For November, 1921 



773 



The Greenhouse, Month to Month 



W. R. FOWKES 



NIJV'EMBER is the most interesting of all periods 

 to greenhouse lovers, for we begin to observe 

 some reward from our labors. Chrysanthemums 

 are arrayed in all their glorj-, and we must choose the 

 varieties we desire to grow next year. When finished 

 blooming, cut down to within three inches of the pot. 

 Save several of each kind, placing them in a very cool 

 house with full light and air. Remember that next year's 

 flowers are to be grown from these cut-backs, so they 

 should be kept perfectly clean and fairly dry. Fumigate 

 once weekly. 



Plant the sweet peas from pots on a vacant bench, and 

 support them at the same time. Remember that one good 

 watering at planting-time and the avoidance of a stuffy 

 atmosphere will materially aid in warding off stem rot. 



Take the pot fruit trees into their Winter quarters and 

 see that the roots are moist. 



Tomato plants should be in a light position. ^laintain 

 a fairly dry atmosphere with top air, and fumigate every 

 fortnight with cyanide of sodium to steer clear of white 

 fly. Dust occasionally with grape dust to keep free of 

 cladisponini. Do not over-water. Pick off side shoots, 

 being careful in so doing that you do not leave a blind 

 plant, as often happens in tomato culture. Lime should 

 be applied under damp benches. 



In the orchid department leaves from outdoors should 

 be scattered on any very dry parts of the bench or under- 

 neath, where the heating apparatus, connected to another 

 part, sometimes causes a hot desertlike atmosphere so 

 fatal to these children of the free and open forest. 



Aspidistras should be now divided if a stock is re- 

 quired. They make a quicker growth in a light compost, 

 but the leaves will be dull green. We like to have varie- 

 gated leaves on these useful house plants, so we use plain 

 turfy loam and sand, and no humus. 



Sow Coreopsis in a cool house, also Gypsophila, and 

 they will be very attractive for decoration. Grow 

 Clarkias, of good named sorts, very cool, in a gentle heat 

 and in light sandy soil, without fertilizer. They are too 

 fragile for that. 



Do not over-feed any kind of plant, as we are now in 

 the dull season. November's dull, sunless days leave 

 their gloomy train in the somewhat dull color of the 

 roses ; so, to counteract that condition, water with soot- 

 water of the genuine Scotch brand. Take all useless 

 wood from the rose bushes. Tie them up carefully, for 

 if they are allowed to hang about, they will only court 

 black spot. Pick off ever\' yellow leaf, and do not applv 

 suliilnir to any great extent or you will have incessant 

 leaf dropping. 



Plant a corner with the Tarrytown Snapdragon — it is 

 a wonder. T saw it a short time ago at M. Rionda's 

 estate, Alpine, N. J. This snapdragon is very free from 

 disease and a wonderfullv free bloomer. 



If you stop picking buds off cyclamens, you will have 

 fine plants for Christmas. A little soot water should be 

 given to them once weekly. 



Keep Christmas Cleveland Cherries cool, and poinsettias 

 warm. If the latter are somewhat behind, instead of re- 

 ])otting. give a watering of nitrate of soda, a teasj)oonful 

 to a .gallon of water, every ten days. 



Carnations should never have the ventilators closed and 

 remember that some varieties like Beacon have very small 

 roots to support a heavy top. For that reason, one cannot 

 be stingy with water or a harvest of splits will be reaped. 

 Re.nember also in the matter of fertilizers that carnations 

 can be fed up but never dieted down. There is no anti- 

 fat remedy for over-fed plants. 



Pot up some lilacs for forcing, jftid set them in a cool 

 place for six weeks, 



Clcrodcndron Fallax is now showing forth its bright 

 scailet blossoms, a fitting companion for the Euphorbias. 

 This plant is easily raised from seed and is almost indis- 

 pensable for mid-VV'inter blooming. 



Calanthcs should be placed on a shelf and kept fairly 

 dry. When the charming buds begin to unfold, no mois- 

 ture must come in contact with them, or their long pro- 

 tracted sojourn will be terminated. 



Mignonette, if sprayed with Pyrox, will not be so liable 

 to an attack from the green caterpillar, which devours so 

 many of these beautiful plants. Tie up each shoot to a 

 neat stake and disbud in order to obtain a high percentage 

 of first class spikes of bloom. 



Tuberoses should be started in four-inch pots in very 

 sandy soil. Rub off all offsets and clean the base of the 

 roots to avoid decay. 



Gloxinias that have been sown and transplanted, can 

 be rested, if one does not desire them to bloom early. 



Lilium formosum for Easter should be kept cool and 

 clean. Lilium Harrisii for Christmas must have a night 

 temperatiire of 65° to 70°. Spray every week and avoid 

 chills from cold draughts or disaster will occur. 



Cucumbers need w-armth and moisture, or failure will 

 result, A lighter house and lighter soil is required than 

 during warm weather. Pots or shallow boxes are pref- 

 erable to a heap of compost. 



Sow lettuce and cauliflower for succession ; also mus- 

 tard, cress and twentv-dav radish. 



LENGTH OF LIFE IN PLANTS 



(Continued from page 770) 



Just what it was that first called the annuals into 

 being may remain undiscovered but we can easily see that 

 in many plants the habit of dying after reproducing has 

 become fixed. The process of seed-bearing is an ex- 

 hausting one and many plants fail to survive it. Even in 

 stich woody perennials as our fruit trees it is evident that 

 a year of heavy fruiting is succeeded by a year of scarcity 

 because the trees have to rest and recuperate. 



Be it little or much that you win on earth. 

 Let it ha\e the stani]) of your own good worth ; 

 lie able to say of each treasure fine. 

 T have worked for this and the thing is mine. 

 Be willing to toil and be willing to give 

 .\nd honor shall follow you while you live. 

 For tliere's none so mean on this globe as he 

 Who looks to another to pay his fee. 



