November 14, 1914 



HORTICULTUBE 



681 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDl;CTED BY 



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Spi.pay^^u^ 



Questions by our renders in line with anv of tlie topics presented on this page wili be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Sucli communications sliould Invariably be addressed to the ollice of HORTICULTUUE. 

 "If \ain our toil, we oiigbt to blame tlie culture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Care of Young Cinerarias 



Cineraria seed tliat was sown early in August and up 

 to September should now be nice strong plants in flats. 

 Just as soon as they have made enough for a three-inch 

 pot they can be potted off. They like a light and sandy 

 mixture, say three parts fibrous loam, two of not too old 

 leaf mold, and a little sand. They can be kept rather 

 close and shaded for a few days until they have made new 

 roots, after which they can be placed well up to the glass 

 in a cool house. They gain vigor and tone in a tempera- 

 ture 'of about 45 degrees at night; during bright weather, 

 a day temperature of from 55 to 60 will suit. When they 

 have filled these pots with roots they should be shifted 

 into 5-inch pots. Never let tliem approach a pot-bound 

 condition until they are in their flowering size. 



Freesias for Christmas 



The earliest planted batch of freesias should by this 

 time have made good headway. Where they are in 

 boxes, flats or pots raise them well up to the glass, which 

 will help in keeping them from "drawing up." Be sure 

 that the soil is always kept nice and moist, but not sat- 

 urated. The liouse should have ample ventilation when- 

 ever possible. To be in flower for the holidays they will 

 want a temperature of at least 60 degrees at night with 

 15 to 20 degrees more during Ijright days. To enlarge 

 the flower and lengthen the stem they should have 

 liquid manure once a week and u]) until they show color. 



Dracaena indivisa 



We are now running into shorter days which limits 

 the allowance of fresh air, so take advantage of every 

 good day to give ventilation ; this will help to harden the 

 plants before winter sets in. In dark or rainy weather 

 firing should be run more brisk which will permit of more 

 ventilation to hold tlie atmospheric condition of tlie 

 liouses right. Watering can be overdone as well as too 

 little. They like to l)c kept moist at the roots, but not 

 to such an extent as to cause any sourness. Keep the at- 

 mosphere moist by damping down two or three times a 

 day. Keep a night temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees. 



Syringe overhead in the morning of bright days and keep 

 the floors and benclies well dampened. Sponge fre- 

 quently for thrips and scale, as they soon accumulate on 

 these plants. 



Potting Geraniums 



Now when early chrv'santhemums are all out of thf 

 way is a good time to pot up the earliest propagated 

 geraniums, which will enalile you to get another cutting 

 from eacii plant by the first week in January. It is al- 

 ways better to use new soil for geraniums. A good com- 

 post is fibrous soil three parts and very old manure one 

 part; do not use any green manure. Pot firmly. Water 

 as they may need it, but never keep them soaked as they 

 are better for being dried out once in a while. It always 

 pays to give tliese plants a good light house as it results 

 in nice sturdy plants. Give tlicm room as they grow. 



Schizanthus for Easter 



Now is a good time to sow schizanthus. Wlien sown at 

 this date they will make fine plants for Easter in 6 or 7 

 inch pots. Make a compost of loam, leaf mold and sand, 

 mix well and fill the ])ans to within an inch of the top. 

 Keep them shaded until the plants begin to show enough 

 through the surface, but after that they will stand all 

 the light and sun that they can get. WHien they can be 

 handled they should be potted in '2-inch pots and shift 

 aftere-ards as they may need it until they are in their 

 flowering size. AVhen they are well started in the small 

 pots a night temperature of 45 to 48 will be high enough. 

 Pinch frequently so as to form bushy plants and for the 

 last two or three shifts give them a compost of fibrous 

 loam three parts, well rotted manure two parts, with a 

 little sand. When they have filled their pots with roots 

 they will take plenty oi" water. 



Procure Your Supply of Palms 



Now is a good time to lay m a good supply of salable 

 plants of all sizes and the sooner this is done the better. 

 You can cret fine stock through the advertisers in Hor- 

 ticulture. When received give these new arrivals a 

 ffood place in your palm house by themselves so they 

 will have a chance to go ahead. 



Mr. FMrrcll's next note 



be on the following: Cinerarias for Christmas: Irises for Forcing: 

 i P.iiugainvilleas; Paper White Narcissi; Planting Hardy Roses. 



I.ilium speciosum ; Resting 



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