October 24, 1914 



HORTICULTUBE 



577 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDICTED BV 



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

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communloatlons should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Callas 

 These should be makiiiK rapid growth, and will 

 require quite a supply of water. They should also have 

 a good syringing every morning during clear w-eather. 

 Give as much air as possible, and damp dow^n between 

 the pots, floors and walks three times a day. They like 

 a temperature of about 60 degrees at night, with about 

 15 to 20 degrees higher witli sunshine. 



Christmas Plants 

 It is a good time now to take a careful survey and esti- 

 mate of all holiday stock. If sliort on any kind get them 

 right away, not waiting until the last minute and hav- 

 ing to take anything you can get. All plants will want 

 \ery careful watering from now on, and be sure to give 

 them plenty of room so the light and air can get around 

 them. You can give all flowering plants liquid manure 

 at least once a week, wliicli will help to tone them tip 

 in great shape. 



Tulips for Forcing 

 Tidips should now be boxed up as soon as possible. 

 Don't use all worn-out .soil as it never produces good 

 Iiloonis, but give a good compost and do not overlook 

 ]irovidiiig the flats with good drainage. These flats can 

 1)6 placed outdoors where they can be got at handily, as 

 they may be required. It should always be remem- 

 bered that tulips and, in fact, all bulbs should not be 

 exposed to zero weather; a little frost is a good thing for 

 bulbs, but too much is sure to retard their growth and 

 flowering qualities. So when the hard weather sets in 

 give them enough protection to ward off the hardest 

 weather. 



Lily of the Valley for Christmas 



If at all well-grow-n, a G-inch pot of lily of the valley 

 with several dozens of flowers, and trimmed with red 

 waterproof crepe paper, always sells well at Christmas. 

 If not on hand, order some cold storage pips now from 

 your supply house. One can make use of the freshly im- 

 ported stock, but it is too early yet to force them with as 

 good results as the cold storage pips. A period of four 



Mr, 



weeks — rather a little over from the day the pips are 

 planted in tlie pots^and they are ready to sell. Take 

 some 0-inch and 6-inch pots (or half pots will do). Fill 

 them full of pips, allowing about a good inch of space 

 between each pip. The planting is best done by laying 

 about 6 pips in the palm of the left hand, the tops all 

 even. On this space a thin layer of sandy soil, then more 

 pips, another layer of .soil, and so on until you have 

 about as much as the pot w'ill hold. Place these into 

 the pot, and then space the pips properly, having the 

 neck of them even with the rim of the pot, allowing the 

 f inch long pips to project above. Press the soil down 

 firmly betw'een the pips, and do it so as to have all the 

 tops equally high. Perhaps the main thing is to be 

 able to maintain about 85 degrees for bottom heat, with 

 a few degrees less on top. 



Propagation 

 Plants from which an early lot of cuttings were taken 

 should now yield a good extra crop. Ftosts have already 

 occurred in some sections and if a sufficient stock of the 

 more tender plants has not been placed in the propagat- 

 ing bench, it cannot be done too soon. Tender subjects 

 such as coleus and alteruantheras, should already be in, 

 but there are few plants more easily rooted and they can 

 still be projiagated, as can acalyphas, crotons and other 

 colored-leaved tropical plants. These latter like a bench 

 where they will get the benefit of a genial bottom heat. 

 Lobelias, ageratums and petunias should be propagated 

 now-, and of course geraniums can hardly be overdone. 

 Heliotropes, salvias and other useful flowering bedding 

 plants should not Ik; overlooked. It is much more sat- 

 isfactory to take cuttings now and pot them along, which 

 will keep them gi'owing. Plants so treated will later 

 on produce plenty of cuttings. 



Night Temperature 

 From this out the uiglit temperature will play a big 

 part. While it is not best to let a house drop too low, 

 on the other hand it is just as bad to have it go too high. 

 All cool-blooded stock can have a crack of air during 

 nights which will harden up the plants so that when the 

 winter weather sets in tliev will bear it better. 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YORK 



BOTANICA! 



Farrell's next notes will be on the following: Asparagus plumosus nanus; Begonia incarnata; Carnatious; 



Marguerites; Sowing Centaurea gymnocarpa. 



C;iartioli for Forcing; 



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