July 14, 1917 



HORTICULTURE 



33 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^^^^*>'%.9^■T■ay,A^^^ 



Questions by our 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 HORTICULTURE. 



"11 vain anr toll, w* misbt t* blame the oaltore, not the »9KL"^P(i'i. 



Care of Palms 



We cannot expect to make a perfect specimen out of 

 an old stump, but even plants in poor condition can 

 be helped to make up considerably so as to be fit again 

 by next winter for decorative use. Some may need 

 repotting, others just a mulch of good loam or soil. 

 Bad' leaves are to be removed, etc. It might also be well 

 to make sucli repairs as are necessary in the palm house. 

 Nothing ruins a palm more quickly than using it for 

 decorations, and now that the season is practically over 

 we couldn't do anj-thing better than to go over every 

 ])alni on- the place and give it attention. 



Achimenes 



At this season achimenes are invaluable summer 

 flowering plants not so much known as they deserve. 

 Any one who has call for blooming plants in the hot 

 months will find them extremely useful. Keep the 

 house so tliey will not get any direct sunshine or the 

 foliage will soon be disfigured. Also avoid syringing 

 them overhead except it be with an occasional nicotine 

 solution to keep thrips in check. Never allow the plants 

 to become diy or you will ruin them for the season. As 

 the ]iots get filled -nith roots feed them twice a week 

 with weak cow manure water. ^Yllether grown in pots 

 or pans they should have a light neat stake to each of 

 the stems before tlie growths liecume twisted. 



Carnations 



Some growers are obliged to use the same piece of 

 ground another year, a practice not to be recommended. 

 Perhaps you are growing some other crops on the loca- 

 tion in question, and if so contrive to get in the seed of 

 a clover crop at last cultivation. We prefer crimson 

 clover, as it grows fast in early spring, decays quickly 

 when plowed under and gives us nitrogen at low cost. 

 I'Vom the middle of July to the first part of August has 

 given us the best results, the point being to sow at such 

 times as will allow sufficient development for the clover 

 to withstand winter l)ut not to bloom in the fall. Plow 

 as soon as the land is clear, apply a generous coat of air- 

 slaked or pulverized lime, allowing the surface to re- 

 main rough and then in a week or ten days apply 

 manure, cross plow and treat as you would land in sod. 

 For many reasons this is an excellent time for this 

 work. The carnation is not overf'ond of fresh manure, 

 nor is a young plant capable of doing its best on recently 

 turned sod. 



Next Week: — rarnations in I'i<'M ; Cyclamen; Hardy Pe 



Pot Chrysanthemums 



A chrysanthemum loves moisture while growing, but 

 this has always to be combined with perfect drainage 

 in the pots. Liberal pots, sufficient drainage, a good 

 soil, generous feed with liquid cow manure in weak 

 doses and frequently applied is the proper treatment. 

 As long as you keep a chrysanthemum in a healthy 

 growing condition the stems will retain their leaves, 

 but when once allowed to become stunted and the wood 

 liegins to harden, the leaves will drop off as a result. 

 The older and larger the plants are the harder the wood 

 will be at the base and the less leaves. So keep shift- 

 ing until you have them in their flowering size, and 

 make the last shift good and rich. Even if the mixture 

 is half manure it will be all the better. 



Summer Treatment of Potted Roses 



There is no doubt that roses grown in pots all sum- 

 mer are much easier to manage and give greater satis- 

 faction when forced the following winter than roses 

 gjown in an open field and potted in November. I have 

 found that potted roses intended for next winter's forc- 

 ing or for the plant trade in the spring do better if kept 

 constantly in the greenhouse during the hottest part of 

 summer than they would anywhere out of doors. When 

 growing fast they need a deal of water and a sprinkling 

 once or twice a day. The essence of advancement in 

 any trade lies in the production of a better article from 

 year to year, not in the searching for or finding of easy 

 methods alone, especially not when this tends to de- 

 crease the commercial value of the output. These roses 

 in pots make a steady and rapid growth until about the 

 middle of August. By that time they have undergone 

 the last of the many shiftings from pot to pot that are 

 necessary to keep them in good shape and at a rapid 

 headway. 



Reminders 



Mark any seedling phloxes or pentstemons that show 

 good points, with a view to propagation. 



Treat the peonies well after fiowering to insure the 

 production of good crowns for next season. 



Feed the sweet peas and keep the flowers constantly 

 picked off as seed forming prevents flowering. 



Prick off seedling campanulas in a frame or shel- 

 tered position where they can be well looked after. 



Pinch the field ('arnatioiis as they need it, not allow- 

 ing the growth to be wasted in forming useless flower 

 shoots. 



rennials: Stocks: SyrinRlns anil Spraying; Reminders. 



INDEX TO 

 VOLUME XXV 



The contents of Volume 25, January 1 to June 30, 1917, in- 

 clusive, have been printed In a 4-page sheet for binding 

 or reference and will be sent free of charge to any sub- 

 scriber making application for same. 



