August 6, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



167 



Eminence." tlie latter the best white-flesh grown. It 

 was raist-cl at the Eoval Gardens. Windsor, five years 

 ago from "Shamiock"' x "Hero of Lochinge.'' Varieties 

 are numerous. The above named witli "Sutton's Al,'" 

 ''Superlati\ 

 the best. 



and "Sutton's Emerald Gem" are among 



%^U^^^xy{t 



>0~r-K^, 



A communication from Mr. Penson on Pests and Diseases 

 of Melons will next appear. Following will be a series of 

 articles on Fruit and Vegetables Under Glass from the pen 

 of this expert grower. — Ed. 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists' Stock 



CALLAS 



Kichardias that have had a g-wod rest should be 

 started now. <_)nly those that are beginning to show a 

 sturdy crown growth should be planted. If they are 

 anyway soft or flabby, get .«ome new roots as they are 

 cheap enough, and will be better in the end. They 

 are grown in benches and iwts. If wanted for cutting 

 the former is the best. When planting in benches use 

 a good rich, heavy loam. The roots can be set about a 

 foot apart in soil that is rather moist so that very 

 little watering will be necessary until they show a vigor- 

 ous start. -Vfter the growth progresses watering in 

 regular quantities will become necessary. When grown 

 in ix)ts use either 6 or 7-inch pots, and a soil composed 

 of one-third well-decomposed cow manure, with a 

 sprinkling of bone dust. Plunge outside in full sun so 

 that they may make a robust growth. Give a copious 

 supply of water wlicn growth starts, and keep outside 

 as long as there is no danger of frost. The most sub- 

 stantial blooms are grown in a temperature of from 58 

 to (iO degrees. 



FERXS FOR DISHES 



The growing of ferns foi- the making up of fern 

 dishes for the table should not be neglected. This is a 

 good time to grow on material for all such work as the 

 filling of fern dishes, jardinieres, and pans for the 

 adornment of the living room, office or show window. 

 Those who neglected to start a good supply from spores 

 last winter, should purchase what they need from the 

 leliable firms advertising in Horticulture and the 

 ])reseut is a good time to buy. Where a constant supply 

 of ferns is to be kept up it is V)est to calculate on sown 

 spores four times a year, say in January, ]\[arch, Jitly 

 and October. Most of the popular commercial varieties 

 require from 8 to 10 'months from the sowing of the 

 spores until they are fit to pot. To grow this )"Oung 

 stock into fine plants one must guard against extremes 

 in heat, moisture and dryness. Be careful to maintain 

 a proper condition of the atmosphere at all times. On 

 a very hot, dry, sunny day, when a great deal of mois- 

 ture is carried off, .syringing them two or three times a 

 day will be found of great benefit to all young ferns. 

 On the other hand, during damp and rainy weather a 

 saturated atmosphere can be prevented by a little 

 artificial heat. A few satisfactory kinds are Cyr- 

 lomium falcatum. Asplenium bulbiferum. Pteris cretica 

 magnifica. P. eretica allio-lineata, P. argyrfea, Aspid- 

 ium anuulare, and Blechnum occidentale. 



IIARRISII LILIES 



The time is now at hand for the arrival of Bermuda 



lilies. If they are wanted to bloom early you should 

 start with bulbs from the first shipments due to arrive 

 about the first or second week in August. Pot at once 

 as soon as received. A 5-inch pot will do for a 5 x 7 

 bulb ; for a 7 x 9 biilli a 6-inch pot will suit better. Use 

 any good loam with about one-fourth of its bulk of 

 some well decayed cow manure thoroughly incorporated. 

 When planted,' nothing of the bulb but the extreme tip 

 should be showing. See that there is good drainage in 

 the pots and thus forestall any stagnacy in the soil. 

 Flames that are not m use will make the best place for 

 these bulbs. A first layer of sand or ashes, will help to 

 prevent the covering of soil from adhering to the pots 

 when taken from the frame. In from 4 to 5 weeks most 

 of the bulbs will have started to send out roots, some 

 of them, .showing in profusion. You can sort out the 

 most advanced for early forcing. By this grading and 

 separating you can have blooms for a steady flow of 

 trade right along. When housed a daily syringing, suf- 

 ficient watering and fumigating once or twice a week 

 will be the work that goes to make full success with 

 the forcing of these lilies. 



LYSIMACrilA NUMMULAEIA • 



";\Ioney-wort"' is very useful for baskets, vases, LoxeS 

 and also for covering the ground in shady places. Take, 

 from now up to September, a few inches of the top 

 growth and dibble them by threes into 2-inch pots. 

 They can be placed in any coldframe, and if kept shaded 

 and moist they will soon root, after which the glass can 

 be removed until cold weather arrives, when they can 

 be covered up again with some sash, and left there 

 until the middle of ^larch. By that time they can be 

 taken out and shifted into 3-inch pots and placed along 

 tho edges of .«ome benche's in a cool greenhouse, 



VERBENAS 



From now up to the 30th of August you can cut back 

 a few of each of the varieties of verbena you may want 

 to perpetuate. By giving them a top dressing of some 

 fine manure and working it into the soil around the 

 jjlants, plenty of young growths will quickly be pro- 

 duced that will be just right for cuttings, and will root- 

 more readily than the old growths. Fill some flats, 

 soil on the liottom and sand on the surface and if kept 

 moist and shaded the cuttings will soon root. 



VAX DAS 



This interesting genus embraces a number of species 

 having very .handsome flowers. From February until 

 November «bading shoidd be applied to the glass, but 

 no-ver too heavy or you will have black spot. Give just 

 enough to break the rays of the sun. The direct in- 

 fluence of the sun during the balance of the year is 

 very beneficial for vandas. During hot, dry weather 

 dampen the paths and benches freely two or three times 

 a day so as to keep the atmosphere moist. Ventilate in 

 CTsater or less degree, when the outside condition will 

 allow it. For potting, there is nothing better than 

 chopped live sphagnum, with some broken charcoal. 

 The comport should never be allowed to become dry 

 for any length of time. It is essential at all seasons 

 to give vandas a good supply of water, with syringing 

 m all liriglit weatlier. A winter night temperature of 

 (10 to 05 degree: will suit them. 



Mr. Fanell's next notes will be on the following: 

 Aralias; Cold Storage Lilies for Christmas; Compost for 

 Winter; Roman Hyacinths; Stocks; Violets. 



