March 3, 1917 



HORTICULTURE 



267 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BT 



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

 by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the oiUee of HOETICDI/TDKE. 

 "If vain our toil, we ought to blame the culture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Compost 



Giood soil is the i'oiuidatioii on which in starting, we 

 rest our hopes for success with plants, ever in doubt 

 afterward when failure strikes home, as to whether or 

 not the soil used was really good for the purpose. Much 

 potting and repotting, some benching and bed planting 

 and a deal of hot-bed and frame building and filling is 

 now to be done, for all of which the question of soil is 

 not the least important. There should be at all seasons 

 and at this time of the year especially, adequate quan- 

 tities properly prepared and ready for immediate use 

 within handy reach. It should be first moist enough to 

 yield to moderate firming in the pots, not so wet as to 

 noticeably soil the fingers in potting. For the potting 

 of small and tender plants — rooted cuttings in 

 particular, it should be of recent bringing in from 

 the open, but should be given time before use to reach a 

 warmth very nearly that maintained in the house. It 

 would be a good plan to mix up quite a pile of a light 

 mixture now, one that can be used for young seedlings 



Habrothamnus (Cestrum) 



This makes an ideal Christmas plant with its numer- 

 ous flower trtisses of glowing deep red. \Vliere you have 

 old plants that have made a good young growth of three 

 or foiir inches these cuttings can be taken ofP and in- 

 serted in a warm propagating bed with a moist atmos- 

 phere and will soon root. Pot in light soil in %\ in. 

 pots and later in 4-inch, and by the end of May they 

 can be planted out in the open ground. They wiU re- 

 quire attention as to watering and pinching back in or- 

 der to induce a bushy growth. By the first week of Sep- 

 tember they can be lifted and potted in large pots 

 using a rich, light soil, with ])lenty of drainage and keep 

 shaded until they are started, tiive them a temperature 

 from 45 to 50 degrees at night and they will 'flower nicely 

 for the holidays. This is another of those half-forgotten 

 old-time flowers which should by no means be discarded, 

 for when well grown they will find a great many ad- 

 mirers and buyers. Habrothamnus elegans is one of the 

 stateliest and showiest of autumn and early winter flow- 

 ering plants. 



Lilies for Easter 



Give the plants room and turn them around frequently 

 for the next few weeks. They will have a more uniform 

 shape and better foliage for so doing. Fumigate for 

 aphis once or twice a week so as to prevent them from 

 getting a lodgement among the liuds. Lilies that are in- 

 tended for Easter should have their cluster of buds by 

 this time well in view. Where this is the case a tempera- 

 ture of about 60 degrees at night will be right for the 

 next couple of weeks. Where they are not showing buds 

 and have plenty of roots fio to 70 degrees will be neces- 

 sary to have the buds showing color by the 25th of 



Next Week; — Cannas; Coelogyne cristata '' Dahlias; Early Sweet 



]\larch so that they can have a few days to finish up in a 

 cooler temperature. Those that are in bud can now have 

 liquid manure once a week and later twice a week, but 

 always apply it with caution. All firmly established 

 lilies with lots of roots, when making extreme growtli 

 and pushing up their buds in a high temperature will 

 consume great quantities of water. 



Making Hot Beds 



The heat will be less intense, but will last several 

 weeks longer if the manure is quite strawy, or if tree 

 leaves are interspread while building up the manure. A 

 layer, nicely evened out and well trodden down, of about 

 18 inches height when finished, will be all sufficient from 

 now on and less will do if the bed is made later. AVlien 

 you have the manure all in, spread from 4 to 5 inches 

 nf soil upon it. Place sashes on and leave air on every 

 second sash until the violent heat has subsided when they 

 will be ready for seed sowing or the setting of plants. 

 Less of the heat generated by a large bulk of manure 

 will be lost than with isolated beds and the temperature 

 under the long line of sashes will be better equalized. 

 Where several hotbeds are to be made it is best to have 

 them, as far as possible in an unbroken line or in several 

 long rows. See that all sash are repaired before they 

 are placed on the frames. 



Orchids 



For a cool house a night temperature of from 50 to 55 

 degrees and a day heat of 65 to 70 degrees with sun will 

 do. For the intermediate house a night temperature of 

 from 58 to 64 degrees and for the warm house a night 

 temperature of from 65 to 70 degrees and a day tem- 

 perature of from 80 to 85 degrees with sun. On cloudy 

 days it is wise to let it rise from 5 to 8 degrees above 

 the night temperatures. Each plant should have daily 

 inspection. Orchids thrive best where the atmosphere 

 is kept pure by proper ventilation, but take care to avoid 

 east winds and chills through the house. Most orchids 

 will now be starting in growth and root action and will 

 need attention in the way of watering and shading as 

 the sun becomes stronger. Do not overdo it. Wlien you 

 have a little spare time sponge them off. 



Reminders 



During the next week bring in batches of bulbs in- 

 tended for Easter. 



Do not for a moment let up on cuttings. Take them 

 nff anil use them as fast as they appear fit. 



Keep shamrocks moist at the roots. Remember that 

 they are only in demand for March the 17. 



Many kinds of seeds ought to be sown now, among 

 tliem lobelia, salvia, dianthus, marguerite carnations, 

 alyssum and verbenas. 



Peas for Outsirle; Hydrangeas for Memorial Day; Reminders. 



