November 19, 1910 



HORTICULTURE. 



6',l3 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



CAHE OF CATTLEYAS 



As these orchids pass out of flower, some will need 

 . attention in the way of new material. Where the com- 

 post is in good condition it is not necessary to repot 

 them — a top-dressing will suffice ; but where the compost 

 is sour it is better to repot them. It is always better to 

 take this work in hand soon after they are through 

 flowering. The potting material should consist of good 

 fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, with plenty of drain- 

 age. They should be very carefully watered for some 

 time after repotting. This will refer to such varieties 

 as Cattleya Eldorado, C. Harrisonife, C. Bowringiana, 

 and C. Loddigesii. With such varieties as Cattleya max- 

 ima, C. Percivaliana, C. Trianse, and C. Waleriana that 

 will now be coming into bloom the watering should be 

 done early enough in the day from now on so as to get the 

 atmosphere dry before closing up time or night. Dur- 

 ing the winter months water must not be applied indis- 

 criminately or a good deal of damage will follow. Every 

 subject should be carefully looked over and when the 

 material looks dry give the whole mass a thorough soak- 

 ing, thus maintaining a uniformly sweet condition of 

 the compost. 



FORCING IXIAS 



These bulbs after potting can be plunged in coal ashes 

 or any like material in an unheated pit or frame, where 

 they can be protected against any hard freezing. They 

 can stay here until some visible headway has been made 

 in root formation. They can also be stood under the 

 bench in a cool house where there is not too much drip, 

 as they should be kept somewhat on the dry side until 

 they have made some top growth, when they can be re- 

 moved and placed near the glass, where they can have 

 all the advantage of uninterrupted light. When they 

 have made a good start they can be given a night tem- 

 perature of 50 to 55 degrees. Ixias have to be watered 

 very carefully. They also will not stand for hard forc- 

 ing. Ixia crateroides and longiflora are good forcing 

 sorts. 



HEATHS 



Those who want to have Erica melanthera in bloom by 

 Christmas should give it an elevated position so as to be 

 near the glass. Guard against too high a temperature, 

 moisture laden atmosphere, restricted ventilation, or too 

 crowded quarters, all of which will result disastrous to 

 the grower. When the buds show development they 

 will stand more fire lieat, but understand this must not 

 be over done. The normal temperature for these plants 

 is about 45 degrees so use great caution, for it is very 

 easy to go beyond the safety limit. Air should be freely 

 admitted whenever possible. Over-watering or a thor- 

 ough drying out are alilce followed by fatal results. When, 

 mildew is first noticed don't fail to blow flower of sul- 

 phur over and through the foliage so as to check its 

 spread. Some of tlie best heath species are Erica hye- 



malis, E. gracilis, E. melanthera, E. floribunda and B. 

 incarnata. 



LILY OF THE VALLEY 



Imported lily of the valley pips cannot be forced with 

 much success until the new year. You may be able to 

 have flowers, but the spikes are bound to be deficient of 

 foliage. Cold storage pips should be relied upon for the 

 holiday supply. Pips which are received in November 

 should be placed in a cold frame until wanted for forc- 

 ing. Pack the pips upright in boxes, putting sand or 

 soil between, over and under the bunches and it is well 

 to cover with 3 or 4 inches of straw or hay so that they 

 will not freeze solid. The pips are not injured by freez- 

 ing, but it makes handling awkward when they are al- 

 lowed to freeze solid. When wanted for forcing they 

 can be planted into a sand bed or flats, placing them 

 quite close. Keep them moist with several sprayings 

 overhead during the day until the bells are well formed, 

 when spraying should be stopped. They should have a 

 bottom heat of at least 85 to 90 degrees, whereas the 

 house should be rather cool ; about 50 degrees will suit. 

 Shade heavily for the first two weeks, afterwards admit 

 light in a gentle manner for about two days when all the 

 shading can be removed. If grown in fiats they can be 

 stood in the cool end of the house which will give the 

 flowers a fine texture and help their durability when 

 fully developed. For early forcing choose the Berlin 

 pips and the Hamburg pips for late forcing. 



MIGNONETTE 



Seed that was sown early in July and the plants grown 

 with every attention should have produced by this time 

 nice stocky plants. All laterals should be kept rubbed 

 off with the exception of three or four of the strongest 

 side shoots on the bottom that will come on for a second 

 crop. If you expect fine strong spikes never let your 

 night temperature go over 45 degrees. Don't ever at- 

 tempt to coddle this plant with a high close atmosphere, 

 thinking to hurry it along for you will only produce 

 flowers of a very poor quality. When they reach the 

 flowering stage they will stand weekly applications of 

 liquid manure. Plants raised as early as the above 

 should come in fine for the holidavs. 



AMERICAN BEAUTY IN POTS FOR EASTER 



American Beauty roses that were planted out last 

 spring with the intention of lifting them for Easter forc- 

 ing should now be lifted and potted. Any good rose soil 

 will suit, using either 6 or 7-inch pots. See that they 

 have good drainage and that they are potted firmly. It 

 is a good plan not to prune too hard after lifting them. 

 Cut down to say about 18 inches, and you can do the 

 severe pruning when you start them up. If you have the 

 room it would be well to give these plants a week or two 

 in a cool house, after which they can be placed in some 

 deep frame. Keep them moist at the roots for they are 

 liable to be ruined by a freeze, if they become dry at the 

 roots. It is better to plunge the pots when puttiag them 

 into the frame and they can remain here until wanted for 

 forcing. 



Mr. Farrell's rext notes wHl be on the foUowInK: Care of 

 Carnntlons; Finlshliii up Ontrtnor Work; Outdoor Rnses; Chry- 

 santhemum Stock Plants; Btevia for Christmas; Winter Flower- 

 ing Stocks. 



