March 6, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



301 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDDCTKD BY 



^^^>^%9^.rayiA4^ 



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



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications sboiild invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



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



Mignonette in Pots 



It should hardly be necessaiy to remind retail plants- 

 men of the fact that mignonette grown for tlie general 

 pot plant trade is a good seller, not difBeult to work into 

 shapely and attractive specimens in less time than it 

 takes with most other kinds of stock. To have a good 

 stock of 4 and 5 inch plants for the spring and Memor- 

 ial Day trade it is necessary to sow the seeds now. All 

 transplanting should as much as possible be avoided. 

 We fill the 3-inch pot up to the rim with soil, sow half 

 a dozen seeds in the center and with the bottom of an 

 empty pot press down quite finnly. Three plants may 

 be grown in one pot, all forming a dense busli. Keep 

 at about 48 degrees and keep growing right along. 

 Placed well up to the glass they will grow nice and 

 stocky. Give light fumigation everj' week. 



Salvias 



All the newer types of salvias are good material for 

 outdoor planting and, as such, highly prized and ex- 

 tensively made use of by all classes of people. Few 

 other plants mainly used, in the brightening of home 

 grounds, have stronger claim for public favor. Salvias 

 are easily and rapidly propagated by cuttings taken 

 from last year's plants. It is not yet too late to strike 

 another batch if good cuttings can be had. The first 

 seedlings are now in 2-inch pots almost ready for 4-inch. 

 Those sown later will all be readily disposed of either 

 as 2, 3 or 4 inch stock, most of the larger sizes being 

 in bloom when sold. Any sudden change in tempera- 

 ture or constant overdoses in watering hurt salvias, 

 while yet soft and growing rapidly. Do not keep them 

 too cool. Put them well up to the glass. 



Seed Sowing 



In order to have annuals and perennials of good size 

 by planting out time seed should be sown now. Sow 

 them on a mixture of about one-third each of fresh 

 loam, leaf mold and clean sand. For the bottom of 

 the flats or pans any rough soil will do — in fact it is 

 better. Fill to within about lialf an inch of the top and 

 firm. Give them a good soaking of water and allow time 

 for them to drain. The seed can be sown and covered 

 about three times their diameter in depth and pressed 

 even. Place them where they can have a little bottom 

 heat and in a temperature of about 60 degrees. Just as 



soon as they start to come up uncover and place well 

 up to the light. 



Starting Begonia Tubers 



Tubers started now and on to the end of March 

 will be in good time for the spring and summer de- 

 mands. A good way to give these tubers a good start 

 is to place them in flats about three inches deep with 

 some crocks on the bottom covered with sphagnum. 

 Leaf mold and sand in equal parts make a good compost. 

 Place the tubers about half an inch apart and deep 

 enough so they will be just covered. Give bottom heat 

 of about 70 degrees until they have made some young 

 leaves and roots. Before they begin to crowd they will 

 need to be potted into four-inch pots, using a mixture 

 of new loam, three parts, leaf-mold and cow manure one 

 part each and some sand. 



Sweet Peas 



Winter-flowering sorts that were started earliest 

 are now beginning to give out, while those planted later 

 into vacated chrysanthemum beds will be in substantial 

 growth. Apply liquid stimulants carefully and be cau- 

 tious about ventilation, especially if the vines are near 

 the glass. Give hard sprinkling after every picking 

 rather than frequent and heavy fumigation to hold them 

 free of aphis. Remove every bloom whether salable or 

 not, to prevent seeding, and water to the extent of keep- 

 ing the now well-matted roots always moderately moist 

 with no drying out between times, which treatment will 

 considerably lengthen their flowering season. In the 

 treatment of the later batches yet full of vitality, more 

 air — lots of it at all. possible times — is called for, to- 

 gether with regular fumigation in frequent but very 

 mild applications. Also greater restraint and care in 

 watering to prevent stem decay is required. A tempera- 

 ture of as low as 45 degrees at night with not much 

 more than 10 degrees higher in daytime is advised as 

 long as the rapidly increasing sun heat permits. 



Outside Work 



Now that there will be plenty of good days to do 

 outside work, we should do the most important work 

 first, such as getting hot beds ready, also frames, so that 

 in a few weeks we shall be able to relieve our crowded 

 houses. All beds, borders and land needed for planting 

 will require manuring wlien dr}* enough to dig. 



Next Week:— Cnre of Pelargonlnms ; Compost; Easter Lilies; Orchids; Making a Hotbed; Pansles. 



SPRING TRADE m EASTER NUMBER 



IVIA.ROIH 20, ISIS 



Advertising in the Spring Trade Number is Good Business. 

 Definite Purpose Which Assures Double Value 



It has a 



