January 16, 1915 



HORTTCULTUEE 



69 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BV 



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Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be eonlially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Furrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the ollice of HORTICULTURE. 



"If vain our toil, we ousht to hlame the culture, not the soil." — J'-^t--. 



I btiTA 



Bulboos Stock 



Now that the holiday trade has left quite some bench 

 space it will come in nseful for bulbous stock. Before 

 brLugiug any buUi stock into heat make sure that they 

 have plenty of nmts, otherwise to bring them into too 

 much heat will only .'^pell ruin. Von Sions that were 

 brought at end of Noveml)pr into a cool house can now 

 be given more heat, say 55 to 62 degrees. Tulips tliat 

 are well rooted can go up as high as 70 degrees 

 night temperature. The conditions to produce fine 

 tulii>s are heat, moisture, and shade when the flowers 

 begin to open. Eoman hyacinths can stand a tempera- 

 ture as high as 60 degrees at night until they are fairly 

 well out. In fact, all this bulbous stock will finish off 

 bettor if given a cixil hmise when tlicy nvc out in bbioni. 



Bedding Plants 



The florist who runs into this line quite lieavy will 

 need to keep a hustling right along, in order to have 

 plenty of stock next spring. Stock plants should have 

 ]>lenty of light. A side bench in the lightest house will 

 be an ideal |:)lace. Here they will start off into renewed 

 growth and vigor. Where very pot-bound they will l)e 

 greatly benefited by a shift into larger' pots. Give them 

 a good rich compost and they will repay j'ou with a 

 bountiful supply of cuttings. They will need a temper- 

 ature of not less thait 55 degrees, but GO degre&s would 

 be much better. During all days that are bright they 

 should have a good syringing. Iveep the atmosphere 

 moist by frequent dampings of the walks. 



Forcing Lilacs 



Bateltes of lilacs may bi' forced from January to March 

 witli good results. A good sn-inging two or three times 

 a day will cause a good brea.k aJl over the plant and 

 when this is secured they will stand up to 70 degrees at 

 night with safety. Tliis high temiwrature veiy often 

 has to be employed in holding lilacs at a rapid rate of 

 deve!o])iiient. Tlicy will even stand as high as 85 

 degrees and do fine Wlnii they begin to make roots 

 and foliiige llioy will neetl lots of water at the roots. 

 Great watchfulne.-is in this matter is essential right u]) 

 to the last. \^nien the tnisses have attained a length of 

 about three inches the temperature should lie lowered 

 and the sjn-aying lessened. When the flowers show signs 



Next Week:— nodding licKonla^: CMl.-.M.bn-i-.- : f'li; 



of opening stop syringing nnd keep the air dryer by giv- 

 ing more ventilaf ion and less dain])ing down. When they 

 are full out a little shade from the strong sun will help 

 them to keep better. 



Seeds to Sow 



These include aJl .-uch seeds as a.sparagus, cajinas, 

 celosia, cuphea, gloxinia, grevillea, begonias, dracaena, 

 musa, smilax, salvia, torenia, single and 'double petunia, 

 lobelia, etc., also the following perennials ; coreopsis, dian- 

 thtis, delphiniums, gaillardia.s, gypsophila, iberis, incar- 

 '.illea. lavendula, lolielia,, lychnis, ])eiitstemon, etc. 

 Tliese can all be sown in flats or |)ans. provided witli 

 proper drainage, and tor a compost there is nothing bet- 

 ter than new loam, leaf mold and sand in equal p-ai-ts. 

 Wiere much stocl< of this sort has to be raised it is a 

 good plan to select for this puqiose a I)cnch with bottom 

 heat to set the flats on. After sowing, press all do\ni 

 firmly and water with line hose. For a top covering, 

 after" the boxes are placed side by side, paper will answer 

 verv well. Give a temperature of about 60 degrees, 

 with bottom heat a few degTees higheiv All these young 

 plants will require careful watering, transplanting and 

 other attention. 



Sowing Smilax 



8niilax should l)e good strong plants in 4-inch jiots 

 liy the lirst of Jime and to have it by that date seed must 

 lie sown now. Crock up some pans or flats, fill with 

 loam, leaf mold and >and well mixed; press finnly and 

 so-w tlie seed medium thick. Cover with alxtut one- 

 eighth of an inch of finely sifted compost. To ha.sten 

 gemiination give them a steady temjierature of from 60 

 to 65 at night. Keep tliem shaded until t^liey show signs 

 of ffennination when they should have all the light 

 possible. When thev can be handled nicely they should 

 be transplanted into "Mnch pots and kept growing by 

 nece.ssary shifts until tliey are in !-inch pots. 



Stock Plants of Poinsettias 



Diij- up the old plants and pack them under a bench 

 in a medium house. Do not keep them too wet at the 

 roots as they are to go into a resting period until next 

 April. Give enough of water to keep the wood finn 

 until tliat time. X^Huit T mean by a mediiun house is 

 one with about 55 degrees night temijerature. 



■f of violets: Fuchsias; Gardeulns: Red Spider. 



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