for Ft'bruary, J921 



469 



iiiiiHimiiitixmiilis 



The Greenhouse, Month to Month 



W. R. FOWKES 



THE days of F"ebruary and earl\- Marcli are 

 busier than those of last month. Extra siin- 

 sliine calls for more attention tci the checking 

 of the fires early in the day, and some plants will need 

 a light shade. The orchids must have a thin coat of 

 white paint on the glass by February 20th, and palms 

 and ferns must be protected also. It is a period of 

 great strain on these plants when the wind l)lo\vs 

 strong and the ventilators are down to keep out 

 the cold draught, or in case of a tall structure, to keep 

 the roof intact. 



The somewhat mild Winter we have been enjoying has 

 brought the nectarines along more Cjuickly than ever, and 

 the early varieties are in bloom. Take care that they are 

 never dry at the roots, but have a dry atmosphere. Go 

 over each blossom lightly with a rabbit's tail tied to a 

 stake to pollinate the blossoms. The proper time is now 

 when the pollen is dry. Do not ruin these plants with 

 heat, for they must be kept quiet, and do not allow the 

 temperature to rise above 30° at night. This is the great 

 secret. I have seen failures occur where a night fire- 

 man was employed, though due care was exercised in 

 the day because the fireman, who was not posted and 

 looked after occasionally, thought as long as the roof did 

 not fall in, that all was well. After the bloom is set, 

 careful syringing should be employed. 



Carnation cuttings should all be in the sand, and also 

 the larger varieties of 'Mums. 



Primulas will succeed nicely with the nectarines and 

 only need careful watering and a feed of Cla\''s every 

 ten days. 



Gardenia Vcitcliii is now at its flowering stage. We 

 have some in six inch pots, cut back ; that is, young, 

 vigorous plants headed back last September and kept 

 fairly cool. Now the sunlight is assisting them greatly 

 and the main thing is to prevent the buds from dropping. 

 I find occasionally that if they have been syringed rather 

 heavily and not dried off before night, a few promising 

 buds fall off. Therefore, it is advisable to keep them 

 dry overhead in the early afternoon. See that the drain- 

 age is clear and drive the worms out of the pots. Soot 

 water once a week is the best stimulant for them. 



Now is the time to repot the ferns, using light soil. 

 It is important that the pots are properly drained. 

 Adiantum Farlcycnsc needs heavy soil, no peat, no leaf- 

 soil, and not the high temperature it is often forced to 

 imdergo. 



The roses require a little care. The twiggy basal 

 wood, known as the mother plant, must be cut out clean. 

 Get daylight into the bushes. This twiggy growth will 

 not give a single rose bud for the space it occupies, but 

 is a fine home for the red spider, and the continual drop- 

 ping of the leaves from this source is a dail\- nuisance. 

 Prune back any strong wood Ih.ii ni;iy have been left 

 about two feet long when cut in a hurry. If they are 

 cut back to two eyes, you will have a splendid crop for 

 Easter cutting. Let the feeding alone for two weeks, 

 and throw in a handful of air slaked lime into each bush. 

 If angleworms are troublesome, give the benches a good 

 watering and fumigate the same night with Nicofume 

 paper. The dead worms will be found next morning on 

 the top and sides of the benches by the score. 



The gloxinia bulbs started in the flats last month 

 should be potted. These plants like leafsoil. The fir.st 



potting should be done with care. Place them in ;i warm 

 corner with a temperature of 60° at night and in a semi- 

 shaded position during- the day. 



The Azaleas are to be looked after for Easter and 

 should be in a light position. Do not allow them to 

 become too dry or too wet, or infested with worms. It 

 will prove fatal to them. 



Camellias will not open their Inids if kept warm. You 

 can force the azaleas with heat when you want them to 

 bloom, but camellias will cast their buds with heat. Both 

 can be grown together citherwise, bearing in mind the 

 different requirements. 



Hyacinths, the show varieties, should be fed well and 

 not overforced. Tulips can be forced at this time, the 

 Darwins being the best for this season of the year. 



Crotons should be propagated now. Take any bushy 

 ])lant that you choose and make an upward incision about 

 an inch from the stem. Insert a tooth pick to keep open 

 the cut and fill with a little moss and sand. Tie firmly 

 with rafifia. A boy can do a lot in a few hours if his 

 fingers are nimble. 



Sponge all palms. Do not sour the soil they are grow- 

 ing in by watering with soap suds. Use soot water. 

 These plants should be given any repotting they may 

 need, but do not over-pot. It is better to feed. 



Cucumber Telegraph, which was started some time 

 ago and is now a five-inch plant, should be set in a warm 

 corner in a large tub or pot about twelve inches. One 

 plant will give as many cucumbers as a small place re- 

 quires until outdoor ones are ready. Use broken turfs 

 and lumps of half decayed cow manure. Tie the plant 

 to a stake and let it reach the top of the trellis, or four 

 feet. Then pinch out the point : laterals will push out 

 and the first young cucumbers must be rubbed out and 

 the plant will soon be strong enough to bear a nice lot 

 of useful fruits. 



Tomato plants which were started in December should 

 be in eight-inch pots and about two feet high. Do not 

 over-water and pollinate the blossoms at noon. Keep all 

 side shoots rubbed ofl: : grow to a single stem, and do not 

 feed until the fruits are of a fair size. 



OUR COVER ILLUSTRATION 



The illustration on our front cover, reproduced from a 

 photo, through courtesy of John Scheepers, Inc., shows 

 the entrance to the gardens at "Daybreak," the beautiful 

 estate of Supreme Court Justice Josiah T, Marcan. Here 

 the Judge shows how advantageously he can use his won- 

 derful Dahlia Creations together with the full range of 

 other ornamental plants. In 1913 the Judge exhibited 

 his Creations for the first lime: the American Dahlia 

 .Society ruled him out of competition for the reason that 

 his Dahlias were exhibited onlv under muuber. In 1916, 

 having named his seedlings, they were awarded First 

 Prize in the class for 50; the only exhibit he then made. 

 In 1917 and 1918 he exhibited in the 30 and also in the 

 23 and 12 classes, winning both years First Prize in all 

 classes. In 1919 he received First Prize in the 50 and 

 1^ classes ; also First Prize for the Largest Flower in the 

 Show, First Prize for the most meritorious display in 

 (he Show, besides other minor First Prizes. In 1920, 

 desiring to only exhibit out of competition, his exhibit 

 was awarded a Special Gold Medal. 



