July 26, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



101 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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pi.Pa/iAci/ 



QnestlODS by onr readers In line with any of the topics 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. 



LIBRAR 



NEW YOl 



BOTANIC, 



UAK,U6r> 



Aspidistras 



Kow when most florists have lots of room in the 

 houses, it would be a good plan to start and propagate 

 a good batch of aspidistra, as they are bound to come in 

 very useful. They are propagated by dividing the 

 clumps of old plants. Break up these densely grown 

 clumps, leaving two or three leaves with each piece. 

 For these divided aspidistras you can use 4 or 5-inch 

 pots. These plants soon start off and make lots of 

 strong roots so give them a good rich compost of fibrous 

 loam three parts, well rotted cow manure one part. 

 When they are potted up place in a house where they 

 can be shaded and kept rather close and they will soon 

 start new roots. When they begin to fill their pots with 

 roots they should be given ventilation and just enough 

 shading to keep the leaves from scorching as a dense 

 shade is very detrimental. 



Camellias 



Camellias should now be advancing well in growth. 

 Give special care in ventilation as these plants will want 

 all the air possible now. Go over the plants and turn 

 them around about every ten days and as they may need 

 it give more room between them to admit plenty of light 

 and air. Give a good syringing mornings and right 

 after dinner-time as it greatly helps to encourage an 

 increased and vigorous growth. Examine the plants two 

 or three times a day so none of them will remain in a 

 dry state for any length of time. These plants will need 

 a thin shade to protect them from the direct influence 

 of the sun. 



Care of Dahlias 



Dahlias have become general favorites among the mil- 

 lions. Where large and strong plants were planted out 

 and the soil kept thoroughly stirred every week between 

 the plants they should now be in fine state to stand a 

 dry spell. They should never be allowed to suffer from 

 drought. Wlien they begin to show buds they will be 

 greatly benefited by a thorough w;atering once a week 

 during the continuance of a drought. These artificial 

 watering should be followed the next day by a cultivation 

 that stirs the soil to a depth of IVo to 2 inches. To help 

 your plants to do their utmost in flowering, give them 

 broadcast dressing of some fertilizer that is rich in am- 

 monia, phosijhoric acid and potash. Pure bone meal 

 four parts, to one part of nitrate of soda, makes an ex- 

 cellent thing for a top-dressing. 



Sowing Schizanthus 



These plants are now becoming very popular subjects 



when well grown. Wliere you intend to have a nice 

 batch for early winter flowering now is the time to make 

 a .'jowing. Take pains to obtain the best strain of seed in 

 the market. For a compost mix equal parts of new loam 

 and leaf mold with a good sprinkling of sand. Fill pans 

 with this compost and give a good watering some little 

 time previous to sowing the seed. Cover the seed very 

 lightly, finishing by pressing the surface of the soil even 

 all over. Place under a cold frame and shade until the 

 young seedlings begin to appear when they should have 

 full sun. '\^nien large enough to handle prick or pot 

 off. When they have filled their pots with roots keep 

 on shifting until they reach a 6 or 7-inch pot. For 

 these shifts give a good rich mixture, say two-thirds 

 filjrous loam to one-third of well-decayed cow manure. 

 Keep them pinched freely which will produce nice com- 

 pact plants. This pinching can be kept up until 

 October. 



Winter Flowering Stocks 



Seed that was sown in June will make fine stock for 

 flowering during the winter months. They should now 

 be doing fine in 2 or 3-inch pots. The best way to han- 

 dle these plants is to keep on shifting until they are in 

 5-ineli pots. For a compost use turfy loam three parts, 

 to one part of well-decayed cow manure. From now 

 and up to the middle of October there is no better place 

 for them than a cold frame. See that they are placed 

 on some coal ashes which always remains in a cool 

 state. Keep them sprayed morning and afternoon and 

 keep an eye to ascertain the condition of the soil as they 

 should never be allowed to become too dry at the roots. 

 It will be necessary in order to keep clear of greenfly, to 

 fumigate at least every ten days. Late in the fall they 

 will show their buds and you can then distinguish the 

 singles from the doubles. The single buds are always 

 long and pointed, while the double ones are short and 

 stubby so you can discard the single ones as they may 

 appear. 



Watering Late Asters 



To ensure a fine crop of flower on late asters, they 

 should not be' allowed to suffer during dry spells. To 

 expand their flowers on good strong stems with good 

 foliage they will want large quantities of water at their 

 roots during any prolonged droughts. Before these 

 waterings, give a good dusting of high-grade fertilizer 

 sown between the plants. This will assist them ma- 

 terially in the production of fine flowers. Give them 

 frequent cultivation which will tend to hold the moisture 

 better. 



Mr. Farrell's ne.'ct notes will be on the following : Cattleyas; Care of Smilax : Mulching and Feeding Chrysanthemums; Poinsettlas 



In Pans; Propagating Crotons; Repairing Heating Apparatus. 



