April 17, 1915 



HOETICULTUKE 



521 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BY 



^^^^^.9^.T-ay>Az^ 



Questions by our readers In line wltb any of the topics presented on tills page will be cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTDRE. 



"If vain our toil, we ougtat to blame the culture, not the soli." — Popt. 



Chrysanthemums 



Ckrysanthemuins being grown for exhibition purposes 

 must not be knocked around as some stock is allowed 

 to do. They will want shifting along before they be- 

 come too pot-bound. There is no better place for them 

 at the present time tlian a cold frame, for here they 

 can have plenty of ventilation. Make it a point to give 

 them a syringing every bright morning and watch the 

 pots that they do not dry out too much. Keep them 

 clean of fly by either sprayings of some good insecti- 

 cide or weekly fumigation. At all their shifts see that 

 they have a rich compost usLag as a foundation sod 

 that was cut last fall and piled up vrith about one-third 

 well rotted cow manure added. 



Ericas 



Those that are unsold and past tlieir bloom should 

 be cut in just enough to give them a good shape. Ericas 

 that are perfectly healthy can go into a pot one size 

 larger, while specimens that look sickly will be im- 

 proved and frequently restored to vigor by repotting 

 into a pot of the same size as the one previously occu- 

 pied. Now is the time to start in order to have well- 

 balanced plants for ne.xt year. The soil for potting 

 should be fibrous peat and loam with about one-third 

 of silver sand. All heaths like plenty of drainage. The 

 ball of earth should be loosened with a piece of pointed 

 wood, and the outer soil shaken off. Should the inner 

 part of the ball be dry, which is very often found to 

 be the case, they should be dipped for some time into 

 a tub before repotting. In potting care should be taken 

 to set them a little too high rather than too deep. Be 

 sure that the soil is well firmed around their roots. 

 Wlien it is time for them to be placed outside they will 

 be benefited by tlie shifting shade of some large trees 

 during the hottest hours of the day. The pots should 

 be sunk to their rims -into some loose material such as 

 hay or leaves, anything that will allow the air to pass 



through. 



Nephrolepis 



A spare bench can l)e put to good use by planting 

 with some of the varieties of nephrolepis. These ferns 

 are not fastidious as to soil. If some of the carnations 

 are not doing well put them out and replace with a 

 planting of these ferns. Give the soil a coat of well 

 decayed manure and if it is heavy add a little sand. 

 Give water around the ball at first and as the roots 

 begin to run you can give the whole surface a watering. 

 Pay attention to syringing during all bright days. Tliey 



Neit Week :— Cattleyas ; Cibotium Sehiedel; Gloxinias; 



will need some shade, but only enough to keep them in 

 good color as too heavy a shade tends to make their 

 growth soft and straggly. Temperature should be held 

 at about 60 degrees during the night. 



Ramblers for Next Easter 



We can start now with doriuaut plants from tlie field. 

 It is all in the first six weeks' management. C^it them 

 down ver\- low and place in a cool house or pit for the 

 first two weeks. In two weeks they will have broken 

 at many eyes. Rul) oft" all but five or six breaks or 

 growths. Place in a house at about 50 degrees at night. 

 They should be given careful watering with frequent 

 spraying and in a short time they wiU make nimieroua 

 shoots which should be reduced to four or five to a plant. 

 The next tliree weeks is the critical time. Don't take 

 them from the pit or warm house and slam them into a 

 cool draughty house, especially near an open door. Give 

 them ten degrees higher temperature, full light and 

 frequent syringing or light spraying. When the young 

 growths are two or three inches long rub off tlie weakest 

 for these canes are all you want to make the best furn- 

 ished ])lant. As they grow keep them tied up to stakes 

 until July, when they can be plunged outside to help 

 ripen uj) the wood. 



Time to Propagate 



As the season advanct-s there will be more sun heat, 

 with the temperature of the houses higher, and less fire 

 heat, with the sand of the propagating bed cooler. This 

 is the reverse of favorable conditions for propagating 

 nearly all soft-wooded jilants. Those who wisely man- 

 aged their propagation already have the main part of 

 this work done. There is ample time yet for the grow- 

 ing of good plants of most varieties of that class that may 

 enter into tlie spring trade. They must have more 

 shading from this out and a gi-eater amount of water 

 to keep the sand moist, and they should have a couple 

 of sprayings overhead every day. Wlien they begin to 

 make roots gradually reduce the shading. Do not leave 

 them too long in the sand when rooted, but pot off just 

 as soon as well I'ooted. 



Stock in Frames 

 All kinds of stock now in frames will need plenty of 

 attention from tins out. See that they have ventilation 

 in the morning before they become wann and shut down 

 eariv enough in the afternoon so as to keep warm enough 

 during the night. Attend carefully to watering. On 

 warm days the sashes can be removed altogether. 

 Propagating Crotons; Plants for Vases, etc.; Shading. 



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