September 6. 1913 



HOETICULTURE 



333 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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9}i.pa/,A^^ 



Qnestlons by onr readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will te cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HOKTICULTDRE. 



Amaryllis for Christmas 



To flower by Christmas, amaryllis should be given a 

 rest now. ^Nearly all the newer forms and numerous 

 hybrids of Hippeastrum vittatum, more so than the 

 original type, have by this time completed the season's 

 growth, and should be rested, regular watering being 

 discontinued for a period of from four to six weeks, not 

 leaving them so dry, however, as to cause a shriveling of 

 the roots. Now, if this rest is brought about in Septem- 

 l^er, and ending somewhere in the middle of October, the 

 rhizomes will have attained the desired degree of ripe- 

 ness and a good stand of fine flowers for Christmas is 

 assured. The appearance of the new growth, the flow- 

 er buds first, marks the end of the season of rest, and 

 is the grower's cue for setting the plants to work. He 

 first repots the plants into new earth, should they need 

 repotting (an operation not needed every year), places 

 tliem on a warm, sunny bench, and resumes regular 

 watering and sprinkling. Any fairly rich, sandy soil 

 suits them. No great effort is required to have them at 

 their best any time right after Christmas, or all through 

 the dead of winter. The temperature should be as far 

 as possible, a steady heat ; should neither fall below 60 

 nor rise above 70 degrees. In a house of 65 degrees it 

 takes eight weeks from the time the new growth begins 

 to push forth until tlie flowers are at their finest. 



Dracaena indivisa 



Dracaena indivisa planted out in the spring should now 

 be lifted from the field. Do not use too large jjots ; 4 or 

 5-inch pots will do. Give a rich compost, say to three 

 parts of fibrous loam, one of well decayed cow manure, 

 and plenty of drainage. Place them where they can 

 have plenty of air and after about ten days they will 

 stand full sunshine. They like to be kept in a nice, 

 moist state at the roots, but not to such an extent as to 

 cause any sourness. Keep the atmosphere moist by 

 damping down two or three times a day. Give syringing 

 during good weather and keep a night temperature of 

 from 55 to 60 degrees. 



Lilfum candidam 



When getting these bulbs always insist on the best 

 type as there are two distinct forms on the market. As 

 soon as they arrive see that they are unpacked and pot- 

 ted up at once. They give better results when three 

 bulbs are grown in an 8-inch or five in a 10-inch pot. 

 For a compost use fibrous loam three parts, well de- 

 cayed cow manure one part and enough of sand to make 

 it quite sandy. Use plenty of clean crocks to insure per- 

 fect drainage, which is absolutely necessary. If the 

 compost is moist they will not need any water at once. 



Mr. Farrell's ne.xt notes wiU be on the following: Compost 



Nephrolepls; Transplanting 



They can be placed in some frame where they are ex- 

 posed to full sun. During heavy rain place some sashes 

 over them so the soil will not become sodden. They can 

 be kept out in a frame until January; just plunge the 

 pots and allow them to freeze as they force much better 

 for it. 



Planting Antirrhinums 

 One of the best paying crops to succeed the early 

 chrysanthemums is a house of the winter-flowering va- 

 rieties of snapdragons. Although many of our best 

 florists have now gone extensively into this culture it 

 will be some time before it will be overdone. As in all 

 other branches of the cut flower industry, the high-grade 

 product will always meet with a remunerative demand. 

 They can be planted about a foot apart each way. Be 

 always very particular when watering antirrhinums. It is 

 Ijetter to look over the benches before you begin and lo- 

 cate the dry and wet spots which will enable you to keep 

 the bench at an even moisture and thus ensure a more 

 even growth through the beds. When well established 

 they will stand good steady heat 55 to 60 degrees at 

 night together with plenty of water, air and light. Keep 

 them nicely disbudded as this will throw the strength 

 into the flower or spikes. When the benches become 

 filled with roots give some liquid feeding. 



Rambler Roses 



Stock intended for next spring sales will need atten- 

 tion so as to have the wood in fine shape. Wliere grown 

 in pots all summer, which is without doubt the best 

 way, place all such stock outside where they can have 

 tlie benefit of the cool nights. To ripen them up they 

 should not get much water at the roots, withholding a 

 little each week for the next three or four weeks. After 

 that they can be placed on their sides to avoid the fall 

 rains and can stay outside until real cold weather sets 

 in, when they can be placed in a frame, covered with 

 some hay or straw and protected with sashes. Field- 

 grown stock can be lifted any time after September 20. 

 When lifting preserve all the roots possible and pot in 

 anv good rich mixture and also keep outside. 



Potting: Evergreens 



Now is the best time for those having a demand for 

 small evergreens during the holiday trade to procure 

 and pot them up. Get nice well-balanced trees from 

 any nursery advertising in Horticulture and give them 

 as small ]3ots as will hold the roots. By potting these 

 evergreens up in advance they make new roots and be- 

 come at home before the cold weather sets in. Give 

 tliem a ratlicr shady iilace for about ten days and after 

 that thev will stand full sun. 



Supply: Lifting Shrubs for Forcing; Making Outside Lily Beds; 

 Large Palms; Starting Fires. 



