July 21, 1917 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BT 



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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 comtnunlcatlonB sbonld Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTlCtJLTDRE. 



"If vain sor toll, we •nsht t* blame the onltore, not the soli." — Poff. 



Carnations in Field 



Make a practice of goiiit; tlirough with the cultivator 

 once evei7 week, even should there be no rain and after 

 every rain cultivate just as soon as the soil is in work- 

 ing condition, but be careful not to work the soil while 

 it is wet. The idea is to keep a layer of pulverized soil 

 on the top all the time to conserve the moisture lielow. 

 Pinch back such stems as have tiegun to run uj). In 

 that way you will have by tienching time plants with 

 shoots in every stage of growth, and that means a steady 

 crop ol blooms next winter. By going over them often 

 you will also avoid a waste of energy, as you will l)e 

 able to top each shoot at the time it is ready and it will 

 not be necessary to take off two weeks' growth tliat the 

 plants should not have been allowed to make. 



Cyclamens 



Neglect, now will mean a decided loss when it comes 

 to the sale of plants for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

 The plants must not be alhn\ed to get hard o.r pot- 

 Ixiund, nor to crowd one anotlier. Spray the plants 

 each bright day and use a nicotine extract once a week 

 to ward off attacks of mite, thrijis and aphis. Keep the 

 house well ventilated and, if possible use movable 

 shades so that the plants will not become drawn. A 

 greenhouse bench where the plants can be protected 

 from hot sun is the ideal place for them. If the pots 

 can be plunged, just as good rdants may be gro\\ni here 

 as in cold frames, although the latter alwavs seems a 

 little stockier. The soil for the last potting should 

 consist of two parts fibrous loam, with one part dried 

 cow manure and one part flakv leaf mold, not too much 

 decayed, with a generous dash of sharp sand and some 

 fine charcoal added. Give good drainage. 



Hardy Perennials 



Tin's is the beginning of the season when (be liardv 

 liordcr looks its brightest. Keeping the l)ed free of 

 weeds, staking, tying, labeling and watering is work to 

 be attended to at this time. The seeds of nearly all 

 varieties that may thus be raised to an advantage, 

 germinate readily and can be grown into sturdy little 

 ■plants. All transplanifc easilv when still small. K 

 frame or a nicely prepared bit of ground will do finely 

 for a seed bed, or the seeds may be started in travs or 

 boxes. An early pricking off is advisable and soon 

 after that a planting into cold frames or the open bor- 

 ders with sufRcient time for re-establishmcnt before 

 winter sets in. It is this one of the wavs whereby good 

 stock for next year's sales may be had where lack of 

 suflficient garden space forbids the maintenance of a 

 hardy herbaceous border. 



Next Weeh :— Calceolarias ; Care of Violets ; Ch 



Stocks 



Sow the seed now or at least a part of what is 

 intended for next winter's flowering out. The variety 

 known as Beauty of Nice, a fresh pink, is a good one. 

 Mont Blanc is a splendid white and for a delicate lilac 

 three is Queen Alexandra, and for a deep rose Empress 

 Elizabeth will answer nicely, not forgetting the old 

 standby "cut and come again" for a white. As soon 

 as the seedlings are large enough to handle, pot them 

 up singly and let them come along in a cool house. 

 They may have to go into .31 in. pots before you are 

 ready to plant them out on the benches after tlie early 

 chrysanthemums come out. Wliere you want to have a 

 large amount of double flowers it is best to wait until 

 they show flower buds. The blunt buds always come 

 double. 



Syringing and Spraying 



You can't expect begonias and primulas to do well in 

 a house or frame with a temperature near the 100 point 

 and a d,rv atmosphere. Onen up the doors and venti- 

 lators. Apply a light shading and make good use of 

 the hose — not to soak or to keep the plants standing in 

 water, but to help to maintain as low a temperature as 

 possible. Sprav the plants lightly, walk through the 

 bouse at intervals — live with the plants if you are 

 anxious to see them do well. This also holds eood in 

 a palm house, and if vou do not wish to wet the ferns too 

 much let the walks have it. Take a house of chrvs- 

 anthcmnms for instance, on a dav when the thermom- 

 eter reoisfers 00 or more in the .shade. This svrin!rin<r 

 should not be applied so as to soak the bench everv 

 time : all it is for is to wet the foliasre so as to make it 

 pasier for the plants to ^rithstand tlie heat, and snrav- 

 inrr the walks and below the benches will create a moist 

 atmosphere. 



Reminders 



Tiopair all benches before fUlinc and see that the 

 sides a.re sufTicientlv P'ood to stand the strain of the 

 extra weight of new soil. 



Surface watering without seeinsr that the pot,« are 

 wet all throuffh has killed more young pot stock than 

 anv other detail of mistaken culture. 



Prune back spiraea.=. viburnums, dicrvillas. svrinffas 

 nnd other flowering shrubs as the flowers fade. Anv 

 newly planted stock which is growing freely will need 

 severe pruning. ' 



Some pelargoniums cuttings taken now will give 

 splendid plants for flowering next April and May. Do 

 not ovcrwater them, 

 rysanthemnms ; Frccslas; Panslcs; Reminders. 



