September 24, 1910 



ttORTlCULTUHE 



433 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 « Florists^ Stock 



AUEADCAEIAS 



To the many individuals who are pleased by absolute 

 syninietry. doubtless tliere is not another ]ilant witli 

 more eiiarai-ter than the arauearia. As a decorative 

 plant, it bears the reputation of being one of the most 

 servieeal)le in the entire list. Arauearias are exceed- 

 inglv popular diirim:' the time of the holiday business. 

 Now is a good time to get your supply, as you can 

 have your pick now. They want abundant ventilation 

 and car>' in watering, with a liouyant atmosphere. They 

 should now be afTorded an elevated position where they 

 will get lots of light so as to impart a compact and 

 nicely rounded form. If well pot-bound, li(|nid stimu- 

 lants will be found quite a help in giving a superb 

 color to the graceful foliage of this diminutive tree, 

 but they should be vised with the greatest caution, so 

 as not to go beyond the safety limit. They do well 

 wlien grown in a temperature of 50 degrees. 



AZALEAS 



The.se will soon arrive. The best varieties for early 

 forcing, which can be had in bloom by Christmas, are 

 Mme. Petrick, double pink; Deutsche Perle, double 

 M-lvite; Simon Mardner, double pinlc; Vervaeneana, 

 double variegated rose, and Apollo, red. These, when 

 received, should at once be potted up, while those in- 

 tended for later forcing can for the present be plunged 

 in soil in a deep frame until you have time to pot 

 them. Some of these specimens will need root trim- 

 ming in order to use the usual sizes of azalea pots, 

 which are from 6 to 8-inch diameter. Before ]3otting 

 the ball of roots should be dipped for two or three 

 minutes in a tub of water. This gives full assurance 

 of getting them thoroughly wet through. Any good 

 grade of potting soil can be used. See that the soil 

 is firmly hammered all around the ball and pot. The 

 varieties that are wanted for early forcing can be stood 

 in a cool and shaded place for a few days, and then 

 placed in heat immediately after. Start with a tem- 

 ]ierature of 60 degrees at night, and increase up to 70 

 de:rrees if necessary in bringing backward ones out in 

 time. While under forcing they will need ample 

 quantities of water at the roots and in the form of 

 sprinkling. Harden them off several days before wanted 

 bv placing in a cooler house. 



LIFTING SHRUBS FOE FOECIXG 



The raising of home-grown shrubs for forcing is suc- 

 cessfully done on a good many places now. In former 

 days it was the practice of florists to wait until the 

 leaves fell from the shrubs before attempting to pot 

 them up for forcing. But they can be dug and potted 

 now, and it will give them time to get rooted and 

 established before winter. Lift shrubs with all the roots 

 possible. Pot them firmly, and water thoroughly and 

 keep sprayed for a week or so. With this treatment 

 they will soon take hold of the new soil, and make a 

 nice lot of roots. They can be left out until hard 

 freezing to allow them to fully ripen up their wood. 

 As winter sets in they can be plunged in an outdoor 

 frame until wanted To have success with shrubs a 

 great deal depends on how the stock has been grown 

 and prepared before they are forced. The principal 



shrubs for iiorists" use are, spiraeas, snowballs, deutzias, 

 rhododendrons, lilacs, double and semi-double flower- L4BRARV 

 ing iihims. cherries, almonds and Ja|ian (|uinces. NEW Y()Ux 



.MA.SDCTALLIAS BOTANIC A. 



The liest season tor repotting and basketing these «ARL»eN. 

 orchids is from October to December, as the weather is 

 getting cooler and tlu' plants will not be so liable to 

 suifer frtim being disturbed. Moreover, a good uuiny 

 of these i)lants will now, oi' <iion. lie sending forth 

 their new roots and fresb mater'al nnv will give them 

 a good start. A good general mixture is made of 

 clean ]ieat fibre and s]duignuiu chopped rather fine. 

 Work in the compost carefully, but rather firmly around 

 the old roots, taking care not tc injure the younger 

 ones. Tf desired, whh the e.\ce]ition of the Mas- 

 devallia (Jhimiera section, they will all grow well in 

 pots. Let the plants stand slightly elevated above the 

 rim of the pots so as to shed the surplus water from 

 the crown. Tlie M. Chimiiera section should be grown 

 in baskets without drainage, as in a majority of cases 

 the flower scapes are pendulous and often grow directly 

 down through the compost. Give a temperature as near 

 as possible to .55 degrees at night. The plants enjoy 

 a bright location, but must be shaded from direct sun- 

 light; where the house has a northern aspect shading 

 is unnecessary. Masdevallia coccinea, macrura, bella, 

 Carderi. Si-blimii and Chestertoni are good kinds to 



gTOW. 



POINSETTIAS 



All these plants should now be repotted for their last 

 time, as any disturbance of the roots later on has a 

 tell-tale effect which greatly lowers their holiday value. 

 Poinsettias are also more exacting in the matter of heat 

 than many other plants and if you want large sized 

 bracts of intense brilliancy don't let the temperature 

 fall below 65 degrees at night. They will be better if 

 kept near the 70 mark and in the sunniest house. They 

 should be regularly fed twice a week with liquid manure, 

 for their well being. 



ROSES 



Mien the temjierature begins to go below 50 degrees 

 outdoors, a little heat will prove very beneficial as it 

 prevents condensation by keeping the air in the house 

 circulating. The ventilators should be kept open at 

 least 2 or 3 inches for some little time yet. Only on 

 bright days should syringing be done, and, when doing 

 it, see that it is thoroughly done so as to keep red 

 spider in check. A mere wetting of the plants will 

 not suffice. Keep the benches clean by going over 

 them at least once a week, if possible. It is better to 

 keep the benches on the dry side until heavier firing 

 begins or they are sure to become wet and soggrv on 

 the bottom. Disbudding should be regularly attended 

 to now, otherwise the buds will be small and inferior. 

 In order to keep your house clean of gi-eenfly, fumiga- 

 tion should be practiced persistently now, as with the 

 approach of cool weather greenfly will begin to be 

 troublesome, and if neglected will soon ovemm the 

 house. The conditions favorable to satisfactory fumi- 

 gation are a rather lower temperature in the house than 

 the normal, or when the glass is colder than the house. 



Mr Farrell's next notes will be on the following: 

 Acacias; Canterbury Bells; Carnations; Herbaceous PerenniaiS; 

 Xephrolepis: Pol.vpodiunis. 



