December 5, 1914 



HORTICUT>TURE 



785 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



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A A* 



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

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the otflce of HORTICULTDRE. 

 "If vain oar toll, we oaght to blame the culture, not tlie soil." Pope. 



Azaleas for Christmas 



To have these plants right for Christmas they should 

 begin to show color about the middle of December. 

 Keep them in a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees until 

 it is evident that they will be in on time. See that none 

 of them become dry at the roots. Give a spraying also 

 at least once a day, but stop this as soon as they show 

 color. Any growth ahead of the flower should be rubbed 

 off. Keep them well up to tlie glass and turn them 

 around once in a while to expose all sides to the sun. It 

 is well to have azaleas in bloom ten days or a week 

 before Christmas which will give time to harden them 

 up. This should be done gradually until they are in 

 a temperature of 50 degrees. 



Care of Violets 



Do not keep the temperature too high as violets are 

 cool loving plants. Do not let the temperature go over 

 45 degrees at night and see that the soil is always kept 

 in a moist state. Watering should be done early in 

 the morning so they will have a chance to dry out before 

 nightfall. Attend to ventilation with extreme care as 

 on this depends much of the success with this crop. 

 See that the plants are kept clean of spotted leaves. 

 These leaves left on are sure to spread disease. 



Qiristmas Talk 



Give all foliage plants a good sponging off so they 

 will be thoroughly clean for the holiday trade. The 

 Yuletide festival calls for plenty of holly, laurel, lyco- 

 podium, boxwood and mistletoe. Secure plenty of stock 

 to fill pans, baskets and other receptacles. Be sure to 

 include all the appropriate plants such as ardisias, 

 Jerusalem cherries, oranges, lilies, cyclamen, azaleas, 

 Ericas, callas, ferns, araucarias, palms, primulas, poin- 

 settias, Lorraine begonias, etc. All this stock will need 

 lots of care. They should never be allowed to suffer for 

 want of water. Ventilate with caution when flowering 



Next Week: — Chrysanthemum Stock Plants; Winter care of P 



Making 



A cooler house will finish 



plants are out in bloom. 



tliem up in good shape. 



Hybrid Perpetuals for Easter 



These roses are sure to sell well at Easter. Now is 

 the time to make a start by getting some and potting 

 them up. For a potting mixture use any good rose com- 

 post. Pots from 7 up to 10-inch will do, according to 

 the size of the roots. Give good drainage and work the 

 compost well all around the roots and leave the soil 

 well linncd. They can be placed in a deep frame until 

 they are wanted. Of course later on they will need 

 some strawy manure over them to keep the frost from 

 breaking the pots. Good varieties are Captain Christy, 

 Margaret Dickson, Fran Karl Druschki, Gloire de 

 Burgh, La Eeiue, Captain Hayward. Mrs. John Laing, 

 Baroness Eothschild. Anna de Diesbach and Magna 

 Charta. 



Liles for Christmas 



All lilies that are intended for Christmas should now 

 have their buds on the point of opening. Wliere they 

 are not thus far advanced give them heat, up to 70 or 75 

 degrees at night. For lilies that are sure to be out in 

 time 60 to 65 degrees will be all right. It is always bet- 

 ter to have them out in time so they can have a harden- 

 ing off in a cooler temperature for four or five dayS. 

 See that they are kept moist at the roots by frequent 

 waterings. As the flowers open enough the pollen 

 should be removed before it falls over the petals. Keep 

 the lilies clean of green fly by proper fumigation, done 

 lightlv so as not to spoil the hlooms. 



Christmas Greens 



Do not fail to have a plentiful supply of Christmas 

 greens. It always pays to olfer Christmas greens of the 

 highest quality and now is the time to place your order. 

 AVhen received give it a cool moist place. 



iilms: Orchids: 

 Flats. 



Propagating Bouvardlas; Winter Protection; 



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 

 sell. For Getting Business That Is Worth Getting It Has No Superior 



