March 27, 1916 



HORTICULTURE 



417 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTED BX 



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Questions by our readers In line witlj 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 HORTICULTUKE. 



*'lf Tain our toil, we ou^ht to blame the culture, not the soil.** — Fopt^. 



Cannas 



Roots that have been wintered over in a sound con- 

 dition can now be started on a bench with temperature 

 60 to 65 degrees. Spread a few inches of sand or 

 dampened moss over the bottom, and in a short time 

 every eye will be distinctly developed and they can 

 then be divided mtli a sharp knife into as many pieces 

 as show a green growth. For wholesaling and long dis- 

 tance shipment 3| or 3-inch stock, with a new growth 

 of about five inches in height, is the best, but for a 

 good retail trade it is the 4-inch canna with a firmly 

 held ball of new roots and sturdy top growth that sells 

 fastest and brings the best price. A healtliy, fast-grow- 

 ing canna is a moisture-loving plant but one emerging 

 from uncongenial winter quartere, soft of flesh and slow 

 in starting, resents any excess in humidity and soon 

 yields to utt^r decay if watered too much or too often. 

 Care in this particular, therefore, is necessary until the 

 new growth in shoots and roots is well under way. On 

 all good days syringe them freely and when tliey be- 

 come crowded give them a spacing so the light will 

 reach all around them. 



Foliage Plants 



Take advantage of eveiy bright day to give these 

 plants a good syringing both under and over the foli- 

 age. Wlien a strong force of water is directed espec- 

 ially against the underside of the leaves you help to 

 keep the many insects under control. Wliere plants are 

 infested to any great extent it would be better to 

 take a little time and go over them thorough by spong- 

 ing with some insecticide such as Apliine or Lemon Oil. 

 When well cleaned up they should be given a repotting 

 and a resetting. When repotting remove as much as 

 possible of the old soil down to the active roots. This 

 old compost is generally clogged with stagnant rotting 

 root filler and moisture. Provide well enriched soil and 

 be very careful about drainage in each pot or pan as 

 nothing hurts foliage plants as much as poor drainage. 



Primulas 



A succession of sowings of primula seeds from now on 

 up to the 10th of May will assure their coming along 

 in batches that will flower from the holidays through 

 the winter. Use plenty of rough material in the bottom 

 of the pots or pans to insure perfect drainage. A light 

 open mixture of loam, leaf mold and sand will suit. Sift 

 some of the mixture fine for the top, make level and sow 



the seed, but not too thickly; cover very lightly and 

 press over firmly. Give these pans a warm house. Keep 

 covered with glass and shaded rmtil they show signs of 

 coming up, when they should be given a temperature 

 of about 50 degrees and placed well to the glass. When 

 large enough they should be pricked out into flats. 



Ground for Carnations 



This is such an important crop that effort should be 

 made to have everything right when planting out time 

 arrives. See that the groimd has plenty of manure 

 plowed under. "\^nien the gi'oimd is deficient in plant 

 food you are sure to have a lot of poor plants by housing 

 time. Any good soil will grow carnations, but in every 

 case it ^viil have to be well drained either naturally or 

 artificially before it will produce fine stock. Excellent 

 land for carnations is sod ground that has been broken 

 up last fall. Before planting out time see that it is 

 well pulverized with a smoothing harrow and roller. 



Sweet Peas Outside 



The soil should be prepared by proper pulverizing. 

 AVTiether you plow or spade, the deeper this is done 

 the better. Where the land is available it is better to 

 plant sweet peas on' a new piece of ground every year. 

 Land that was heavily manured and deeply plowed last 

 fall will make the ideal place. Wood ashes is a decided 

 advantage where the land is of a clayey nature. They 

 can be so^vn broadcast at the rate of from 30 to 40 

 bushels per acre. Sow the seed just as soon as the soil 

 dries out sufficiently to be in a workable condition. 

 Alake trenches 4 or 5 inches broad and the same in 

 depth, from 3 to 4 feet between the rows. Sow thinly 

 ajid cover with about an inch of soil. Plants that were 

 started in pots during February can also be planted 

 out when the ground becomes dry enough. To have 

 good sweet peas they should be planted early so that the 

 germination •nill be slow, followed by good root action 

 while the top growth is almost at a standstill. When 

 the seed is planted finn tlie ground over each row. 



Keep a Diary 



Every florist should keep a diary of his operations. 

 This will lead him to know better every year what to 

 do and what not to do — all such things as the sowing 

 of seed, when planting is done, when different plants 

 flower and so on. By jotting down these notes you 

 will pave the way for better success another year. 



Next Week:— Decorative Foliage Plants; Gardenias; Mulch for Carnations; Swalnsona; Starting Achlmenes; Stock Plants. 



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