For October, 1923 



249 



it would be astonished how it simplifies the eulture 

 of plants indoors. 



Ihe larger and more vigorous growing cyclamen 

 plants may yet receive another shitt. They may be 

 brought along slowly in a cool house, keeping them 

 away from draughts. They will be very serviceable 

 in March and may prove an attraction at some exhi- 

 bition in that month. Fumigation of these plants must 

 never be neglected, and if the usual precautions are 

 observed, hydro-cyanic acid gas is the most eftective. 

 Again I would draw attention to the valuable little 

 booklet which the Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Co. 

 will supply free from their office, 100 William St., New 

 York City. It gives the simplest and easiest advice to 

 follow about how to use this gas in greenhouses that 

 I have so far seen. They have specially prepared so- 

 dium cyanide in egg shape, weighing one ounce, which 

 is most convenient to use. I consider they have done 

 the greenhouse men a great service by getting it up 

 in this convenient form. It is now time to begin using 

 hydro-cyanic gas in light doses on all plants that are 

 not injured by it. It is the best thing so far we have 

 found for mealy bug, scale and white fly. If done regu- 

 larly and with care it keeps these insects in check. We 

 never use it in the hot months of June, July and 

 August, and generally by this time of the year these 

 insect pests put in their appearance. 



Carnations that were benched in the end of June 

 will now be throwing up good flower stems. The 

 bench will be well filled with roots and an application 

 of plant food will help them. They respond to Clay's 

 fertilizer, decayed horse droppings and light applica- 

 tions of tankage. 



Fuchsias that were rooted about the first of August 

 ought to be in five-inch pots early in November, that 

 is, if large plants are desired by the end of May next 

 year. They may be trained in dift'erent ways but we 

 prefer the pyramid form. 



Any plants that are to be grown into large specimens 

 should receive a shift before they get too well rooted. 

 As soon as the roots pvit in appearance all around the 

 ball, it is time to shift them. This is especially true of 

 cool soft wooded plants such as herbaceous Calceo- 

 larias and the so-called shrubby type. 



Well matured leaves of Begonias may now be placed 

 in the propagating bed. We have had the best success 

 by potting them in small pots in sphagnum moss, 

 sifted fine. It is better not to insert the leaf stem too 

 deeply in the pot. To steady it, use a thin peg about 

 the thickness of a toothpick and a little longer. Pushed 

 through the leaf and firmed in the small pot, it will 

 keep it from tipping over. About 80 degrees bottom 

 heat should be maintained until roots are formed. All 

 Begonias will root from leaves and generally will 

 make better plants than those rooted from cuttings. 



The Fall flowering Cattleyas will now be in bloom. 

 We like to keep the varieties, Bowringiana and labi- 

 ata, close to 60 degrees at night until they finish 

 flowering. Cattleya labiata is susceptible to losing 

 its leaves after cutting the flower, if it is not given 

 a clean cut and the cut made in such a manner that 

 moisture does not lie at the apex of the leaf. Keep 

 the plants quite dry for a little while after cutting 

 the flowers. 



By this time the late grapes will be ripe and plenty 

 of air and a drj^ atmosphere must be maintained to 

 keep the fruit. ' We believe that a better flavor is 

 maintained in the berries by leaving the bunches on 

 vines than preserving them in bottles in a fruit room 

 If kept cool and airy they wi'l generallv keep as long 

 as desirable. Keep up fumigating with hydrocyanic 



gas from now until they show signs of starting in the 

 Spring. We do it on the vines every two weeks and 

 any mealy bug that may have come in from outside 

 will be killed before they start growing next season. 

 .Store the pot strawberry plants after they have been 

 frozen a little in a cold frame, from which thej^ can 

 be forced in batches after the turn of the vear. 



GLORY OF THE SNOW (CHIONODOXAS) 



■"PHE several varieties of Chionodoxas or, as they 

 are popularly known. Glory of the Snow, are, 

 when taken together, a small group of charming 

 early Spring blooming liulbs. blooming with the 

 earliest warm days of Spring and producing their 

 showy and attractive blue flowers in the greatest 

 profusion in dense clusters, on stems that arise from 

 clusters or clumps of grass-like foliage to a height of 

 five or six inches, writes Charles E. Parnell in the 

 Flower Grozi'cr. All are natives of Asia Minor, so are 

 perfectly hardy in the vicinity of New York, with a 

 slight covering of some sparse littery material during 

 the Winter months, or from December to March. 

 They can ])e used to good advantage when grown in 

 groups, in the rockery, or front rows of mixed flower 

 beds or borders, where they will be found to be very 

 attractive during the late days of March or early days 

 of April ; the precise time depending entirely upon 

 the season and situation in which the plants are 

 grown. 



The bulbs do best when planted during the month 

 of October in a well-drained, deep, moderately en- 

 riched soil ; placing them in groups of about a dozen 

 bulbs, keeping the bulbs about two inches apart, and 

 covering them to the depth of about two inches. They 

 will require but little attention after being planted 

 until the bulbs commence to crowd each other, when 

 it will be necessary to replant. 



Of the several varieties C. gigantea is the most ro- 

 bust as it attains a height of about nine inches, and 

 the large lilac-blue flowers have a pure white center 

 and are borne in very dense clusters. C. Lucilise has 

 deep Ijlue flowers, each petal being veined with white. 

 The flowers of C. Sardensis are of a deep blue 

 throughout. 



The late J. L. Childs in "Popular Bulbs and Their 

 Culture," in speaking of the Chionodoxa says : 



"Its name means Glory of the Snow, and is derived 

 from the fact that the bulbs bloom among snow and 

 ice ver^• earlv in the Spring. It is a native of Asia 

 Minor and resembles a Scilla to some extent though 

 much more beautiful. The flowers are borne on 

 graceful spikes and are about an inch across, intense 

 blue shading to white in the center. For a mass in 

 the garden, for early Spring flowering, nothing can 

 be more lovely, and as it is perfectly hardy in any 

 location it should be extensively planted. For Winter 

 blooming in pots it is magnificent, but will not stand 

 forcing ni heat. It must be grown slowly in a cool 

 atmosphere to bring it to perfection. None will miss it 

 by planting this little gem extensively both for pot and 

 garden culture." 



Progress in the sense of acquisition is something ; but 

 progress in the sense of being is a great deal more. To 

 grow higher, deeper, wider, as the years go on; to con- 

 quer difficulties, and acquire more and more power ; to 

 feel all one's faculties unfolding, and truth descending into 

 the soul, — this makes life worth living. — /. F. Clarke. 



