November 28, 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



753 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^*Ay.%.pf. PoA^iU/ 



Questions by onr renders In line with nny of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such couimuulcatlons shuuld InrarUbly be addressed to the office of HOKTICULTUKE. 

 "If vain our toil, we ougUt tw blame lue cuiiuie, not the soil," — Pope. 



Allamandas 



These plants should now have made plenty of fine 

 wood and will now need a good rest. All syringing must 

 be discontinued and just enough of water should be 

 given to keep tlie shoots from shrivelling. The ripening 

 process will have to be done very gradually. Allow tlie 

 soil to get a little drier after each watering. The fol- 

 iage will turn yellow and finally drop. During this rest- 

 ing period which should go on for ten or fifteen weeks 

 the temperature should not go below 55 degrees at night. 

 They should have plenty of ventilation whenever the 

 outside condition will permit. 



Care of Carnations 



Where carnations are sliowing plenty of buds they 

 should get some light top dressing. After February' 1st 

 if the plants are still doing well they will need more 

 food, and liquid manure can be used to advantage about 

 once a week, or top dressing can again be resorted to, 

 using dried blood or nitrate of soda in light doses, or 

 sheep manure or shredded cattle manure in heavier 

 doses, and if available, a good lot of rotted stable 

 manure, which also will help to keep the beds from 

 drj-ing out too quickly. Carnations will do well with 

 a night temperature of 48 degrees to 52. The day tem- 

 perature should be governed by the weather, not allow- 

 ing it to rise above 60 degrees on cloudy days and 72 

 degrees on bright days. Nothing will be gained in 

 getting a few e.xtra flowers in winter by running the 

 houses a few degrees higher, as the plants will be sure 

 to suffer. E.xamine the benches everj' day for the dry 

 places which can be watered. 



Care of Gardenias 



Gardenias will now want very strict attention. The 

 way watering is done from this out will play an imjx)r- 

 tant part in having good gardenia flowers. Either an 

 undersupply or excess will always prove disastrous. 

 Damp down the walks two or three times a day for they 

 do abhor anything like a drj-ing atmosphere. Give a 

 night temperature of at least 65 degrees with 10 to 15 

 degrees higher with sun. Give enough ventilation on 

 all good dayg so as to avoid a hot stuffy atmosphere. 

 Take advantage of everj' bright day and do some syring- 

 ing as it is a great aid in keeping the plants healthy and 

 clean. Give them light mulches about every month. 

 Either sheep or cow manure in equal parts with soil 

 makes the best mulch. 



Next Week :— Azaleas for Christmas; Christmas Talk; Lilies for 



of 



Propagfating Crotons 



From December to February, when firing is the 

 heaviest and the propagating sand is most likely to be 

 steadily warm, is perhaps the best time for rooting 

 crotons. The best condition for successful rooting is 

 when we can maintain a bottom heat of 80 to 85 degrees, 

 with top heat 10 degrees lower, but they will root in a 

 top heat even 20 degrees lower. Half ripened wood is 

 the best to use. Water freely. Usually a good damp- 

 ing will be needed daily, in addition to occasional light 

 sprayings. Protect from all sunshine. Where you have 

 a lot of leggy crotons nice young plants may be had by 

 making incisions in good, shapely shoots. Keep open 

 with toothpicks, bind with sphagnum and keep con- 

 stantly moist and roots will be emitted in a month or 

 less, when the tops can be cut off and carefully potted. 

 With a little shade and careful handling large and 

 well finished plants in small pots may be had in this 

 way. Crotons are fond of a high temperature so should 

 never have less than 65 degrees at night, and 15 to 20 

 degrees higher with sun. 



Rhododendrons 



Rhododendrons for the past two seasons have sold 

 well, especially at Easter. Considering size of plant 

 and number of buds the first cost of the plants is a trifle 

 and their worth must be estimated on the bench room 

 they occupy rather than on first cost. The rhododen- 

 drons, remember, are hardy even in our semi-arctic 

 winters, and it is not the cold but the soil that often 

 makes them a failure outside in this locality. Wet the 

 roots of the rhododendrons as you did tlie azaleas and 

 place them in a cold house or shed or in a deep cold 

 frame covered with sashes where they could remain until 

 February. See that they have plenty of drainage and 

 are jjotted firmly. Keep the soil moist. By February 

 bring them into a cool house where they can be started 

 up slowly. 



Preparing Ground for Asters 



Where the ground does not freeze up to this time it 



can be prepared for asters for next year. They always 



do better when the ground is plowed or dug late in the 



fall. Spread a heavy coat of manure and plow or dig 



this under, leaving it rough over the winter. In the 



spring this will save a good deal of time. All you will 



have to do is to give it sufficient harrowing to pulverize. 



Christmas; Christmas Greens; Hybrid Perpetuals for Easter: Care 

 Violets. 



FOR A BIG BUSINESS 



The Tenth Annual Holiday and Souvenir Number of HORTICULTURE 



Will be issued under date of December 12. Make good use of it if you have anything to 

 For Getting Business That Is Worth Getting It Has No Superior 



sell 



