November 8, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



(129 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



Questions by our readers 

 by Mr. Farrell 



In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and nromDtly answered 

 1. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HOKTICULTIJUE. ^^^^^'^^'^ 



Antirrhinums 



Many of the chrysaiitheimnn.s are now gone, and few 

 crops pay better than snapdragons as a succession crop, 

 provided always that the selling colors are grown and a 

 generous soil is provided for them. You can use your 

 chrysanthemum soil by adding a good layer of cow man- 

 ure over the top and mix it all through, then plant the 

 snapdragons a foot apart each way. If big, strong 

 spil;es are wanted, allow only three to five shoots to a 

 plant. If smaller ones are preferred double or treble 

 the number may be allowed to grow. A winter temper- 

 ature of 48 to 50 degrees will grow good snapdragons. 

 Finer spikes may be had at 45 degrees, but this low tem- 

 perature brings them on rather slowly in midwinter. 

 When they throw up their spikes, pinch out the side 

 shoots, which will be quite numerous. This will im- 

 prove both the flowers and spikes. As they become well 

 established they will take a liberal amount of liquid 

 manure once or twice a week. 



Lilium Giganteum and Multiflorum 



Do not lose any time in getting lily bulbs potted up 

 as they will need all their time to come right for Easter. 

 They like a rich compost, say about two-thirds of well- 

 decayed sod and one-third well-rotted barnyard manure. 

 Place them beneath a bench in a cool house where they 

 will not get much drip, as that is sure to sodden and 

 sour the soil and promote rot. Lilies want very little 

 water until they have made some good roots. When they 

 have filled their pots with roots they will want an abun- 

 dance. They should have good roots with a top growth 

 of two or three inches before they are brought into heat ; 

 otherwise they will be a failure. Give them a tempera- 

 ture of 50 degrees for the first three or four weeks, when 

 they can be raised gradually until you have tluMii at T'l 

 degrees. 



Shrubs for Greenhouse Culture 



Hardy, half-hardy and tender shrubs are now forced 

 in great numbers for a trade that is growing from year 

 to year. The greatest part of florists' forcing stock is 

 grown in Europe. The hardy shrubs will soon be here. 

 In unpacking the cases that have come through by direct 

 shipment, we find that the difi'erence in plants of the 

 same variety and size is great enough to warrant a 

 judicious re-assorting of the entire lot. This should be 

 done before the stock is potted up or stored awav. All 

 evergreens and most of the half-hardy varieties should 

 be potted as sooo as possible. Lilacs, cydonias, viburn- 

 ums and other hard shrubs of tliis class, not wanted for 

 early forcing, may be plunged in outdoor frames for the 



present. A little freezing will ensure entire maturity LIBRAt 

 of the wood and will fit them all the better for forcing.^EW YO 



Spiraeas (Astilbe) 



Any one of the half-dozen or more varieties of Astilbe, 

 usually shipped here every fall, is worthy of being in- 

 eluded in florists' Easter and spring stock. If, when 

 they are unpacked, they have compact and firmly matted 

 balls of roots, which is the rule, immediate potting will 

 not be necessary. They can be heeled in frames, and a 

 covering with straw or manure will keep the ground so 

 that removal at any time during midwinter will be an 

 easy matter. No forcing of spiraeas should be attempted 

 before the holidays and after that the time to bring them 

 in depends on how soon in the spring they are wanted. 

 The later the forcing begins, the less heat will be re- 

 quired and the finer will be the plants in bloom. In 

 about a 55 degrees temperature it will take pretty close 

 to three months to bring into perfection such varieties 

 as Astilbe japonica, florihunda and multiflora, while 

 superba, Gladstone and Blondiu want a week or two 

 more. In a heat five or ten degrees higher, it will not 

 take so long, but the plants will be better at a lower 

 temperature. 



Tulipi 



All tulips succeed well in a mixture of two-thirds of 

 well-decayed fibrous loam to one-third of very old cow 

 manure, or as a substitute you can use hotbed or mush- 

 room manure, and along with this it always pays to 

 tone it up with a fair addition of leaf mold and some 

 sand, thoroughly mixed. After the bulbs are planted, 

 see that the flats are given a good soaking of water and 

 place in a Ijulb pit. but where you have not this they 

 can be placed outside and covered with soil to the depth 

 of six inches. When the weather has become cold 

 enough to form a good crust on top, cover with coarse 

 manure in order to keep out hard frost. When these 

 flats have filled up with roots they are ready to be 

 forced. 



Lifting; Coreopsis for Forcing 



These plants are very serviceable around Easter and 

 Memorial Day. Strong clumps for this use should now 

 be lifted and firmly potted in turfy loam three parts, 

 well-rotted manure one part. A place just clear of 

 heavy frost will do to keep these plants until wanted. 

 Those required for Easter can be brought into a cool 

 house with about 45 degrees at night, some time during 

 earlv Januarv. 



BOTAMC 

 UAKL»b 



Mr. 



Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Begonia Gloire de Lorraine; Care of Allanmndas ; 

 Whites and Roman Hyacinths ; Protecting the Hardy r.orfler. 



Freesias; Rhododendrons: Paper 



