March 13, 1915 



HORTICULTUEE 



33.1 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BT 



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



by Mr. E'arrcU. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HOHTICULTUKE. 



**lf Tain our toil, we ougrht to blame the culture, not the Boil." — Pope. 



Pelargoniums 



Plants intended for Easter should have a sunny bench 

 and plenty of room between them. Do not try to force 

 these plaiits as they will not stand it to any extent. 

 Liquid manure should be applied once a week. Young 

 stock in 2, 3 or 4-inch pots will now be making good 

 progress. Before they get too pot-bound they will want 

 siiifts. For a compost they like a good rich soil left 

 rather roughly. Give good drainage and do not forget 

 to fumigate regularly each week but do not fumigate 

 too heavy. 



Compost 



Much potting and repotting, some beucliing and bed 

 planting and a deal of hot-bed and frame building and 

 filling is now to bo done, for all of which the question 

 of soil is not the least important. Good soil is the 

 foundation on which in starting we rest our hopes for 

 success with plants, ever in doubt afterwards, when 

 failure strikes home as to whether or not the soil used 

 was really good for the purpose. There should be at 

 all seasons, and at this time of the year especially, ade- 

 quate quantities, properly prepared and ready for im- 

 mediate use, within handy reach. For the potting of 

 small and tender plants — rooted cuttings in particular — 

 the soil should be of recent bringing in from the open, 

 but should be given time before use to reach a warmth 

 very nearly that maintained in the houses. It should 

 be first moist enough to yield to moderate firming in 

 the pots, not so wet as to noticeably soil the fingers in 

 potting. 



Easter Lilies 



Although Easter is now near at hand much of the 

 advice extended in previous paragraphs may yet be 

 followed to good pui-jjose. A deal of pusliing or re- 

 tarding may still be practiced \vith satisfactor\' results. 

 Lilies, to be right for Easter, should now show well ad- 

 vanced buds, some of these fully developed and begin- 

 ning to turn white. A short week of continued forcing 

 in from GO to G5 degrees of heat will bring these to 

 a point when a gradual cooling off will become tlie last 

 and very proper step to take. Any lilies more back- 

 ward, but showing rapidly swelling buds and length- 

 ening stem will need a higli temperature and much 



Next Week : — Crotons ; 



Dracaena.s; Final Preparation for Easter; 1 



gatini; Dovihle 



attention as to regular sprinkling to bring them in 

 line with the rest of the Easter stock. Lilies already 

 showing opening flowers and white buds are ready to 

 go to a cool shady place, where they will carry through 

 in perfect condition until the Easter trade begins. 



Orchids 



Miltonias always enjoy a place where they can be 

 near the glass as they love plenty of diffused sunlight, 

 so do not apply too heavy a shade for a while yet; give 

 just enough to cloud the glass. The sun becoming 

 stronger wll necessitate more attention as regards 

 watering. Each plant should have a daily inspection. 

 Ventilation sei-ves the double purpose of keeping the 

 right temperature and at the same time supplying a 

 circulation of pure air. Temperature is the orchid 

 growers' infallible guide, so when the right temperature 

 has been reached proper ventilation will be in line. 

 Miltonias like to have a light syringing overhead on 

 all bright days. Give light fumigations once a week to 

 keep thrips under control. 



Making Hotbeds 



Where several hotbeds are to be made it is best to 

 have them as far as possible in an unbroken, continued 

 line or in several long rows. Less of the heat generated 

 by a large bulk of manure will be lost than with isolated 

 beds and the temperature imder the long line of sashes 

 vdll be better equalized. The heat will be less intense, 

 bnt will last several weeks longer if the manure is quite 

 stra\vy, or if tree leaves are inter-spread while building 

 up the manure. A layer, nicely evened out and well 

 trodden down, of about IS inches in height when fin- 

 ished, will be all-sufticient from now on and less will 

 do if the bed is made later. When you have the manure 

 all in, spread from 4 to 5 inches of soil upon it. Place 

 sashes on and leave air on every second sash. Tliey can be 

 left this way until the violent heat has subsided when 

 they will be ready for seed sowing or the setting of 

 plants. 



Pansies 



Pansies from seed sown in November or December, 

 ;ind pricked out and grown on should by tliis time be 

 big enough to plant out in frames. A mild hotbed will 

 help to push them along. 



roj.apatins Bougalnvilleas ; Seedling' ThIxthus llogoulas; Propa- 

 Pyrethrum. 



SPRING TRADE m EASTER NUMBER 



IVIAROIH 



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Advertising in the Spring Trade Number is Good Business. 

 Definite Purpose Which Assures Double Value 



It has a 



