December 12, 1914 



HORTICULTURE 



826 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BT 



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Questions by our readers In Hne with any of the topli's presented on this page will be cordially recelvMl and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Suih coiuniuuiiations should InTarlably be addressed to the oUice of UOKTICULTUKE. 

 "If vain our toll, we ousbt to blame the culture, not the soil." — Pope. 



V YORK 



bJKtanical 



Chrysanthemum Stock Plants 



As the cJirysantliemum season draws to a close it is 

 time to think about stock for another season. Select up- 

 to-date varieties. Each good stock plant should pro- 

 duce about twenty cuttings, so it is easy to figure out 

 how many stock plants will be needed. A frame that 

 can have plenty of protection during the winter is about 

 as good a place as they can be put in, but be sure it is 

 located where they can get plenty of sun. They can also 

 be wintered in a cool pit where the frost can be kept out. 

 Keep them in a moist state at the roots. Do not let 

 them get overrun with black fly before fiimigating. 



Palms in Winter 



All palms like a short season of rest. This can be 

 brought about by lower temperature and dryer atmos- 

 phere with less water at the roots. All tropical palms 

 can have their temperature reduced to about 60 degrees 

 at night while 50 degrees will be all right for the 

 cooler growing ones. This rest is meant more for large 

 palms. Where they are quite small it would be out of 

 place. Most of tlie palms should have plenty of light 

 during the winter months, only keep enough shade so 

 they will not scorch. Do not neglect syringing. It is 

 a good thing to go over the palms about once a month 

 and give them a good sponging. 



Orchids 



To counteract the drying influence of the strong fire 

 heat dampen between the plants and under the benches 

 thoroughly two or three times a day. It is better to 

 have a gentle warmth running through the pipes with 

 ventilation than to try to bottle up some heat by shut- 

 ting down the houses early. Such treatment often pro- 

 duces the right condition for the spread of fungus or 

 spot. During the cold season keep all orchids at their 

 minimum temperature. Particular care should be given 

 in watering. The cool house should have a niglit tem- 

 perature of about 50 to 55 degrees; with sun about 65 

 degrees; without sun anywhere from 55 to 60 degrees. 

 The intermediate house can be kept about 60 degrrees at 

 night: 70 degrees with sun; without sun around 65 

 deorees will do. In tlie warm house anywhere around 

 62 to 65 degrees at night will be high enough with 

 a corresponding rise. 



Next Week :— Care of Pelargonium 



Propagating Bouvardias 



Stock plants that have been saved* and rested up can 

 now be brought into a warm house. They will need 

 some pruning to relieve the plants of all the immature 

 wood and the top growth will cut back to the ripened 

 wood. Give a temperature of from 60 to 65 degrees at 

 night. The day temperature can run up 10 to 15 de- 

 grees higher. Keep the plants moist at the roots and 

 syringe on all good days to help swell the buds. They 

 will soon break into a fine growth that will make good 

 cuttings. The cuttings can be taken off close to the 

 base of the mature wood. They will root best in a 

 frame, with bottom heat of about 75 degrees. They will 

 have to be kept close and moist until rooted. When pot- 

 ting off use a mixture of loam three parts, leaf-mold two 

 parts, and some sand. 



Winter Protection 



We are now coming to a period of the year when 

 severe cold weather may be expected at almost any 

 time. So winter protection should be afforded on what- 

 ever is really necessary, but do not rush this work too 

 soon. The winter mulch of whatever nature should not 

 be applied until the ground begins to freeze. All hardy 

 perennials should have a winter mulch of coarse manure, 

 straw or some other material. Bulbs and lily beds can 

 be covered with a liberal mulch of leaves or straw, which 

 will tend to keep them from becoming hard frozen. 

 Hybrid Perpetual roses can have the soil drawn up to 

 the center of the plants around the wood, and a mulch 

 of manure later on will prevent them from getting win- 

 ter killed too far back for pruning. Hybrid Teas 

 will be better and safer if lifted and stored in a cold 

 frame or buried outside in a trench and later covered 

 with a mulch. Some evergreens that are doubtfully 

 hardy will also need some protection in order to carry 

 them through. 



Flats 



Now is the time to get together a supply of flats for 

 future use in holding and growing on the young plant 

 stock. After the middle of January the rush will start 

 so what is done now will come in handy then. 



Propagating Carnations; Sowing 



rallies for Easter; Propagating Lorraine and Cincinnati 

 Primulas : Panax Vlctoriae. 



Can be made by buying the quality of Holiday Plants and Supplies specially offered 



by advertisers in this paper. Look through the ads. and then order at once. 



Don't wait until stock has been all picked over. 



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