May 22, 1915 



HOETICULTURE 



681 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS' STOCK 



CONDCCTBD BY 



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Queatlons by our readers In line with any of the topics preaented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Such communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTDBE. 



*'If Tala our toil, we oosbt to blame the cnltnre, not the Boil." — ropt-. 



Bay Trees, Box, Etc. 



Those tliat are rather pot-boiind can have some weak 

 liquid feeding oiue a week which will greatly help them 

 to make good wood and foliage. When bay-trees have 

 not been potted for two or three years and want more 

 root room now is a good time to give them a shift. Use 

 any good heavy loam with a little decayed cow manure 

 iind bone meal. Wliere the bays look brown and are out 

 iif shape they shonld be carefully triramed to induce a 

 new growth. They should be j)lunged outside where 

 they will be convenient to water so the hose can be 

 I)layed on them freely during the summer. A little 

 liquid manure will help them. . This treatment can be 

 given to all ]K)t or tub exergreens, such as hollies, 

 laurels, araucarias, aueubas and yews. 



Chrysanthemums 



The question of soil in benching chrysanthemums is 

 perhaps not of so much importance as it is for roses or 

 some other crops. The more fiber there is in the loam 

 the more we like it, as it is almost impossilile to make 

 such soil sour by watering and the^ first thing to do, 

 <Thove all others, is to get a good rooting medium even 

 tiiough the soil may incline to be poor because when 

 there is good strong root action feeding can easily be 

 applied in liquid at any stage. Fill the bench level and 

 then after the soil settles there will be ample room for 

 watering at all seasons. Tlie earlier they are planted 

 I he better. It is not too early at any time. 



Ericas 



Climatic conditions in most sections of this country 

 make erica cultiu'e very difficult and a risky business. 

 Wo have neither the soil nor the humid atmosphere in 

 which they delight in Great Britain. Most of the species 

 have now done flowering, and the next move is a severe 

 cutting l)ack of the plants. This should be done before 

 the new gi-owth starts too much. -Ml the long canes 

 and the old wood are cut away, merely leaving short 

 -tumps of one or two inches in length. In a temper- 

 ature of about 50 degrees the new growth will soon 

 start from these remaining stems and when the break 

 is completed is the proper time for transplanting. Some 

 of tlie old soil is taken off and the plants go into new 

 pots, wliich should be more wide than deep, like azalea 

 pots. Plenty of drainage material should be placed in 

 the bottom. I have found well-fibred, turf-like, sandy 



Next Week: — Amaryllises; Cymbldiums: Dahlias; 



soil, six months old, roughly broken up and mixed 

 with a goodly quantity of spent hot bed manure to be 

 the best mixture. Frequent syringing is essential, but 



in watering great care should be taken not to overdo it. 



Flowers For Memorial Day 



It is a hard proposition to hold lilies back where they 

 have been allowed to advance too much up to now. Place 

 them in a house where they can have plenty of ventila- 

 tion with a good syringing on bright days. Fumigate 

 weekly for aphis. For hydrangeas 5.3 degrees night tem- 

 perature is to be preferred, but in case they are late give 

 them 10 degrees more for a time. Spraying overhead 

 on clear days will greatly refresh them. They will 

 take water in great abundance and manure water can 

 be applied two or three times a day until the flowers 

 are well mit. Benches containing ten weeks' stocks, 

 gladioli, suaijdragons, candytuft and other Memorial 

 Day crojjs should be scratched over at least once a week 

 and have all weeds removed. Spiraea japoniea and its 

 various fomis should be brought along now. 55 to 60 

 degrees at night will suit them better than a higher 

 one. 



Forcing Lily of the Valley 



Lilv of the valley will do fine after May in frames. 

 All that is necessary is a well built close frame. Put 

 six inches of sand over the manure and plant the pips 

 as you would in the greenhouse. The frame can be 

 partitioned so that two or more batches can be kept 

 coming on. Keep close and dark until the stalks are 

 half grown. Then gradually increase the light. Don't 

 overdo the heat or you will get leggj' stalks. Use no 

 water overhead after the flowers are expanding for fear 

 of spotting them. At this season there is less danger 

 from this cause than in winter. It takes about three 

 to four weeks to flower lily of the valley, provided the 

 proper bottom heat and top temperature can be given. 

 For June cutting when the demand is quite heavy a 

 frame should be prepared at once. See that they are 

 kept nice and moist at the roots. 



Ventilation 



.\t this time of the year close attention must be given 

 to ventilation. It is very easy to ruin a lot of stock by 

 neglecting this. On all briglit days start early in the 

 morning by putting on air. All houses that are growing 

 cool stock should have it on all night. 



Outdoor Sweet Peas; Violets; Sowing Late Annuals. 



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