana 



These palms that were raised from seed sown in the 

 early spring should now be doing nicely in two-inch 

 pots. To keep them in good health a very important 

 fact to remember is to use great cai'e in watering them 

 at the roots as they are very slow growing so will require 

 less water than most other palms and any unskillful or 

 careless watering will surely cause ruin. Give ventila- 

 tion strict attention at all times. In the morning start 

 by giving a little at a time and then in the afternoon 

 reduce the same way gradually. These palms should 

 never be allowed to go below 70 degrees at night and 

 with a rise up to 85 or 90 during the day with sun. Do 

 not keep too thickly shaded as they like a full measure 

 of light without exposure to the direct sun action. 



Planting Carnations 



We are now coming to the carnation growers' busy 

 time, which is the planting up of his houses. The first 

 thing to do is to shade the house, which will make it 

 more congenial for both man and plants. Put on some- 

 thing that will come off easily as they should have full 

 sun in about twelve days. When lifting the plants see 

 that they always have some protection from the sun and 

 drying winds. Always have enough of help so they can 

 be lifted, removed and planted out in the houses as 

 quickly as possible. When planting make your holes 

 large enough so the roots will have a nice spread and do 

 not plant any deeper than they were in the field, giving 

 each and every plant a firm pressing around the roots. 

 When you have a block of 50 to 75 feet planted see that 

 they have a proper watering. Give them a nice spray- 

 ing three or four times a day and keep the house rather 

 close for about ten days. 



Planning for Next Winter 



There is nothing of greater importance than to pre- 

 pare plans away ahead of time. Every retail grower 

 should have a good batch of snapdragons, stocks, lilies, 

 poinsettias, etc. Another standby for every retail florist 

 to include is in the bulb line, as tulips, Eoman hya- 

 cinths, Dutch hyacinths, and narcissi as they can be 

 grown in most any house and will always find a buyer. 

 Decide now what to grow and order what stock you may 

 need and you will be sure to get the best while it is on 

 the market in quantity. 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YORj 



QAKOlifJ. 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Aspidistras; Camellias; Dahlias; Sowing Schlzanthus; WInter-PlowerIng Stock! ; 



Late Asters. 



