730 



HORTICULTURE 



November 26, 1910 



cies may fertilize the pistils in advance of other species 

 in the combination. _ . 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



CAKE OF CARNATIONS 



It is about time to size up your holiday crop so as 

 to know how many blooms you will be able to have 

 for that date. The grower has quite a problem to 

 solve in coaxing on the blooms or holding back, as the 

 case may be, and the holding them after cutting in good 

 condition. Trade is rather light during the week pre- 

 ceding Christmas, which enables a good many to save 

 their blooms to meet the demand. You can store away 

 every good bloom that has substance a week before the 

 holiday and have them in good condition. In hurrying 

 some blooms along raise the temperature with modera- 

 tion by all means, as growth is less vigorous than later 

 on. Start now and raise the temperature slowly — a degree 

 every night until 5 or 6 degrees is reached which can 

 be held for a week, then reduce slowly the last week 

 until down to the normal temperature. The plants 

 should be in first class condition to stand this. 



The season for propagation is at hand. Give your 

 propagating bench a liberal coat of fresh whitewash and 

 sulphur, using about half a pound of sulphur to 13 

 gallons of the whitewash. Wlieu slaking the lime add 

 the sulphur. After the cuttings are put in they will 

 need spraying and shading for about 3 to 5 weeks when 

 a good percentage should be rooted. Keep the overhead 

 temperature about 50 degrees and bottom heat about 60 

 degrees. 



FINISHING UP OUTDOOR WORK 



Flower borders, beds and all ground used for growing 

 of florists' stock, should be freed from all the rubbish, 

 and if the weather condition permits the soil should be 

 thoroughly manured and plowed or dug. as it will save 

 time in the spring as well as getting the benefit of the 

 action of snow and rain and frosts. Now is a good time 

 to collect leaves for the formation of leaf mold which 

 is very valuable to the grower of plants. Hardy plants 

 in borders will now require attention. Our severe 

 winters do considerable injury to many of them but by 

 exercising a little judgment now you will be able to 

 avoid this. Give a covering of long manure or leaves 

 and this will act as a winter protection. You can go on 

 preparing the soil for the planting of trees or shrubbery, 

 but planting should be deferred until spring. On Lil- 

 ium candidum beds place a little straw litter; this will 

 be better than a heavy covering. It acts as a shade to 

 the plants when sunshine follows severe freezing. 

 When time allows, it is well to push on with the prep- 

 aration of inside soil, so as to have plenty of compost 

 to use when the press of work comes later. 



OU\rDOOR ROSES 



Wliere there is a nicely established lot of tender or 

 monthly roses that are in regular beds or borders kept 

 for show or summer cutting, they can be carried through 

 the winter by covering with dry forest leaves to the 

 depth of 12 to 15 inches and putting on top a layer of 

 rough manure or litter of any kind to keep the leaves 

 from blowing away. Another way is to lay the strongest 

 growths down and cover with soil which will protect 

 roses that are not sufficiently hardy. In fact all roses, 



even of the more hardy class need some winter protec- 

 tion. Roses that are intended for pot culture should 

 now be lifted without delay as it will render this task 

 more difficult if left later. When potting use a rather 

 stiff and highly enriched soil. These also can remain 

 in a pit or frame a good while yet. Pruning can be 

 done just before they are started. 



STOCK PLANTS OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



Now that the chrysanthemum season is drawing to a 

 close it is opportune to plan the campaign for the in- 

 coming year. We can profit by the season's lesson as to 

 which are the best to grow for next year in the line of 

 commercial and retailers' varieties. You will have to 

 select good stock plants of all the varieties you may 

 need. Look up your varieties and carefully decide the 

 number that you intend to grow of each. Wliere some 

 of the old favorites are surpassed by a new comer use 

 the better one. In short try to obtain some of this 

 season's best in order to keep up to date. Every one 

 seems to have his own way in caring for stock plants. 

 I prefer to plant them on a bench or in boxes, for they 

 will produce better and more cuttings then when they 

 are allowed to knock around under a bench for some 

 time. Another good plan is to plant the stock out in 

 a frame, giving some protection from frost by covering 

 up with mats. One good stock plant should produce 

 from 20 to 25 cuttings. See that every variety is 

 labeled true to name. Give a thoroughly good watering 

 when planting out, and then just enough of water to 

 keep the roots active. 



STEVIA FOR CHRISTMAS. 



This is a very useful subject around the holidays. 

 Any house or pit where plenty of air can be admitted, 

 and where the temperature can be kept just a little 

 above the freezing point vnll do, but be very careful 

 that it doesn't go down to that point as they will not 

 stand any frost. If placed in too much heat they will 

 soon become weak and drawn. Those that are grown in 

 pots will want abundance of water; never allow them to 

 suffer for the want of it. Liquid manure about once a 

 week will help to keep the plants in good shape. 



WINTER FLOWERING STOCKS. 



Seed that was sown last May or June should be, by 

 this time, very well rooted in 5-inch pots. When these 

 plants show their flower spikes the single and double 

 ones can be picked out. The double buds are short and 

 stubby, while the single ones are long and slender. 

 There will be quite a lot of bench room from this out, 

 where the chrysanthemums have been cut out. These 

 stocks can be planted in the same soil providing it is 

 enriched with some good manure. They can be set about 

 a foot each way, which will give them plenty of room. 

 By paying proper attention to their culture they can be 

 made a very profitable crop. Give them plenty of fresh 

 air whenever the condition outside will permit. This is 

 one of the greatest aids in growing this crop. The tem- 

 perature best suited for stocks is from 45 to 50 degrees 

 at night. Stocks are subject to the attacks of green 

 and black fly. Fumigate on the first signs of these 

 pests. The best kinds for forcing are the Princess Alice, 

 ("Cut and Come Again") and Beauty of Nice. 



Mr. Farrell's next notes wlU be ou the following; Calantheg; 

 Forcing Dahlias; Geraniums; Hydrangeas; Propagating Begonia 

 Lorraine; Swainsona. 



