January 14, 1911 



ttOKTICULTURU 



39 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists' Stock 



ABUTILONS 



For those who have formal beds or other similar 

 planting to do the dwarf abutilous are unsurpassed. 

 Thev are now used in large numbers in cemeteries, pub- 

 lic parks, and for vases, window boxes, etc. To have good 

 thrifty plants by bedding-out time, start rooting cut- 

 tings now. Stock plants that were lifted last fall should 

 now be put into heat — say from 55 to 60 degrees at night 

 and they will soon get into active growth. Syringe on 

 all bright days and keep the atmosphere in a nice moist 

 condition and in a short time you will have good material 

 to propagate from. Insert the cuttings in a propagat- 

 ing bed and they will soon root. Pot into 2 or 21/2 inch 

 pots, giving any good soil and good drainage. As they 

 grow on use the hose to keep down the mealy bug. 

 Abutilon Savitzii is the most useful. A. vexillarium is 

 especially good for hanging baskets and veranda boxes. 



ACALTPHAS 



Where there is a demand for highly colored plants 

 for subtropical bedding, or mixed border, or for the 

 decoration of the show house or conservatory the acaly- 

 phas have but few equals. To have nice plants in 4 or 

 5-inch pots for setting out by the last of May or the first 

 week in June, shorten back the shoots of your stock 

 plants, and place them now in a temperature of about 65 

 degrees at night, on a light sunny bench. With a moist 

 atmosphere and abundance of syringing they will soon 

 push a number of young growths that will root where 

 there is a good bottom heat. When they are fairly well 

 rooted they should be potted into 2i/o or 3 in. pots using 

 good fibrous loam, well enriched. Acalypha Macafeana 

 has ability to stand the winds better than most coleuses. 

 It also stands well in good condition in the late summer 

 and fall. 



CANTEKBUKY BELLS 



These are splendid spring flowering plants. It is 

 now time to arouse these plants into activity if wanted for 

 Easter. Start in about 45 degrees at night, and when 

 new growth increases raise the temperature slowly until 

 the minimum of 50 degrees is reached. If the plants 

 are subjected to too great a heat, especially right after 

 being started into growth, they will not attain perfection. 

 Every opporunity must be availed of to admit sufficient 

 fresh air on every favorable occasion. AVhen they have 

 filled their pots with roots, feeding will help them ma- 

 terially, and more than repay for the trouble. The best 

 colors for Easter are pink and white. They make beauti- 

 ful olijects in pots for Easter decoration. 



IIYDRAXGEAS 



Plants that are intended for Easter should now be 

 given a slow start in a cool house so to break into new 

 growth. With syringing and top-sprinkling a good break 

 will be secured. After a good start has been made in a 

 temperature of 50 degrees. a temperature as high as 65 or 

 "iO degrees at night may safely be employed in bringing 

 the plants to a rapid development, though a less heat 

 steadily held is more likely to produce the best results. 

 A moderately humid atmosphere in their advancing new 

 growth will be most beneficial. Give them full sunlight 

 as it imparts vigor and depth of color to the foliage. 

 Hydrangeas when in full root action will need liberal 

 supplies of water,, with some liquid manure at least once 

 a week. Plants that do not throw much bloom will pro- 

 vide good material for cuttings. Put a good batch of 

 these in a warm propagating bed; they will soon root 

 and make fine plants for another year. 



ODONTOGLOSSUMS 



The temperature through the winter months should 

 range about 50 degrees at night with from 60 to 65 

 degrees with sunshine. They will stand as low as 40 

 degrees without injury, but less water and syringing 

 should be given under such circumstances. It is always 

 better that the temperature should never fall below 45 

 degrees at night. Plants that have not been repotted as 

 yet should be attended to without delay. There is no ques- 

 tion that autumn potting is the best. A very satisfac- 

 tory compost is chopped, live spha.gnum, fibrous peat, 

 and charcoal. Give plenty of air, but using care to 

 avoid cold draughts. Of course a good deal of judgment 

 will have to be used as to outside conditions in giving air. 

 When resting it is a difficult matter to water these or- 

 chids, so much depends upon the state of the weather. 

 Give judicious light syringing on all bright days, and 

 taking care in dull or wet weather not to have the at- 

 mosphere overcharged with moisture. Better keep a 

 little more fire heat so as not to entirely cut off ventila- 

 tion, or induce a stagnant atmosphere. 



THE CARE OF STOCK LEFT OVER 



Save as many stevia plants as you think will do for 

 stock ; cut down and place in light cool house for future 

 cuttings. Select \'our poinsettias for stock plants by 

 lifting with all the soil or as much of the soil adhering 

 as possible and set closely packed in boxes, covering the 

 intervening bare spaces with soil from the bench. These 

 should be rested under a somewhat dry warm bench 

 until March or later. Give a little water now and then 

 to prevent a shriveling. Azaleas should be placed in a 

 very cool, light house. Anything above the freezing 

 point will do. See that at no time they are allowed to 

 get extremely dry. Ericas will take the same treatment. 

 .\11 such flowering plants as Begonia Lorraine, cycla- 

 mens and primroses should be given the minimum tem- 

 perature with plenty of ventilation to keep them in as 

 good condition as possible until sold, but if the stock is 

 unsalable don't let it occupy valuable bench room. The 

 busiest time of the year with most growers begins right 

 after the holidays, with but little let-up until Easter. If 

 any of your young stock has been neglected on account of 

 the Christmas preparation give every attention now. 

 Look around and see if you are short of anything for 

 future use and, if so, buy now. There is plenty of it 

 offered through the advertising columns of Horticol- 



TUEE. 





Mr. Farrell's next uotes will be on the following: Careof Car- 

 iintinns: Dracaena indivisa ; Grafting Roses; Panax Victoriae; 

 Sniilux; Tuberous Begonia&. 



Cattleya Trianae The President 



(See *'u\er Illustration. 1 



AVithout doubt this is one of the grandest varieties of 

 this prolific species ,of cattleyas ever produced. The 

 flowers are large and of great substance as well shown 

 in the picture. Petals measure 8 inches across and are 

 3% inches in diameter. The sepals are 1% inches 

 broad. Both petals and sepals are very deep rose color. 

 The lip is 2% inches wide, proportionately long and ex- 

 tremely dark crimson, this color extending well back 

 into the throat. The throat itself is marked beautifully 

 with yellow. We are indebted to Julius Roehrs. Company 

 of Rutherford. X. J., for this beautiful photograph. 



