September 10, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



371 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



ADIANTUMS 



Beiicli-gi'owii iidi;intums that have produced a crop 

 of fronds for cutting should be allowed time for a short 

 lecupeiative rest. At this period water should be 

 given ?pavingly, although it must never be entirely with- 

 held. The atmospheric moisture should also be reduced 

 to a minimum while enough of moisture must be pres- 

 ent about the roots to maintain a crisp liveliness in the 

 plants. When the soil becomes fairly dry a good stirring 

 should be given to surface of the beds. Give an abun- 

 (hmce of air. If there should be any marketable fronds 

 (in the plants from the preceding crop, they should not 

 be cut until the new growth has made appreciable head- 

 u'ay. Even after the new fronds have pushed upward 

 from all ainund the did stools, a sprinkling will afford 

 all the moisture needed until the growth attains spread 

 and shape : not until this should the usual cjuautities be 

 given. By this process you will seldom fail to furnish 

 an abundant crop of tine fronds for the holidays. 



GARDENIAS 



Now when the days are becoming shorter and the 

 nights cooler, careful attention to every little detail 

 should be exercised. Gardenias will stand plenty of air 

 during the summer months, but at this time of the 

 year considerable judgment will have to be used in ven- 

 tilating. It is better to have artificial heat some time 

 previous to this date, in order to avoid the condensing 

 of moisture on the foliage, which is bad for the buds, 

 causing them to drop. Don't keep the beds always 

 saturated with water as it will cause the foliage to turn 

 yellow. Extremes either way should be guarded against. 

 Xow when the roots have penetrated through all the soil 

 in the bench, and before the plants snow any signs of 

 exhaustion thnuigh the want of nourishment, they 

 should have a top dressing of some good loam, to which 

 has been added about one part well-rotted cow manure 

 to two parts soil using about a half inch at a time, and 

 repeating as often as necessary during their flowering 

 period. They require a night temperature of from 68 

 to 70 degrees at night. Syringe regularly so as to keep 

 them in a clean and growing condition. 



IVY GERANIUMS 



Now is a good time to put in a stock. Fill some flats 

 with two or three inches of sand, having about an inch 

 of soil in the bottom, the propagating bench not being 

 necessary for these cuttings. After putting them in 

 give a good watering and after that let them become 

 quite dry before watering again, although they should 

 not be allowed to shrivel at any time. After they are 

 rooted they will do very well in a cool, light house, 

 which will delay potting off until there is room at hand. 



PLANTS FOR CHRISTMAS 



The plants most in demand at Christmas as pot plants 

 are poinsettias. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, adiantums. 



cocos, Pandanus Veitchii, lilies, cyclamens, azaleas, pri- 

 mulas, ardisias, Celestial peppers, Jerusalem cherries, 

 oranges, araucai ia^, ferns, palms, and other decorative 

 plants. While L hi is. mas is yet over three months off 

 there is much to be done in preparatory handling of the 

 stock for that occasion. Bring your plants along so 

 they will not have to stand the high pressure of extreme 

 forcing. Liquid inanuie feeding should be in order 

 with all plants that have tilled their pots with roots so 

 as to perfect the flower and add color to the foliage. Be 

 very careful as to watering, giving all plants a required 

 amount so as to keep them in unimpaired health, but be 

 careful and guard against overwatering which is a per- 

 sistent despoiler of the beauty of most plants by making 

 them lose their foliage. It is well to take a careful sur- 

 vey of your stock and estimate whether you will have 

 enough to meet the increased volume of holiday trade. 

 A count-up will very often reveal the want of some 

 stock which at the present time can be advantageously 

 procured through consulting the advertising columns of 

 HoKTiruLTURE. Now is the time to buy. 



I'HALAENOPSIS 



These orchids when given special attention as to their 

 culture will repay the grower in a sight of superlative 

 beauty never to be forgotten. There are many species 

 but only a few are seen in commercial use. They are 

 not of easy culture, being very susceptible to any fluctu- 

 ation in the temperature, or to direct sunlight excepting 

 in December and January, shade being necessary during 

 the rest of the year. But from now on the shading 

 sJiould not be heavy — only enough to exclude the direct 

 rays of the sun. Too much shade with the great heat 

 and moisture is sure to make a weak growth. Plants 

 will be incapable of withstanding the change in humid- 

 ity and temperature that they will have to undergo 

 more or less during the winter, if they are not in good 

 cimdition before the dark and dull days catch them. 

 They require the temperature of the East Indian house, 

 where 6.5 to 70 degrees at night is maintained. The 

 atmosphere should be kept pure by admitting air in a 

 greater or less degree on favorable occasions, avoiding 

 all direct drafts on the jslants. Weak liquid cow or 

 sheep manure can be given with good results when they 

 are flowering. Phalaenopsis amabilis, P. grandiflora, 

 and P. Schilleriana are about the best. 



PRIMULAS 



Now is a good time to give your primulas their last 

 shift. Good marketable size? are 4 or 5-inch pots, but 

 for large specimens a 6-ineh pot or pan should be used. 

 A suitable compost can be prepared by intermixing 

 equal parts of light friable loam, cow manure, sand, and 

 leaf mold. See that they have good drainage, which is 

 very necessary. There is no better place for primulas 

 now than a cold frame, wliere if properly protected from 

 frost, they can remain until late in October. After that 

 a safer place for tliem would be in any cool house, placed 

 on a well-lighted I'ench. They do finely when grown in 

 a temperatuie of 45 degrees at night. 



Mr. Fairell's next notes will be on the following: Ardisias- 

 Crimson and Bal).v Kanilders: Crotons; Peonies: Piilox- Snan- 

 ilragons. 



