April 14, 1917 



H I? T I G U L T U K E 



481 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BT 



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



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



"If vain our toil, we oupht to blame the culture, not the soil." — Fope. 



Begonias for the Holidays 



iJugoiiias should be kept gruwiiig right iiloiig. Be 

 1 urei'ul that they do not receive any check by careless 

 culture. Early propagated plants of Ciiiciiinati and 

 Lorraine should now be well rooted in "i^-inch pots 

 and ready for a shift into 3^-inch or 4-inch. Continue 

 to use a compost largely composed of not too much 

 decayed leaf mold and sand, with a little old manure. 

 •Stand tliein on a bench where they will continue to get 

 -some bottom heat and have a night temperature of 6(i 

 degrees. On all good days spray overhead and see tbat 

 tbey do not become dry at the roots. A last batch nf 

 leaves can now be put in, l)ut after tliis date we cannot 

 get so steady bottom heat as dui'ing the winter, and 

 jiropagation becomes more ditticult. I'mpagatiim frnui 

 shoots, however, can be successfully carrieil out until 

 .lune. Pot ofl' leaf cuttings as soon as they arc nicely 

 looted. 



Carnations 

 'J'lic control and prevention of insects and ca mat ion 

 disease depends much upon ideal cultural conditions 

 liom first to last. Successful passing over of the ci-it- 

 ical periods depends largely on correct tem[)erature. 

 ventilation and watering. AVe are coming now to the 

 season when the plants a.re attacked by aphis, tlirips 

 or red spider. Look them over carefully and fumigate 

 ;it least every ten days. 'J"he best growers regard a 

 night temperature of 50 to ^^'l, 10 to 15 degrees higher 

 during sunshine, and during dark or cloudy days 55 to 

 'i~i degrees, is high enough, ^lieu outside conditions 

 will jjermit keep the air sweet by plenty of ventila- 

 tion. Do not let them dry out too much at the roots. 

 as with the increased length of the day and stronger 

 sun they will dry out quite soon. A good .syringing on 

 all good days will keep down red spider and tbri]is. 

 Care of Seedlings 

 When the seedlings are in rough leaf they should 

 be pricked off immediately. Procrastination is ali- 

 liorred by practical and successful growers. De{)rivc 

 them of air and they will turn yellow. Give them too 

 much water and they rot off. AH these conditions can 

 be avoided if the seedlings have ample room in which to 

 grow. The temperature should be 65 degrees. This 

 will give quick gi'own but sturdy seedlings providing 

 ihey are not neglected. In transplanting be careful 

 not to injure the primary root, and avoid crushing the 

 stem. Allow a distance of at least two inches from 

 plant to plant and three inches from row to row. Air 

 space and light help to grow strong healthy plants. 

 When seedling!? have a nice quantity of roots ancl three 



or four well developed leaves they should be ixitted into 

 ii-inch pots. 



Chrysanthemums 



Where you a.re short of stock keep up propagation 

 without delay. The chrysanthemum is a cold blooded 

 plant and cuttings will root in the sand without any 

 iiotlom heat whatever. The best success can be had 

 in a north house on which the direct sunlight does not 

 fall. Cuttings will have to he sprayed and watered 

 to keep them from wilting. If allowed to become 

 badly wilted two or three times the tissues get hard 

 and the cuttings will never make satisfactory plants. 

 When cuttings are rooted in an average greenhouse 

 whei'e a mixture of ]dants a.re grown and air is applied, 

 different conditions will prevail. Pot off just as soon 

 as they are nicely I'ooted and keep shaded for a few 

 days, when they will stand full sun. Allien they have 

 taken a good hold on the soil [dace them out in a cold 

 frame, which will answer better for them at this time 

 of the year. Keep nicely watered and sprayed during 

 liright weather. When the pots become well filled with 

 )'oots shift into larger size. 



Cyclamens 



The glass must now lie shaded and do not use any 

 in(n-e fire heat than is necessary. Dampen floors and 

 iielow the benclies freely when the heat is on to guard 

 against tbrip.s. Continue to keep the plants in a fairly 

 warm lnuise: 5'2 or 55 degi-ees at night will be a good 

 temperature. Young cyclamen plants are still mostly 

 in flats. Keep the surface soil stirred and the plants 

 will glow much better than when you allow a coat of 

 slime or moss to cover it. Shift into 3-inch pots before 

 they are too much crowded in the flats. Use plenty of 

 leaf-mold not too much decayed. This should form 

 Imlf the potting mediimi. Add a little dried manure 

 and sand; let the balance be loam, light rather than 

 heavy. Keep well no to the glass so they will grow 

 sho.vt and robust. On all good days give plenty of 

 \eiitilation. 



Reminders 



Keep fuchsias on the move; if allowed to flower now 

 they will not be so free in growth. 



A little bottom heat is useful for starting caunas, 

 hut is not necessary after they are rooting freely. 



Never allow green fly to obtain a hold on young 

 smilax plants; fumigate lightly on its first appearance. 



Heat is the worst enemy of chrysanthemums at any 

 time, especially in the earlier stages. The cuttings 

 strike readilv without it. 



Next Week :— .\sters ; rameUi.Ts; Place Stock In Fr.Tmes; Summer Climbers: Swainsonas : Uemimlers. 



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