February 5, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONUUCTED BY 



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QuesUong by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will he cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Suth communications should Invariably he addressed to the office or HORTICDLTORB. 



"If vain our toll, we ought to blame tbe culture, not the soil." Pope. 



Carnations 



Disbudding must now be looked after more frequent- 

 ly. To destroy ajihis give light fumigation at least 

 once a week. It is now time to begin liquid feeding 

 especially with those benched earliest. The light mulch 

 that was put on a montli or six weeks ago will have 

 dissappeared by this time and the benches, being well 

 filled with working roots should have a moderate mulch 

 of either cow or sheep manure or bone meal. Mix one 

 part of manure to two parts of soil and spread on about 

 half an inch thick. Wlien using sheep manure use it 

 lighter. It is better to run the manure through a screen. 

 The bone can be mixed in with the mulch. Look over 

 the sides and ends of beds carefully on bright mornings 

 and water wherever the soil is dry. As the season ad- 

 vances watering will require closer attention. 



Foliage Plants 



Now that we are coming into the longer days and 

 with increased sunshine, foliage plants should have a 

 good syringing on all clear days, with a strong force 

 of water, getting well under the leaves which will keej) 

 the plants from becoming infested by insects to any 

 great extent. Should they become badly infested a thor- 

 ough sponging should be given with some good insec- 

 ticide such as Aphine or Lemon Oil. They now will 

 stand more water at the ronis as the under heat from 

 the pipes and the stronger siui will soon dry them out. 

 See that they have ventilation when outside conditions 

 will permit; this is important. Some plants will want 

 some shade now, but not too much; only enough to 

 keep them from burning. 



Cattleyas 



From now on all orchids will be showing more ac- 

 tive growth. Those newly potted will want frequent 

 syringing and plenty of moisture in their surrounding. 

 Give strict care as to watering, but never overdo it. 

 Ventilate on all possible occasions and keep the plants 

 clean by frequent sponging. When potting cattleyas 

 always be sure that they have an abundance of drain- 

 age of crocks and charcoal, are potted finnly, and staked 

 if necessary until they become well established. T 

 think there is nothing better for potting material than 

 fern fiber but there are quite a few who still cling to 

 live sphagnum moss. Botli have good points. 



Next Week: — Enphorhln fiilcciis; Dm 



Lily of the Valley 



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Lily of the valley pips can be planted either in the •ota/w 



bench on in flats. When grown in flats or boxes they 

 can be removed to a cooler house. The cleanest and 

 most used material is sand about 6 inches in depth and 

 the pips can be planted in it quite close together. They 

 can be forced in any house that runs from 55 to 60 

 degrees where a bench can be cased in with boards over 

 the heating pipes so as to maintain a bottom heat of 

 85 degrees. Always be very careful to have the water 

 the same temperature at least as the sand, but from 

 5 to 8 degrees warmer would be still better. Any negli- 

 gence or oversight all through their culture will very 

 soon show. It is necessary to keep the top temperature 

 from 55 to 60 for the successful forcing of lily of the 

 valley. They will need to be heavily shaded to draw 

 the flower spikes well up. Afterwards admit a little 

 light by degrees to harden them up and give substance 

 to the leaf-growth. It will take from four to six weeks 

 until they are ready for cutting. Plant a succession 

 of batches. 



Tuberous Begonias 

 When these begonias are given half 

 are truly superb both in flower and 

 should be sown now for the coming season. Sow in 

 pans using rough soil on the bottom and filling iip 

 with finely sifted loam two parts, leaf mold one part, 

 and sharp sand one jjart. The soil should be then 

 thoroughly moistened and pressed firmly and even. 

 They will want some bottom heal — at least 70 degrees — 

 and 75 would be better. In about 8 or 10 weeks the 

 seedlings will be ready to prick out into flats using the 

 same compost as that in which the seeds were sown. In 

 May they should hv ready for 2J-inch pots using a 

 mixture composed of soil, old manuiv, and leaf mold 

 with sand one-third each. At this stage they will be 

 better in a temperature of 60 degrees with a raise to 

 75 with sunshine. 



Watering 



During this month and next all plants will stand 

 more water at the roots. A few hours neglect may 

 spell ruin to pot-bound plants. When a plant is 

 watered see that it receives enough to run through the 

 bottom of the pot and also when planted out on a 

 bench. 



a chance they 

 foliage. Seed 



cncnis; (lanlcnl.'is 



r. Iim Snill.ii; SalTl««. 



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