May 27, 1916 



HORTICULTUBE 



721 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDUCTED BT 



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Questions b7 our readers Id 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. 



"If vain oar toll, we ouffht to blame the colture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Care of Begonias 



For strong plants in 4 or 5-inch pots there is no bet- 

 ter place than a mild hotbed that has 4 or 5 inches of 

 ashes or soil over the manure. In this plunge the pots 

 up to their rims, and they will make good headway and 

 can be hardened off without any check. They should 

 stay here until the first half of June because about the 

 end of May we are liable to get a few nights at such a 

 low temperature that will make them look sick for 

 weeks. Bedding begonias such as Vernon or Erfordii 

 that are pot bound should be given a shift, using a rich 

 porous soil. This will prevent them from becoming 

 stunted before planting time. Begonias of the tuberous 

 rooted sorts intended for bedding out should be given 

 plenty of room between them to spread out. 



Dracaena indivisa 



This stock needs a house a little closer and warmer 

 than an ordinary house. They should never go lower 

 than 60 degrees during the night. Plants that are over 

 a year old can be planted outside in June where they 

 will grow and make fine plants by September which can 

 be potted and grown on for next spring's sales. Plants 

 that were raised from seed sown soon after the New 

 Year should be ready now to go into 3-inch pots. Keep 

 them inside and give them a compost of turfy loam three 

 parts, well-decayed cow manure one part, with a liberal 

 sprinkling of sharp sand. Drain the pots with crocks 

 and when they have filled the pots with roots they will 

 want copious waterings. It is most essential to give 

 them a good svringing every morning during the 



summer. 



Increasing Ficus by Mossing 



This is a very good month to perform the operation of 

 mossing on these plants. Select about 6 or 8 inches of 

 the leafy tops and cut them about half way through, then 

 split the stem about half an inch upward inserting some- 

 thing to keep the split open, such as a match or piece 

 of gravel. Cover the cut so the wliole will be enveloped 

 with sphagnum moss. Put enough sphagnum around 

 so as to form a ball from 3 to '2\ inches in dameter. In 

 about six or eight weeks they will be fit to cut off and 

 pot. Keep the moss always moist by frequent light 

 syringing and see that the plants are kept rather on the 

 dry side at the roots. Place them in the warmest house 

 and at some end where they can have abundant atmos- 

 pheric moisture all the^time. It is a good plan to take 



all the lanky and unsalable plants and work them up 

 into salable stock by this mode. When rooted they 

 should be potted and kept growing right along. 



Nerines 



When all the foliage assumes a golden hue the pots 

 should be laid on their sides on a sunny bank or high 

 piece of ground where they will not be likely to get much 

 water. When the foliage of nerines begins to turn yellow 

 it shows that they are finishing up their growth. They 

 can be given this treatment until the middle of Sep- 

 tember when they should be moved into a frame or cool 

 greenhouse. After they have had their rest and begin 

 to make fair growth they will take an abundance of 

 water with overhead syringing. When the flower scapes 

 make their appearance, remove about an inch of the sur- 

 face from the pots and give a top dressing of rich com- 

 post. Give an application of liquid manure once a 

 week. To be successful with nerines you should syringe 

 so as to keep their foliage free from insects and healthy, 

 until leaf-growth is complete. They do well in an or- 

 dinary greenhouse that runs from 55 to 60 at night. 



Palms 



If there are large palms that need repotting this is an 

 excellent time to do this work, as nearly all the palms 

 and other decorative stock make a heavy gro^vth during 

 the summer and the more they are encouraged the bet- 

 ter. If larger pots are not required remove some of the 

 old soil from the roots and replace with a fresh compost 

 of fibrous loam three parts, well-rotted cow manure one 

 part, and about a 5-inch pot of bone meal to a barrow 

 load. Select some of the tougher leaved kinds and stand 

 them outdoors. If rains have washed off considerable 

 of the shading applied to the glass some time ago it will 

 to necessary to use some more whitening on the roof as 

 many palms are quite easily scorched. Air freely, now 

 that the days are so warm, and keep plenty of moisture 

 in the atmosphere. A couple of hosings overhead on 

 clear days should also be given with a carefully directed 

 pressure, which will not only keep thcni clean but make 

 them grow better. 



Vincas for Next Year 



Vinca cuttings rooted daring the winter should now 

 be planted outside in the field. Give them a piece of fair- 

 ly rich ground and keep them cutivated and hoed and 

 they will not be any further trouble until lifted and 

 potted up in the fall. 



Next Week:— Bcuvardlas; Young Primulas; Ericas; Feeding Orchids; nydraugcas for Next Year"; Start Cultivation. 



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