May 1, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



585 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BY 



^^^^%9^.TkAA^^ 



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



by Mr. Farreli. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the oQice of HORTICULTURE. 



"If vain our toil, ne ought to blame the cnlture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Adiantums 



Bench-grown adiantums for cutting purposes that 

 have become nearly denuded of foliage by constant 

 cutting, should now have a rest. For a while just a 

 light sprinkling will give all the moisture needed. In 

 the interval between two main crops water should never 

 be entirely withheld but reduced to a minimum, while 

 enough of moisture must be present at the roots to 

 maintain the new growth. When new growth attains 

 size and shape water in the usual quantities can be re- 

 sumed. ^^']len new growth shows to a reasonable extent 

 they can have a mulch of cow manure and soil in equal 

 parts and some bone added. Wliile the plants are young 

 iind making luxuriant gro'wth they will require more 

 shade than later on when the foliage gets hardened. 

 These ferns want plenty of light but tliey should be given 

 enough of shade to modify the bright sunrays during 

 the four or |ive hours of mid-day. 



Begonia Gloire de Lorraine and Cincinnati 



A repotting of the fast-advancing plants will be a part 

 of the treatment, admitting of no delay. Better speci- 

 men begonias are raised by timely, short shifts, grad- 

 ually working up to the final size than by long shifts, 

 skipping several sizes at every transplanting. As here- 

 tofore, careful attention to watering, ventilation and 

 shading is advised, but sprinkling or syringing overhead 

 and tlirough the foliage, from now on, should be more 

 heavy and frequent. Pi'om now on until fall the rapid- 

 ity of growth \^■ill be surprising and hardly looked for 

 in the erstwhile fragile striplings. Tliis should keep the 

 the grower on the alert to do his share in the making 

 for a satisfactory finish. Watch out for green-fly or 

 other insects. Don't wait until they pay a visit, but 

 use fumigation and a weak solution of nicotine regularly 

 to keep them away. Give more room, so the young 

 plants will not become crowded. 

 Carnations 



Give regular and copius waterings at the roots and 

 a good syringing every bright morning after the flowers 

 are cut, to hold red spider in check, and also attend to 

 regular fumigation. Attend to all details, such as dis- 

 budding, frequent mulching of the soil, having the venti- 

 lators wide open during wann days and, if possible, a 

 little air during the night even if you have to keep 

 the fires up during the belated cold spell. The success 

 of the carnation growers depends much upon proper 

 care being given to the young stock in the cai-liest 

 stages. Watering is a subject upon which no definite 

 instructions can be given. As a general rule, I like to 

 watei- the young plants once daily. ■\\'here you have 

 frame room it is a good practice to give the young 

 stock a week or so in the frame before they go outside, 

 for it often happens that we get a cold and wet period 

 after they arc planted out in the field. When stock is 

 hardened off in frames they will stand without injurj' 

 any such visitation. 



Ficus elastica 



For the small gi'owcr there is no better season for the 

 increase of stock than the present and no better course 

 of procedure than mossing. Crippled and lanky plants, 

 the branches of old unsalable specimens may be operated 

 upon. The place to be mossed for the fonnation of 

 roots first undergoes some sort of mutilation with a 

 sharp knife, as cutting the wood almost through on one 

 side and inserting a bit of wood or gravel to keep the 

 cut open, washing away the gum after the bleeding has 

 stopped and then tying siihagnum moss in a good thick 

 layer firmly around this part of the wood. Do not fail 

 to -keep the air humid by several dampings during the 

 day. The night temperature should be 70 degrees. In 

 admitting air always avoid drafts. When well rooted 

 they can be potted into a mixture of fibrous loam three 

 parts, well decayed cow manure one jjart, leaf mold one 

 part- 

 Increasing Fern Stock 



All such ferns as adiantums, davallias, nephrolepis, 

 polypodiums, etc., can be propagated by division. Break 

 them up lai'ge enough so they will retain quite a few 

 roots and then place close together in flats or pans in 

 a compost of half leaf mold and half sand. All ferns 

 that have creeping rhizomes or stolons can be multiplied 

 into young stock. There is no better place for these 

 than a warm bench where they will not be subject to 

 any dry or cold currents of air. Keep the atmosphere 

 of the frame moist and maintain a temperature of from 

 65 to 70 degrees and they will soon begin to make new 

 fronds and roots, after which they can be potted up in 

 any good porous soil. All this young stock should have 

 a temperature of about 60 degrees at night, and a bench 

 where they can have plenty of light without too much 

 direct sun. 



Overhauling Poinsettias 



Old plants that have been resting since the new year 

 can now be started, if not already done, shortening 

 back' the stems and repotting in as small pots as the 

 roots will pei'init. Do not wait too long before doing 

 this. Give them a good soaking of water and then keep 

 rather on the di-y side until the growths start and tliey 

 will soon produce a quantity of fine cuttings. When 

 cutting in you can use the old wood cuttings by placing 

 in a wann frame and keeping the temperatui-e from 65 

 to 70 degi'ees. In about three or four w(>eks they will 

 be rooted, wlien tiicy can be potted, using equal parts 

 of loam and leaf mold, with enough of sand to make it 

 gritty. Remove all stock plants to a well-lighted bench 

 at about 6-5 degrees at night. Those propagated in July 

 and August are fine for making u]) pans but the earlier 

 ones will give the finest ])racts for cuttings. Water 

 rather sparingly at first, but as they begin to grow 

 rapidly they will take plenty of water at the roots. 



LIHKAKV 



NtW YOKI 



-HUTAMCAI 



lAKDSN. 



Ifext Weeli:— Chrysantliomums: riiintiii- (ilMcIioli: ri:intln(f Out Carnalions ; Peonies; Stock for Winter riowering; Cultivating. 



