September 2, 1905 



H ORTl CULTURE 



The Cyclamen 



The accomijanying i^hotograpli of cyclamen was 

 taken from j'lants as gi-own in the estate of Mr. F. S. 

 Moseley, Ne^buryport, Mass., Jan. 31st, 1905. 



The method of culture was, I think, about the same as 

 is generally rocommendcd for cyclamen. We generally 

 sow our seeds the first of September in well-drained 

 pans, using two-thirds loam, one-third leaf mould, with 

 a little sand, filling the pans to within one-inch of the 

 top. Then place a piece of glass over pan until seeds 

 have germinated, when it is removed. Keep the pans in 

 a saucer of water adding more water when required. 

 The pans are kept in a tcmiierature of about 58 or 60 

 degrees at night in a northerly exposed house. 



As soon as plants have made one leaf, prick off into 

 pans and from pans into 2 1-2-inch pots as soon as 

 they become large enough, using two parts loam, one 

 part leaf mould and one" part well-rotted manure and 

 sand mixed. Then put into a cooler house facing north 

 with a temperature of about 50 degrees at night. The 

 plants are then potted on as becomes necessary, which 

 will be noted by knocking the plants carefully out of 

 the pots. If the roots are showing through the soil, 

 pot on into four-inch pots, and from four into six- 

 inch pots, and from six to seven and eight-inch pots, 

 making their final potting about the last week of July 

 or first week in August, using at this time a coarser 

 soil and more manure. 



The plants are later put out in cold frames as soon as 

 the bedding .stock is cleared out and grown there all 

 summer, raising the sashes back and front about five 

 or six inches according to the weather. 



These plants had a permanent shade of white lead 

 and naptha. although a portable shade is, I think, better. 

 Cheese cloth makes a good shade, drawn over as soon as 

 the sun strikes the frame in the morning and rolled off 

 again about 4.30 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon, according 

 to the position of the frame. The plants are sprayed 

 three or four times a day during bright weather, using 

 a syringe giving a fine spray. The plants are put 

 inside where they are to flower about the last week in 

 September, giving temiwrature of 50 to 55 degrees at 

 night, then commence to feed weak liquid manure. 



There are, by the way. few plants more lasting and 

 satisfactory during tlie winter month;: than a good 

 bench of cvolamen. 



Corn-flower in Winter 



During the winter months there is a demand for 

 corn-flower (Cciiluurca cyanus, Emperor William) 

 sufficient to induce certain growers to attempt to force 

 it. Some have attained a Iiieasure of success in doing 

 this, but, as a general thing, the attempt to grow it 

 under glass has been extremely unsatisfactory, for while 

 seed sown in tlie ground in the spring or late summer, 

 or seeds dropped from the plant itself, will, with little 

 care, throw an abundance of bloom in the open border, 

 during the early summer months, the task of forcing 

 this plant to yield its bloom out of season is one to which 

 it gives reluctant consent. 



The impatient and uncertain manner, however, in 

 which attempts have been made by a majority of grow- 

 ers to induce this plant to flower in winter, may be, in 

 a great measure, responsible for the unsatisfactory 

 results obtained. It is probable that a more intelligent 

 effort to help the plant adapt itself to new conditions 

 would open up more encouraging possibilities. In this 

 connection it is well to remember that seed of the corn- 

 flower sown in the open, is, under natural conditions, 

 seed sown to produce bloom in the open. While it does 

 not necessarily follow that, in order to produce bloom 

 under glass, the seed must be sown there, yet it is well 

 to introduce this plant to its new s.urroundings as soon 

 as possible, also to the conditions most favorable to its 

 proper development. These are more nearly under con- 

 trol in a greenhouse than elsewhere. 



A sufficient growth of matured, flowering wood, at 

 the earliest moment, is the end sought for. Plants grown 

 in the shade make a rank growth of soft foliage, espe- 

 cially if the soil is damp and rich. On the other hand, 

 if the location is too hot and dry, the plant becomes 

 stunted, and while still very small, throws a flower 

 which is inferior. Both extremes may be avoided by 

 selecting a partially shaded portion of the greenhouse 

 where there is good air circulation. 



Seed should be sown early in the summer in order 

 to have all possible flowering power developed before 

 the short dark days of late fall and early winter, as 

 the plant has. a persistent tendency to run to foliage 

 during this time. When the plant has made its natural 

 leaf in the seed-bed, prick out into flats or the bench, 

 placing the seedlings so far apart that they will not be 

 likely to draw. Wien six or eight inches high they 

 should be put into 3 1-2-inch pots. It is not a good 

 plan to plant corn-flower in the open bench, as it is 

 nearly impossible to direct or control its inherent ten- 

 dency to run to foliage, if this is done. Planted in pots, 

 conditions affecting "^its growth are more readily regu- 

 lated. As growth of the plants increases, they should 

 be repotted and not allowed to become root or pot- 

 bound in anything smaller than an eight-inch pot. 



Corn-flower plants, produced from seed procured of 

 the seedsman in the ordinary Way, show a variety of 

 habits and tendencies, some lending themselves more 

 readily than others to forcing conditions. If a plant is 

 reluctant to throw up an erect stalk Ad shows a ten- 

 dency to spread out over the ground and to grow thick 

 and heavy, it should be thrown out. The chances are 

 entirely against its producing blooms enough to pay its 

 way. The plants to be selected are those which early 

 show an erect branching habit, with thin foliage and 

 narrow leaves. Enough should be started to have a 

 sufficient number of only the best of this type. Some 

 well-rotted cow manure should be placed in the bottom 

 of the eight or ten-inch pot in which the plant is to 

 remain. It is not a good plan to sift out all the gravel 

 from the soil used in iiotting. neither is a rich, heavy 



