June 30, 1917 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLC^USTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



/**^i?^. ;?^.^t^^ 



uestlons by our readers In line with any of the toplca presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answer..! 

 by Mr. Parrell. Snch communications sbonld invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTUKK. 

 "U valB •UT toU, w» Kicht tm bUm* the OBltore, mot tb« goU."— /'«/'• 



Begonias 



Flowering begonias cau be rooted now with ease and 

 will grow into most desirable size for holiday work. 

 Also the fine foliage varieties can be stocked from leaf 

 cuttings. Those that were propagated in the spring 

 and are now in 4-inch pots should be plunged in a 

 frame, under a light shade in the brightest part of the 

 day. Guard against sudden changes in temperature 

 and draught so as not to induce iiist. Bex begonias 

 should be grown in pans, good loam with a third of 

 leaf mold and some sand suiting them. The greatest 

 care should be exercised against ovei^watering them. 



Good Cultivation Essential 



A large part of the stock raised by florists is grown 

 into flowering or salable size by being cultivated dur- 

 ing the summer in the open field or garden. This 

 phase of gardening presents a multitude of advantages. 

 Keeping the plants free of insects, the soil loose and 

 open and the field clear of weeds by frequent hoeing — 

 rather before than after a rain — proper trimming, 

 stopping and tying where this is needed, and water- 

 ing, spraying, feeding and mulching when deemed 

 necessary or advisable, is the sum total of good culti- 

 vation, the degree of goodness largely depending on how 

 the work is perormed. Whether a wheel hoe of the 

 most improved pattern or the old-fashioned hand hoe 

 of undiminishing merit, the implement should always be 

 carefully guided in rows and between plants, so as not 

 to injure the stems or mutilate the branches or to cut 

 away or loosen the roots, or to cover up the smaller ones 

 in a row of young seedlings. 



Marguerites for Next Winter 



For winter bloomiag, the old wliite Paris daisy 

 (Chrysanthemum frutescens), has all others beaten to a 

 frazzle, to use a somewhat slangy phrase, ilrs. Sander 

 is good in spring and summer, but will not make the 

 same shapely plant as the older variety. The yellow 

 varieties are harder to grow and rarely seen in shapely 

 plants, excellent though they may be for cutting. Well 

 flowered, bushy marguerites in midwinter are rarely 

 seen in the markets. That they would sell well goes 

 without saying. Root cuttings now from some cut- 

 back plants. Never mind if they are full of flower buds. 

 These can be kept picked off. Cuttings rooted now 

 will make rapid growth and must be kept potted along. 

 Keep flowers which will constantly appear, picked off, 

 and give the plants lots of water. They should then be 

 quite bushy stock in 6-uich pots. When large enough 

 lilungc outdoors in a bed of coal ashes in the full sun. 



Next Week :— Amaryllis : Cold Storage Lilies; G 



Propagating Ficus elastica 



Sunimw is tiie lime par excellence for rooting lops" 

 of Ficus elastica by the so-called ringing process, 

 wliich simply consists of cutting the stem jiartly 

 through, at any desired length, preferably below a leaf. 

 Insert a couple of tootlipicks or any small pieces of 

 wood into the incision to keep it open. Then bind 

 sphagnum moss tightly over, above and below the cut 

 made. Keep it constantly moist and to ensure this 

 keep the stock plants La a warm, moist and shaded 

 house, where they can be freely syringed. Grotons, 

 dracaenas, dieffenbaehias and other si)ecies of plants 

 are among those which can be readily propagated in 

 this way, especially during the summer months. Just 

 as soon as roots are seen ])eeping through tiie moss, cut 

 the tops off and pot them. Give them a compost of 

 equal parts of fibrous loam, leaf mold and sand. Keep 

 in a shaded house until they begin to make new roots, 

 when they should be given more light. 

 Poinsettias 



The latter part of Decemlier is the natural blooming 

 period for poinsettias, and they will bloom at that 

 time if the cuttings are put into the sand early enough 

 for the plants to become established and form the bract. 

 That wovdd mean any time up to the latter part of 

 September for putting in the cuttings. Poinsettia cut- 

 tings put in the sand at once will make plants 2 to 3i 

 feet high. For small plants for pans, put in the out- 

 tings about July 20. A good crop of cuttings should 

 now be obtainable. Place jn tlie propagating bench as 

 soon as of sufficient length. Trim them up well and 

 do not crowd in the sand. Keep well shaded for about 

 two weeks, when the shade can be reduced some. In 

 three or four weeks they will be ready to ]wt into 2 or 

 2:i-inch pots. Give a spray overhead about three times 

 a day during bright weather. When potting use a com- 

 post of equal parts of new soil, leaf mold, cow manure 

 and sand. 



Reminders 



Pot on seedling tuberous begonias and gloxinias to 

 flower in August and September. 



It is now time to order early TJlium Ilarrisii. 

 freesias, Roman hyacinths and paper whites. 



Keep on propagating until you have rooted 

 ficient number of everything needed, but make sure: 

 faulty guesses are poor consolers. 



Cut spikes of outdoor gi'own candidum lilies ami 

 place them in water just before the first buds open 

 Tliey will expand as well as on the plant and in 

 room keep much better. 



loxinias: Propagation: Sweet Peas: Reminders. 



suf- 



a C' 



ool 



IMPORTANT 

 NOTICE 



Certain changes in service regulations at printing office make it 

 necessary that HORTICULTURE'S forms close several hours 

 earlier than heretofore. Important copy arriving on f'f'st "la'l 

 Thursdays can at times be cared for, but correspondents should 

 plan to get matter to this office by Wednesday hereafter. 



