July 7, 1917 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FL(»ISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^*^^.9>^.TkAAz^ 



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



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTUKE. 



"If TBin anr toll, w* •asht t« blame the onltare, not the itMJ'—Pote. 



Amaryllis 



Seedlings should be potted and sliifted right along. 

 They should be kept continuously growing until they 

 liloom. The old bulbs of auiaryllis should now also 

 have attention. It is a mistake to dry amaryllis off 

 in the summer as is often dour, for it is at this season 

 that they make their real growth. The most success- 

 ful amaryllis growers never dry off their bulbs. 

 Shade the glass but not too. heavily and spray freely on 

 bright days. If a house can be spared for them, the 

 pots will be better plunged. Failing this utilize a 

 cold frame and plunge the ]iots to their brim in de- 

 cayed leaves or otiier suitable material. 



Cold Storage Lilies 



Unpack and pot these bulbs just as soon as received. 

 Bulbs of Lilium speciosum, if secured and potted now 

 wiU come in flower in late fall and if grown compara- 

 tively cool will be in full crop for Thanksgiving and 

 Christmas. While these may be grown in boxes six 

 inches deep they do better in pots of extra large size, 

 say from seven to nine inch. Give any good compost, 

 adding a little sand. After potting, if the loam is 

 fairly moist, water need not be given in a few days. 

 Keep them in a old frame, |iit or cool greenhouse. 

 Their growth is quite rapid and they will soon need 

 spacing apart. Here yo\i can watch so as to keep them 

 moist, but not too wot. 



Spring-.sown 



Gloxinias 



scedhnus will tlower 



well in ."i-ineh 

 pots. Give them a light but moderately rich soil, and 

 do not pot too firmly. In order to get good tubers for 

 another season it is an excellent plan to plant out a 

 niunber of seedlings in cold frames. Make the soil light 

 but rich, adding a good proportion of sand. Keep 

 some air on all the time and shade the sashes. 

 Planted out in this way the plants will make a really 

 surprising growth and produce foliage and flowers 

 nnich liner than can be had in pots. They will also 

 make tubers double the size of the pot grown ones. 

 These plants can be gradually rested, lifted and stored 

 in flats in time to utilize the frames for winter crops. 

 Gloxinias are among the most lieautiful and useful of 

 suiinner floweriug plants and in rooms or on well 



^lladed and protected piazzas last quite a long time in 

 flower. 



Propagation 



In summer while propagating house is often un- 

 tenanted, is a suitable time to raise a number of de- 

 ciduous flowering shrubs which root freely from half- 

 ripened wood. Greater vigilance is_ necessary at this 

 season after the plants ai'e potted. A dozen times a 

 day they may need light spraying. Then again, if it 

 is dull they may not need any moisture at all. A close 

 moist atmosphere, with frequent spraying over head 

 is necessary and of course the shade must be heavier 

 than in late winter or early spring. Show pelargoni- 

 ums, English ivy, variegated vinca, crotons, dracaenas 

 pandanus and didfcnbachias can also l)e rooted now. 



Sweet Peas 



To keej) sweet peas Mnuniing as long as possible, keep 

 the flo\vers closely picked and remove seed pods carefully 

 or otherwise the vines will speedily decline in vigor. If 

 you cannot afford time to mulch the rows, then keep 

 the soil constantly cultivated. If picked damp on a hot 

 day and placed in a cool room, the chances are that 

 many flowers will spot, so wait until they become dry 

 befo,re picking. If the weather becomes dry whenever 

 possible give plenty of water at the roots. They will 

 also enjoy syringing overhead on the evening of hot 

 days. A general mulch between the rows is of immense 

 benefit. Note the color of the foliage, height of vines, 

 length of flower stems and general vigor of unmulched 

 rows as compared with those that have been mulched. 



Reminders 



If extra early mignonette is wanted sow seed in small 

 pots in a cool house. 



Tlirow out the old plants as fa.st as possible, and gel 

 the benches ready for the field carnations. 



Watch for cool nights and fumigate or sulphur the 

 pipes if mildew is ])resent in the rose hou.ses. 



Keep the flowers constantly picked out of bouvardias 

 and Gloire de Lorraine and otber winter flowering be- 

 gonias. 



Pot any young rose stock for which the benches are 

 not ready as the plants a.re soon checked if allowed to 

 get pot bound. 



Next Week: — Care of Palms; A'liiineni's ; Carnatinus; Pot Chrysanthemums; Summer Treatnunt of Potted Roses; Reminders. 



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 first mail 

 Thursdays can at times be cared for, but correspondents should 

 plan to get matter to this office by Wednesday hereafter. 



