January 8, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^*^>--%.9>^.Tk.,A.u/' 



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 offlce of HORTICULTURE). 



"If vain our toll, we ought to blame the cnltnre, not the boU." — Pope. 



Asparagus 



From now and up to the end of Januarv is a good 

 time to sow Asparagus ])lumosus, Hatcheri and Spren- 

 geri. They are slow in starting and require all 

 the time from now on to grow into serviceable stock. 

 Sow the seed in flats or pans in a compost of loam 

 three parts, leaf mold two parts and some sand. Cover 

 the seed about an eiglith of an inch. Fill the pans witli- 

 in an inch of the top and then press the material 

 moderately finn and on this sow the seed. Cover with 

 glass and shade until they germinate. Pot into 2-inch 

 pots when about two or three inches high, in fresh 

 loam three parts, cow manure one part and a little 

 sand. When they have filled tliese pots with roots shift 

 into 3-inch and again into 4-inch pots which will serve 

 until they are planted out. Those that you want for 

 pans of poinsettias can be sown later. 



Fuchsias 



Old plants of fuclisias can now be potted into a 

 compost of fibrous loam three parts, well rotten 

 manure and leaf mold one part each. Eemove all the 

 unripe tops, and they will furnish a nice lot of succu- 

 lent cuttings later on. Place in about 55 degrees at 

 night, with 10 to 15 degrees more with sunshine. Give 

 water with care until they begin to make lots of roots, 

 when they will stand plenty. On all good days give 

 them a .syringing overhead. When 3 or 4-inches long 

 the cuttings can be taken otl" and placed in a moder- 

 ately warm propagating bench where they will soon 

 root. 



Gardenias 



Before ventilating let the thermometer reach 75 de- 

 grees and then only give a little air at a time so as not 

 at any time to cause a chill. Start early in the after- 

 noon and reduce the air the same way, and finally close 

 up early enougli so the house will stand at 75 degi'ees 

 or thereabouts. The temperature should never be 

 allowed to go beh)w G5 at night. Give a good syring- 



Next Week :— Adiantum Farleyense; Carnations; General Propa 



Trickiness 



ing early in the morning on all clear days. Keep the 

 plants nicely tied up. Never let the soil become either 

 overwet or dust-dry as either condition always paves 

 the way for the loss of buds and gives that sickly look- 

 ing yellow foliage. Look over the benches every day 

 and water any dry spots. Now that the sun is becom- 

 ing more powerful they can have an occasional light 

 mulch. 



Geraniums 



Geraniums should now be potted up from flats using 

 ■2-inch pots and those that were potted some time ago 

 should have a shift into 3-inch pots. One of the heavy 

 Jobs just now is shifting geraniums from 2 to 3-inch 

 pots. It is always better to do this as soon as possible 

 so as to give the plants a long season. It is better to 

 give two shifts than one. They can be moved suc- 

 cessively to 3-inch and 4-inch pots. Use two-thirds of 

 soil that has been stacked up in a pile and mix with 

 one-third of well rotted manure. Add a 4-inch pot of 

 fine bone to each bushel of soil. After potting they 

 enjoy a little bottom heat; so, if you have heating pipes 

 under any of the benches these would provide the neces- 

 sary warmtli. (iS degrees in the day and 45 to 50 de- 

 grees at night is sufficient. 



Primulas for the Next Holidays 



To have good large plants for next Christmas the 

 first week in January is none too early to sow primula 

 seed. These will make fine stock in 5-inch pots. Large 

 shallow pans are the best. Fill these pans, after giving 

 good drainage, with a light compost of sifted loam 

 and leaf mold in equal parts to which some sand should 

 be added. Press the soil even and give a good watering 

 with a fine hose, and let them stand until the next day 

 when the soil will be in condition to receive the seed. 

 Press the seed in and cover very lightly with finely 

 sifted compost, and again press smooth. Place a piece 

 of glass over the pans. Be sure to buy only the best 

 seed. 



gating; Lorraine and Cincinnati Begonias; Marguerites; 

 of Ivies. 



The 



INDEX TO VOLUME XXII 



Those of our subscribers who bind their volumes of Horticulture or who for any other 

 reason may wish to have the index to the contents of Vol. XXII — July 1 to December 31, 

 1915, will be supplied on application. THEY ARE NOW READY. 



