Februarj' 6, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



169 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



NDUCTED BY 



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 vain our toil, we ought to blame the culture, not the soil." — Popr. 



Care of Smilax Beds 



Smilax beds that were cut down for the early win- 

 ter trade will need some cleaning up and working over. 

 Keep these beds on the diy side until they show signs 

 of new life. Tliey can have a good syringing on all 

 good days which will Just provide enough moisture to 

 suit their resting condition. Give them a steady night 

 temperature of about fiO degrees. When new growth 

 shows nicely all over the surface, a coat of bone meal, 

 followed by a half-inch mulch of old manure and loam 

 in equal parts can be put on. This mulch can be re- 

 newed about once a month. As the plants show a ten- 

 dency to run, give them silkaline to climb on. Do not 

 keep the atmosphere too humid as it always make the 

 strings soft; give ventilation on all possible occasions. 



Cyclamens 



The young plants for next ^vinter's crop should have 

 every encouragement. If elevated on shelves or in a 

 house kept at 55 degrees at night, they will be all right. 

 When ready for their fii"st potting, use a compost of 

 three parts loam and one-half part each of well decayed 

 dried manure and leaf-mold with some sand added. 

 Continue to give the potted plants the same temper- 

 ature as when in flats. So long as they remain in flats 

 go over them once a week and scratch over the surface 

 soil. Avoid a close atmosphere, as this will cause the 

 plants to become legg}'. You cannot keep the plants 

 too near the light if jou want them stocky. To grow 

 cyclamen well, these points should be considered, viz. : 

 Constant heat, a moist atmosphere, free drainage and 

 an ample water supply. Insect pests should never be 

 given any quarter. A spraying once a -week with a re- 

 liable nicotine solution will keep the plants clean. Air 

 should be given but not in the nature of a draft, but 

 in such quantities as to keep a sweet atmosphere in the 

 house. 



Chrysanthemums 



Each one must decide for himself the best time to 

 propagate, but these dates I have found most satisfac- 

 tory: February for fine specimen bloom in pots; 

 March and up to April 15 for bench culture; end of 

 April and up to May for 6-inch ppts. Some varieties 

 rooted in May seem to do as well as when rooted earlier. 

 Secure, if possible, a house with a northern aspect for 

 the propagating with no heat under the benches. Use a 

 good gritty sand. Water well and pound as hard as 

 possible. Insert the cutting.s firml)', leaving no air space 

 under the cuttings. Two and one-half or three inches 

 is the right length. Trim the bottom leaves with a 

 sharp knife, if the foliage is heavy; this will help the 



cutting and prevent damping. Spray lightly once or 

 twice a day, but have the house diy at night. Allow no 

 wilting; protect with napers, for if once wilted they be- 

 come hard and it takes some time to get over it. In 

 from 15 to ?0 days they will be rooted if kept in a 

 temperature of 45 or 50 degrees nights; day, 55 or 60 

 degrees with sun heat. As soon as the roots are one- 

 half inch long, transplant from the sand at once; sand 

 having no nutriment, they will draw up badly if 

 neglected. 



Jerusalem Cherries 



These make very fine plants for Christmas. Where 

 you intend to grow this stock from seed, lose no time 

 in sowing it now and they will produce nice bushy plants 

 for next Christmas. From 60 to 65 degrees will be 

 right. For the starting: of the seed any good sandy soil 

 that is fairly open will do. Keep the flats or pans 

 covered with a piece of glass until the seeds have pushed 

 forth their growth. When they have attained sufficient 

 size to handle, pot into small pots and grow on and 

 shift as they may require it. Give them plenty of light 

 and a good syringing on all bright days. After they 

 are potted, do not keep tliem too wann. Fifty to 55 

 degrees at night will suflice. Continue tliis treatment 

 until the end of Slay when they can go outside. Where 

 you have saved some stock plants you can start and 

 propagate and in a couple of weeks these will make fine 

 plants also. Fumigate often for greenfly as these often 

 become troublesome. 



Orchids 



From now on all orchids will be showing more active 

 growth that always comes with the stronger sun and 

 the increased length of the days. There will be quite 

 a few cattleyas that have had a nice rest and Just before 

 they begin to grow is the best time to repot or top-drees 

 them. The material most used is either fern fiber or 

 sphagnum moss and fibrous peat. When potting orcliids 

 always be sure that they have an abundance of drain- 

 age of crocks and charcoal. See that all are potted 

 finnly and staked if necessary' until they become well 

 established. Tliese newly potted orchids will want 

 frequent syringings, and plenty of moisture in their 

 surroundings. Give strict care as to watering, but never 

 overdo it. Ventilate on all possible occasions and keep 

 the plants clean by frequent sponging. 



Watering 



Now that the days are becoming longer and the sun 

 stronger remember that all plants will require more 

 water, so use water freely on all crops and pot plants 

 that liave plenty of roots. 



Next Week — Canna.s from Seed; Flardy Delphiniums; Mignonette; Prepare for Easter; Proposatlng: Verbena*. 



