H ORTI CULTURE 



Nephrolepis Barrowsi and Others Culture of the Cyclamen 



\c|.lir.i|<'jiis Barrowsi is not as ilistiiirt a departure 

 ill I'orm from N. Bostoniensis as either N. Piersoni or 

 elegantissima, yet it may for tliat same reason be con- 

 sidered fully as valuable eommercially as the other two 

 varieties. The fronds of X. Barrowsi are long and 

 graceful, showing a clean space bordering each side of 

 the mid rib emphasizing the delicate decorative appear- 

 ance of the outer edges of the frond. This feature, ex- 

 clusively its own, together with a capacity to take the 

 place of N. Bostoniensis in large specimens makes it 

 welcome to many who still retain a lingering regard for 

 the old Boston fern. The variety in question by no 

 means detracts from any of the others of recent intro- 

 duction; it just came to take the place open for it, the 

 same as the others did. There is room for all and for 

 more like them, and it seems remarkable that each va- 

 riety should have valuable characteristics distinct from 

 the others from a utilitarian point of view. When 

 Xephrolepis Piersoni came, it was thought that perfec- 

 tion had been attained in this class of ferns for decora- 

 tive work, but when a little later N. elegantissima (or 

 compacta as it was then called) made its appearance 

 gardeners perceived an ideal fern for growing as speci- 

 men plants because of the marvelous nature of the 

 fronds. 



Xephrolepis Scotti, although in individual frond not 

 so distinct a variety as the two others, is so compact and 

 sturdy that it took hold immediately. For a plant in a 

 medium-sized pot or pan X. Scotti cannot be equalled. 

 I would say it was the old Boston cut down to fit the 

 millions, and it will be wanted everywhere. Despite the 

 undoubted merit of all the other new varieties and the 

 unmistakable signs of returning interest in the old Bos- 

 ton itself. Nephrolepis Barrowsi is a welcome introduc- 

 tion and it is safe to predict that it will be grown in 

 lari;e numbers in the near future. 



OrloliiT an. I XovciuIh r a)-e, as a rule, the niontlis lor 

 sowing cyclamen seeds, although progressive florists who 

 make a specialty of them for the Christmas plant trade 

 are now sowing as early as the beginning of August. 

 However, if seeds are sown between now and Thanks- 

 giving and kept growing steadily on, plants for either 

 exhibition or trade purposes ought to be procured, pro- 

 viding they never sufl"er from a check of any kind. 



After years of experience we find that a good English 

 strain is the best seed that can be purchased here, and is 

 certainly w^orth tlie rather high price seedsmen charge. 



Our method of sowing the seeds is about the same as 

 is generally recommended, except that we use boxes in- 

 stead of pans. Wooden receptacles, we find, retain the 

 moisture more evenly than earthenware, a fact never to 

 be overlooked in growing cyclamens. Sow in a mixture 

 of leaf mould, sand, fine charcoal and turfy loam, thor- 

 oughly sterilized and, after a good watering, set in a 

 shady position where the temperature does not fall be- 

 low -^)6 degrees at night. 



As soon as the young seedlings appear above the soil 

 the boxes should be raised up to within six inches of the 

 glass, to prevent the first leaf from becoming drawn. 

 Our seeds are sown thinly, and we are never in a hurry 

 to prick off the seedlings. Cyclamens, unlike most other 

 seedlings, have their rootstocks, which they depend on 

 more for strength than on their roots, and our experi- 

 ence has been that the longer the rootstocks are left un- 

 disturbed at this period the sooner they will gather 

 strength. 



Wlien the second leaf is well up we transplant into 

 other boxes, three inches apart, because, here again, we 

 are in no hurry to pot off. The mixture should be about 

 the same as before, except a little less leaf mould and 

 sand, with some well decayed manure added; manure 

 that is at least three years old, .still keeping the boxes 

 up to the glass on a back bench and gradually dispensing 

 with shading as winter approaches. 



0^^-^r^9^'9.U^■ /^-^ 



Fall Advertisingf is Ripe 



and Ready to Pick 



<^>aii MH »^N«^»»^^Hii^i%Ow^»^ ^ ^<y »<^>iM^j'%^«i»»M»^'^^*i»0^^>'^»«K^ f K^>i>i'M^lrM*»^»^iW^I»'^^^ %» ^>^ %^^l 



