July 4, 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES OF CULTURE OF FLORISTS* STOCK 



t ONDICTED BY 



^*A^%9h. ^A^^^U 



Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented oa this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the otflce of HORTICULTURE. 



^ Crotons. 



Crotons shonld not be shaded too heavily or the nat- 

 urally brilliant coloring of the leaves will become more 

 somber. Frequent syringing benefits the plants and 

 keeps such insect pests as mealy bug, red spider and 

 scale in cheek. Crotons, or codiaeums, as the botanists 

 jjrefer to call them, succeed best in a warm, moist 

 greenhouse. Pi'opagation is easy. It can be done by 

 ringing and mossing the tops, which if kept constantly 

 moist will soon produce roots, after which the tops can 

 be potted and kept fairly close until established. Cro- 

 tons gi'ow well in a compost of fibrous loam and leaf- 

 mold. '\^^len they are likely to stay in pots a consider- 

 able time, some fine bone and old cow manure may be 

 added with advantage. They appreciate watering with 

 liquid manure when well established in pots and in ac- 

 ti^■e growth, but heavy doses must be avoided. Damp- 

 ing down will now be necessaiy, morning, noon and 

 night, and the plants should be examined each day and 

 watered only if they need it, for even whilst growing 

 they should not get in a saturated condition. 



Hydrangeas. 



After the first week in July all pruning or stopping 

 on stock planted out should be discontinued for the 

 season, since if followed up any later it would make a 

 sacrifice of bloom. Sturdy shoots, now starting as an 

 undergrowth from the main stems, should not be re- 

 moved, for these will develop into the finest flowering 

 branches by next spring. All weak and straggling 

 growth, however, must be cleanly cut away and the 

 plants kept freed of these at all times. Nice little 

 single-stemmed plants with one immense truss of bloom, 

 may be had by next spring from cuttings struck now. 

 These cuttings of course must not be stopped or cut 

 back, but kept free of any side growth. Those that are 

 growing under pot culture may need a repotting once 

 or twice, as the difference in vigor between the individ- 

 ual plants would indicate, until they are in 6 or 7-inch 

 pots. Keep all these pots well watered so they will 

 make their required growth before the fall. When the 

 cool weather sets in you can start in ripening them up. 



Getting Carnations Planted. 



Growers who have some of their houses read}' would 

 do well to plant them up. The housing of carnations 

 can be done from now and up to the 1.5th of August. 

 Be sure the hottses are made thoroughly clean before 

 starting to plant. To make the atmosphere more con- 

 genial both for the plants and help, give them a 

 shading of some material that will come off easilv. In 



lifting the plants from the field give them some pro- 

 tection from the sun and drying winds. Select only the 

 best and most shapely and make the hole large enough 

 to hold all the roots nicely. When planted they should 

 have a good soaking. This is better done at short in- 

 tervals so that none have a -chance to flag. Keep them 

 sprayed two or three times a day and also keep the house 

 or houses rather close for about three or four days. 



Mignonette for Winter Flowering. 



To ensure a good crop of mignonette for winter cut- 

 ting the seed should be sown early. If sown now they 

 will make strong plants by early winter.. Where a 

 house that is cool is available and a solid bed possible 

 sow the seed there as they always give better spikes and 

 more of them when planted in solid beds. Give them a 

 very rich compost, say two loads fibrous loam, to one 

 of well decayed cow manure. When the beds or benches 

 are filled have the surface made nice and fine before 

 the seed is sown. Make rows lengthwise and crosswise 

 13 inches apart and sow three or four seeds where the 

 lines cross. See that the seed is covered lightly and then 

 press down firmly. Keep moist until the seedlings ap- 

 pear when they should have enough of water to keep 

 them growing. When the plants show their second 

 ]iair of leaves, thin to two, and later you can leave only 

 one. 



NbW V()(< 



Mr. Farrell's next notes will be on the following: 



Calanthes. 



Keep a sharp lookout as to watering the calanthes, 

 going over them twice a day to prevent any of them 

 from becoming overdry. These orchids do not like as 

 much spraying as either cattleyas or dendrobes. A 

 spraying in the morning will be enough and they should 

 have their foliage dry by night. When they are left 

 wet over night spot will very likely develop. We some- 

 times run into quite a few nights during July and 

 August which become rather cool. Wlien this happens 

 start a little fire. Calanthes want a temperature of not 

 less than 70 degrees during the night. Give enough of 

 ventilation to keep the air buoyant. 



Keeping Weeds Down. 



W^e are now at a season when all kinds of weeds both 

 inside and outside soon start up and grow apace. Do 

 not be neglectful in keeping the soil clear of these 

 tramps of the vegetable kingdom. Weeds rob what- 

 ever crop you may be growing by taking up the plant 

 food which should lie left there for the crop. Keep all 

 benches in the houses as well as the ground outside clear 

 of weeds by frequent weeding and cultivation. 



Callas; Gardenias; Geraniums; Rambler Roses; Planning for Next Winter; 

 Solanums. 



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