June 3, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



SOH 



Seasonable Notes on Culture of 

 Florists^ Stock 



VIOLETS 



>\ow that the violet phmting season is at hand, the 

 first essential is strong and healthy stock, as no amount 

 of nursing will ever make a sickly violet pay. Almost 

 any good soil will grow violets, but the most suitable is 

 a strong eak-areous one that will retain moisture without 

 becoming sodden. Sod that was stacked ui) last fall and 

 not piled any liigher than about 14 inches so that it got 

 a thorough freezing is the l.)est for violets. It is of great 

 importanee in preparing a compost to have at least for 

 each four parts of well-rotted sod one part of thoroughly 

 decomposed cow or stable manure, and, if possible, mix 

 charcnal at the rate of one bushel to 25 bushels of the 

 compost. After the violets are planted in the house 

 the weather conditions we are bound to have will try 

 the patience and skill of the best of growers. See that 

 every care is given in the way of careful watering and 

 frequent stirring of the sui*face of the soil once a. week. 

 Keep the glass fairly well shaded with all the ventilation 

 the weather will permit so as to maintain as cool and as 

 dry an atmosi)heve as possible. Syringing should be at- 

 tended to on all Ijright days early enough in the morn- 

 ing so the foliage will be dry before night. This is a 

 very essential item. The plants should be kept clean 

 and growing all summer, to form strong blooming 

 crowns by fall. 



CROTONS. 



The first batches of cuttings that were propagated 

 should now be far enough in their growth to require a 

 shift into either 4 or 5-inch pots. They lil<e a compost 

 of turfy loam with about a fourth or fifth of well- 

 decayed cow manure and some bone meal — say about a 

 four inch pot full to a bushel of soil. Give them a very 

 moist atmosphere with plenty of syringing so as to keep 

 down the red spider, thrips and mealy bug, all of 

 which increase very rapidly when the air of the house 

 becomes too dry. To have the markings of their 

 foliage show in fullest livilliancy they should have no 

 shade, unless the leaves actually Journ. These plants are 

 very serviceable for the decoration of table, room, and 

 conservatories, but when intended for this use they 

 should be gradually hardened otf in removing from their 

 tropical quarters for they are very susceptible to cold 

 and sudden changes. 



MARGUERITES 



The early-propagated portion of the coming season's 

 stock should now be far enough advanced to require 4 

 and even 5-inch pots. Size and vigor are only imparted 

 by special good summer treatment which is always a 

 permanent gain to this winter flowering stock. It is 

 l)etter to keep them growing on in pots during the sum- 

 mer for they make more compact plants by having 

 their root room restricted. A good compost to use is of 

 turfy loam three parts, well-decomposed manure one 

 part They should get their final shift by the last week 

 in July and be kept pinched. When the pots, in theii 

 last shift, become filled with roots liquid manure should 

 be given once a week. Older or left-over plants from 

 last spring can now be planted out and will furnish cut- 

 tings for fall propagation. These will 

 medium-sized flowering plants for spring. 



give nice 



and other very interesting genera to be greatly 

 neglected. If there are some of these orchids that have 

 not received attention early in the season, — but where 

 the compost is still in good condition — it is best not to 

 disturb them. They would be greatly helped by a top 

 diessing of chopped live spiragnum. Some of the old 

 material can be removed to a depth of ai)out an inch so 

 as not to disturb the roots. These orchids do better in 

 a house that has a northern aspect as they come from 

 the cool ravines of the Andes and are found from 7,000 

 to 1 "2,000 feet above sea level. They are very muclvlike 

 odontoglossum as to summer requirements. Fresh air 

 should be given at all times when possible, in greater or 

 less quantity according to outside condition. Keep up 

 an abundance of moisture by wetting down the paths 

 and under the benches two or three times a day in fine 

 weather. These orchids must never suffer for want of 

 water at the roots: they are indeed better to be kept 

 rather on the wet side, for they have no pseudo-bulbs to 

 store up nourishment. Masdevallias are very free- 

 flowering and ought to be nrore widely grown. 

 Masdevallia Harryaiia has excellent lasting qualities 

 along with rich colorings and is a charming subject. 

 Another very useful one is Masdevallia Tovarensis wliich 

 blooms about midwinter. 



MASDKVAI.LIAS 



The craze for big and fancy orchids has caused tliese 



RAISING PERENNIALS 



Now is the time to sow seed of the most desirable 

 perennials. The demand for this class of plants is in- 

 creasing every year so every florist who has the land to 

 spare should sow some. Plants from seeds sown now 

 and transplanted when large enough into the border or 

 field and given some care as to watering will get well 

 enough established to stand the winter. The seed 

 should be sown in frames where it will be convenient to 

 water them. Any good light soil that has been made 

 fine will be suitable. Keep shaded and moist irntil they 

 have started. Don't sow too thickly. When the seed- 

 lings are large enough to handle prick them out and 

 keep shaded for few days in other frames. This is bet- 

 ter where you have the frames to spare. They can be 

 transplanted again into cold frames where they can stay 

 during winter and have slight protection in severe 

 weather. They can stand about 8 to 10 inches between 

 the rows with about from 4 to 5 inches apart in the 

 rows. They are better and stronger when grown this 

 way the first year than when planted out in open 

 gr'ound. 



SWEET PEAS 



It behooves every florist to see that his sweet peas 

 have good care now as all indoor flowers such as roses, 

 carnations, etc., are rapidly deteriorating in quality. 

 Now as we are getting hot and dry weather a generous 

 mulch between the rows will be found of great benefit. 

 It is always better to keep the flowers closely picked. 

 Never let seed pods develop ; pick them ofl', for if 

 allowed to stay on, the vines will speedily decline in 

 vigor. Where you can reach them with the hose give 

 them overhead syringings late in the afternoons of hot 

 days as they enjoy it and will repay you with better 

 foliage, flowers with longer stems, and a general vigor 

 of the whole plant. 



Ml'. F:irrell -■ next notes will be on the filluuin^' : A(iiautuiu.s : 

 Bonrlilng Clirysautbeniiniis ; Cuttings tf I'oinsi'tfias ; Kerns in 

 Frames; Left-iiver Astilbes ; Pruning Fliiwcrinu' Slirnlis. 



