December 17, 1910 



nOKTICULTURE 



865 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



ANTIRRHINUMS 



iVow that there will be some bench room as all the 

 chrvsaiithemums are cleared off, give the snapdragons a 

 place. Plants that were rooted late last spring and 

 grown on should be nice stock in 4-inch pots. These 

 if planted out now will give a fine crop of bloom. The 

 old chrysanthemum soil will do if given some well-rot- 

 ted manure. Plant them so as to stand about a foot 

 apart each way. Ventilation is of primary importance 

 on all favorable occasions with full light. Give a mini- 

 mum temperature of 50 degrees at night with a rise of 

 from 60 to 65 with sunshine. Disbud the lateral shoots 

 when large enough to handle so as to have large spikes. 

 Seed sown now will give nice flowering plants by next 

 spring. Sow them thinly as the little plants will be 

 sturdier from the start. Keep them in a temperature of 

 55 degrees until well established. 



BEGONIAS 



All begonias are more or less easily propagated by 

 cuttings when they can be given bottom heat. The 

 young sturdy shoots of the new half-ripened wood will 

 make the best cuttings. The Vernon and the semper- 

 fiorens types can from this time out be grown from cut- 

 tings. Xow is also a good time to propagate Eex be- 

 gonias. Take some of the well-ripened leaves and cut 

 into about 8 or 10 pieces. Each portion should have a 

 piece of the midrib running through it. Be sure to 

 insert the thickest end of the rib <lownward in the sand. 

 Give a good watering all over^ and then keep rather dry, 

 but with a moist air and a good bottom heat. When 

 the young plants appear at the base of the leaf, they can 

 be potted up and grown on in a heat of from 65 to 70 

 degrees. Being quite tropical they enjoy plenty of heat 

 and moisture. Any large specimens of the Rex varie- 

 ties that are pot-bound can be given a liberal supply of 

 weak manure water which will increase the beauty of 

 their foliage. This applies to the winter-flowering 

 kinds also. 



DENDROBIUMS 



Dendrobium nobile that has completed its growth 

 should have a period of rest in a cooler house with full 

 light and siinshine, and drier atmosphere so they can 

 thoroughly ripen up. Give them a temperature of from 

 48 to 50 degrees by night with a rise of about 10 degrees 

 during the day. During their season of rest they want 

 very little water at the roots. Caution on this point is 

 necessary, because, if given too much, they are liable to 

 start prematurely. They must have just sufficient to 

 prevent any shrivelling. In all bright weather give 

 light syringing overhead as this helps them materially 

 from becoming exhausted. When they begin to show 

 flower they can be removed to a warmer house. Den- 

 drobiums such as Devonianum, and Wardianum can 

 31*^0 have this cool resting treatment. Such species as 

 D. bigibbum, D. densiflorum, D. Findlayanum, and D. 

 thyrsiflorum, should be rested in a temperature of about 

 from 55 to 60 degrees at night, and from 65 to 70 degrees 

 with sunshine. Allow the direct rays of the sun for it 

 plays a very important part in finishing up the canes so 

 as to insure good flowers. Ventilate as often as the 

 weather will permit. 



MANETTI STOCK 



When your stock of Manetti arrives unpack and heel 

 it in as soon as possible. Any cool shed or pit that is 

 just clear of frost will do. When unpacking, if any 



have started to grow, lay them aside so they can be pot- 

 ted up first. When ]}otting use either 2 or gi/a-ineh 

 pots and some good new soil and be sui'e that they are 

 potted very firmly. Give them a place in a cool house any- 

 where from 40 to 50 degrees. Give a thorough water- 

 ing and then a daily syringing in order to keep the tops 

 fairly moist so as to get the wood and eyes plump, but 

 don't let the pots get too wet until there is full root 

 action. When the buds are well swelled and there is 

 good action at the roots they are about right for grafting. 

 See that your grafting cases or boxes are put in order 

 now so as to have them ready when wanted. 



PROPAGATING BENCH 



The ensuing season's success depends much on a well- 

 managed propagating house or bench. Now that we are 

 coming on to the new year it is time to prepare to in- 

 crease stock. The first part of the operation naturally 

 consists in a thorough cleaning by removing all old 

 material that was used on any previous occasion. Then, 

 if there is any repairing needed it should be done. Give 

 the entire surface of the bench a coat of hot whitewash 

 and sulphur, and allow the latter to dry before covering 

 witli sand. A good way to prepare a cutting bench is 

 to put half an inch or more of any clean material in the 

 bottom such as broken-up tufty soil, gravel or moss so as 

 to hold the sand and insure good drainage. After this 

 put from 2 to 3 inches of finely sifted clean sand, spread 

 evenly and well firmed. Give a good watering and then 

 it is ready. If you can have portable frames fixed so 

 they can be put on or off as needed you will have more 

 success in rooting most plants. 



SEED SOWING 



Now is a good time to prepare flats for the sowing of 

 seeds, and to hold plants in the near future. By and 

 by you probably will be too busy, so attend to this now. 

 Flats about 14 by 20 inches and 3 inches deep make a 

 handy size. Use yg-inch material for the ends and 

 i/o-inch for the bottom and sides. About one year is 

 their life limit. After that they are liable to fall apart. 

 It is none too early to begin the sowing of many seeds if 

 the room can be given. Growers who want to work up 

 a stock of good-sized plants by next spring should make 

 preparation now. Fse a light sandy soil for seeds so 

 they can make an abundance of fibrous roots and as 

 soon as the seedlings have developed their second leaves 

 they should be transferred to other flats. Place on a 

 shelf or raise the flats up otherwise, as near to the glass 

 as possible, and then water very carefully.- Seeds of 

 lobelias, daisies, pansies, snapdragons, stocks, mignon- 

 ette and candytuft can be sown now for early spring 

 trade. 



FLOWERING PLANTS 



To meet the holiday plant trade nothing so appropri- 

 ately meets the prevailing demand as nicely-done flow- 

 ering plants. Roman hyacinths, paper white narcissi 

 and lily of the valley are always in good demand made 

 up in dishes, pans and pots. The making up of these 

 can be deferred until a day or two before they are 

 needed for display. Heaths, camellias and a few other 

 rare things always find favor with the more refined class 

 of people. Now is a good time to go over and wash the 

 pots. A dirty pot is very offensive and unsightly. 



^ 



Mr. FarreU's next notes wiU be on the foUowing : Antheri- 

 cums: Bouvni'ilia Cuttiiijrs: Care of Palms' and FoUage Plants; 

 CaUas ; Double Petunias; Liliuni speeiosum. 



