January 23, 1915 



HOETICULTUEE 



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NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BV 



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Qnestlons 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 office of HOKTICULTURE. 



"If Tain our toil, we ought to blame the culture, not the soil." — /'o/>?. 



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Bedding Begonias 



To have good sized plants by planting out time be- 

 gonia seed should be sown now. Sow in pans, using 

 some rough soil on the bottom, and then filling up with 

 a compost of finely sifted loam, leaf mold and sand. 

 Stand them in a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees and 

 shade from direct sunlight. In about a month or six 

 weeks the seedlings will be ready to prick' out into flats. 

 In March they should be ready for 2-inch pots, using 

 a mixture of soil, old manure, leaf mold and sand. At 

 this stage they will be better in a temperature of from 

 55 to 60 degrees with a raise to 75 degrees with sun- 

 shine. 



Calceolarias 



Never attempt to hum' calceolarias along with too 

 much heat, as they will not stand to be forced. Forty- 

 five degrees at night will keep them in good health. 

 Keep them moist at the roots, but never in a soaked 

 condition, as extremes in either dry or over-wet are bad. 

 Under no circumstances neglect ventilation. Take ad- 

 vantage of every good day and give some air. Give 

 weekly fumigation against the green aphis. As the 

 plants become pot-bound they will take some liquid 

 manure once a week. 



Care of Violets 



As with most other plants brought under cultivation, 

 the violet either has brought with it or has become sub- 

 ject to some serious fungous enemies. They should now 

 be in good healtliy condition and flowering fi-eely. Give 

 all the air the weather will permit and at the same 

 time have on a little steam (this for mild weather) in 

 order to keep the air dry. At all times keep the air 

 pure and dry. For Marie liOuise, Imperial and Single 

 38 to 40 degrees at night and 10 degrees to 13 degrees 

 warmer during the day is about right. Should the house 

 drop occasionally as low as 35 degrees, there is no harm 

 in it; they really seem to ho benefited. Fumigating 

 must be regularly and carefully given. Smoking, not 

 too heavy, two nights in succession each week will keep 

 the plants clean of greenfly. 



Next Week : — Care of Carnations ; 



Early Asters; Euphorbia Jacq uinaeflora 

 Myosotis, I'lnljs, Etc. 



Fuchsias 



It is time now to look after the stock plants of 

 fuchsias. Fuchsias are looked upon by some as old- 

 fashioned, but they are nevertheless popular with many 

 and probably always will be. While we cannot make 

 as manifold \ises of them for bedding and exhibition 

 purposes as in Europe, we can use them for flowering 

 in pots, for planting out in partially shaded beds and 

 for piazza boxes, where they do not get too muchl sun. 

 Given a repotting now, the stock plants wiU produce a 

 batch of succulent cuttings later on. They are easily 

 rooted. Pot off into 2^ inch pots and later into 4 inch, 

 using at the last potting moderately rich soil. Nice 

 little plants in 4 inch pots, carrying a few flowers sell 

 well in May and June and any country florist who 

 grows a batch can easily dispose of them. 



Gardenias 



Tliose who would succeed with gardenias in winter 

 must watch them carefully and keep as even a temper- 

 ature as possible, particularly at night. A night tem- 

 perature of 65 to 70 degrees Just now is right for those 

 which are blooming. A fairly moist atmosphere is in- 

 dispensable, as is also a porous soil. Water should pass 

 quickly through the benches when applied, If it does 

 not, the conditions are wrong and yellow foliage and 

 di-opping buds ai'e certainties. Be very careful when 

 Ventilating as they do not like cold drafts. Give a good 

 syringing on all bright mornings. Wliile there are oc- 

 casional periods of glut even at this season of the year, 

 prices as a rule hold up well and those who are able to 

 make gardenias bloom freely during the coldest months 

 will find them a paying crop. You can begin to feed 

 with liquid manure water now as the davs are becom- 

 ing longer. 



Red Spider 



In all wai'in houses where we have to keep up a good 

 deal of fire heat, we will surely be troubled with red 

 sjiider. A good syringing on the under side of the 

 foliage whenever we have a good bright day is essential. 

 This will have reference to all such crops as carnations, 

 sweet peas, antirrhinums, gardenias and many foliage 

 plants. Keep right after this dreaded enemy with a 

 good force of water at least once a week. 



Sowing Candytuft and Stocks; Pansles, 



Geraniums ; 



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