Sei)tember 20, 1913 



HOETICULTURE 



397 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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

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



Cattleyas 



All .suiiiinei fluweriag cattleyas should have a good 

 period af rest before tlie}- are given any new compost. 

 When their new growth just begins pushing through, 

 then is the best time for any repotting. Taken in hand 

 at this stage they soon become re-established. Use either 

 clear osmunda fibre, or live sphagnum moss in equal 

 parts with the osmunda fibre, as both are good. Insure 

 good perfect drainage by giving baskets or pans half 

 their depth of clean crocks and charcoal. After they 



Courtesy of W . A. Ma)ida 



Specijiex C.\ttleya Mossiae 



are potted place in a shady part of house and keep rather 

 close for a short time. Maintain sufficient moisture in 

 the air by damping down the benches and walks two or 

 three times a day. Great care in watering will be neces- 

 sary until the plants become well established. Wlien 

 they have taken hold gradually reduce the shading until 

 by the end of October they will be under clear glass. 

 Syringe on fine days during the morning and keep a 

 night temperature of about 55 'degrees. 



Care of Eucharis 



These plants under favorable conditions produce sev- 

 eral crops of bloom in a season. There is no doubt as 

 to the great value of eucharis as a producer of high 

 grade and high priced cut material. All plants that 

 have fini-^hed their flowering should be given a liberal 

 amount of water at the roots with plenty of moisture 

 in the atmosphere until every new leaf has reached its 

 full development. A^Tien this growth is completed they 

 should have a period of from four to six weeks' rest by 

 gradually withholding water until the leaves begin to flag 



slightly when they should have just enough water to 

 freshen them up again. This treatment should be fol- 

 lowed up for a month or six weeks, but be sure to give 

 them enough water to keep the leaves plump or otherwise 

 they will be injured. Now is a good time to make a 

 new planting of eucharis. Plants that are in 3 or 4-inch 

 pots will make fine stock. For a compost use clean sod 

 soil, not loo old, and well decomposed cow manure in 

 equal parts. 



Cyclamen 



Plants intended for Christmas trade will require plenty 

 of attention from this out. Give them a bench near the 

 glass and keep reducing your shading gradually from now 

 on. Watch the pots so that they will not become too dry or 

 too wet. It is not supposed that the soil in your pots 

 is to be soaking wet continuously or on the other hand to 

 become so dry as to cause the plants to wilt. Where the 

 pots are nicely filled with roots they will take some 

 liquid manure once a week now, and later on twice a 

 week. When the nights make it possible keep the tem- 

 perature at about 55 degrees and from 10 to 15 degrees 

 higher on all bright days. 



Hydrangeas 



The |)ot-grown hydrangeas are those which we must 

 depend upon for Easter, 1914. Their growth will now 

 be practically completed, but in order to assist in ripen- 

 ing the wood the water supply should be gradually re- 

 duced. Stock gi'own in the field should be lifted any 

 time about the end of this month, care being taken to 

 preserve as many of the roots as possible. They can be 

 potted in any good rose soil and given a thorough soak- 

 ing, after which give just enough water so they will 

 become well established in their pots without starting the 

 buds, and then they can be given the same treatment as 

 for the pot-grown ones. They can be kept outdoors 

 until heavy frost is threatened when they should be 

 placed under protection of some kind such as a deep 

 frame. 



Solanums 



Plants that have been in the field during the summer 

 and have had proper care should by this time have grown 

 into bushy plants with fine foliage and berries. Now is 

 a good time to lift them. They can be potted into 5 or 

 H-inch pots which will make very desirable sizes. Give 

 them a compost of fibrous loam three parts, and well- 

 rotten manure one part. In order to do well and color 

 up their berries they will need good drainage, so see that 

 every pot is supplied with plenty of crocks. For a week 

 after they are potted they should be placed on a bench 

 where they can have some shade and by keeping them 

 moist at the roots with two or three svrin£;ings a dav 



