February 26, 1916 



HOETIOULTUBB 



271 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^^^%9^.Ti^iAzu 



Jucstlons by our readers in line witli any of tbe topics presented on this paae will be cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Such communication? should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



•If vain our toil, we ought to blame the culture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Calceolarias 



If these have not had their last shift do it without de- 

 lay. Use a rather light loam not chopped or sifted too 

 fine with a fourth or fifth of thoroughly rotted manure. 

 If the soil is heavy add sand to the manure. 40 degrees 

 at night is far better than 50 and in the lower tem- 

 peratures the green aphis is far less troublesome. Give 

 mild fumigation every week. At no time must they be 

 allowed to wilt, and, like the cineraria, must never be 

 over watered. Avoid extremes both ways. On clear 

 mornings we give a light spraying over-head. Those of 

 the rugosa section are useful at Memorial Day. These 

 should now have their last pinching and can go in their 

 flowering pots. Some will be starting to push their 

 flower spikes and these are better to be pinched, which 

 causes the plants to break freely and make mueli nicer 

 flower heads. Give ventilation whenever possible. 



Palms 



The appearance of specimen palms is wonderfully im- 

 proved by good sponging — an operation never too often 

 repeated — with a good insecticide. While any period 

 in the year is a good time for the transplanting of root- 

 bound palms repotting now will be especially good before 

 they start too much root action. Use a substantial heavy 

 soil which has been plentifully enriched with old ma- 

 nure and bone meal. Maintain a temperature not much 

 below 60 degrees, and keep the house in a humid state 

 after potting. 



Propagating Violets 



Conditions will be right from now up to the first of 

 April for the propagating of violets. When taking ofl' 

 cuttings see that they are not allowed to wilt either be- 

 fore or after they are inserted. They can be put in 

 sand in a propagating bench in a house not any higher 

 than 45 to 48 degrees. It pays well to examine the 

 plants that cuttings are taken from and discard any 

 that show the least trace of disease or spot. Keep them 

 shaded until they become well established when only a 

 slight shade will be necessary on very bright days. Give 

 frequent sprinklings, but always see that they have a 

 chance to dry off before night. When rooted they can 

 be boxed off. Give plenty of ventilation whenever pos- 

 sible. They also root well in boxes that are well-drained 

 and filled with sand. Do not overwater the cuttings and 

 on the other liand see that tlioy do not liecomo too dry. 

 Sowing Seed of Tender Aquatics 



All such aquatic seed as Xehimbiums, Xymphaeas, 

 Victorias, Eichhornias, etc., can be sown now and up to 

 the first of April. The seed can be sown in shallow 

 pans, using a compost of fibrous peat, leaf mold and 

 silver sand in equal parts. Cover the seed with some of 

 the finely sifted compost, with a good dusting of sand 

 on top. Submerge the pots so that they will be four 

 inches below the surface of the water, the temperature 

 of the water to be maiiitaiiieil at from SO to 85 degrees. 

 To successfullv germinate Victoria Trickeri and Vic- 



toria Regia cut a small hole with the point of a sharp 

 knife through the shell on the^opposite side from where 

 the germ is. An atmospheric night temperature of 60 

 to 65 degrees will be sufficient. After the seedlings have 

 made two leaves, pot them singly into three-inch pots 

 and repot into larger pots as required. When they be- 

 come large enough the compost can consist of fibrous 

 loam, well-decayed cow manure, fibrous peat and silver 

 sand in equal parts. As they grow, submerge the pots 

 just enough to keep the foliage floating en the surface 

 of the water. Sweet Peas 



We are now entering the season when our sweet peas 

 should be producing abundance of bloom. Now when 

 they are in active growth they will welcome some liquid 

 stimulant — either cow or sheep manure ; a bushel of the 

 former or a peck and half of the latter to about 50 gal- 

 lons of water. Start by using once a week and in two 

 or three weeks you can give them some twice a week as 

 the roots will become more active. Keep them as near 

 50 degrees at night as )'ou can with a rise of about 15 

 degrees during bright days. Keep the soil at an uniform 

 degree of moisture and preserve a genial moisture in 

 the atmosphere, but always give plenty of ventilation 

 when possible without causing cold draughts. The beds 

 can also have a light mulch of either cow or sheep ma- 

 nure mixed with an equal amount of soil. Keep down 

 green-fly by proper fumigation every ten days. 

 Compost for Transplanting Seedlings 



In order to avoid fungus it is always better to use new 

 soil. All kinds of old soil used for previous crops under 

 glass should be excluded in this work. On all well run 

 places there is always an adequate supply of fresh soil 

 to mix up compost for the filling of pans and flats. 

 Most seedlings do well in a mixture of leaf mold, new 

 soil and sand in equal parts. 



Forcing Gladioli 



John J. M. Farrell, 



Dear Sir: — Please tell me through your valuable paper 

 If a rose house with a temperature of 60 to 62 degrees 

 would be all right to force Giauloll. 

 Yours truly, 



Chilllcothe, Mo. R. L. Ishebwood. 



In answer to Mr. Isherwood, a temperature of 60 to 

 62 would be too high to produce good spikes. All the 

 small-bulbed gladioli such as Colvillei, The Bride, Peach 

 Blossom, Crimson Queen, Mathilde, Blushing Bride 

 and others, also the large-flowered sorts such as Amer- 

 ica, Augusta, May, Silver Trophy, Shakespeare and 

 others, like a temperature of from 50 to 55 degrees at 

 night with a rise to 65 to 70 degrees during sunshine. 

 Under too high a temperature they become weak both 

 in flower and foliage. Keep the temperature as near 

 50 degrees at night as possible as this is as high as they 

 seem to care for. They also like more ventilation than 

 ia possible in a rose house. A carnation house tem- 

 perature and surroundings will suit them better than 

 a ro.se house. 



Next Week:— Care of Chrysanthemums; Geraniums; Shading Orchids; Subtropical Beddlns Stock; Young CarnationB; Outside Trames. 



