June 5, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



745 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BT 



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Qaeatlons by our readers In line wltb any of the topics preaented on thlg page will be cordially received and promptly answered 



by Mr. Farrell. Socb commnnlcatlons should InTsrlably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



"It Tain our toil, we oncht to blame the cnltnre, not the soil." — Pope. 



Chrysanthemums 



The grower who desires to cut good blooms by the 

 end of September should lose no time in getting his 

 stock planted. For early chrysanthemums, an ideal 

 compost is three parts loam, one part decomposed 

 manure and a good sprinkling of fine bone. Use sod 

 that was piled up last fall which will now be in fine 

 condition for the young roots to work in. For pro- 

 ducing high-class blooms 9 by 9 inches will be about 

 right for single stemmed flowers. The distance apart to 

 plant will depend on the size and quality of the flowers 

 wanted. Some plant as close as 6 by 6 inches but these 

 will never be as good as those that have more room. 

 It is better to water around the plants at first and 

 when they have made enough roots the entire bed can 

 be watered. Wlien planting see that every part is 

 finned well, leaving a slight depression around each to 

 hold the water. 



Cyclamen 



Shift them along as they may require from time 

 to time, using a moderately firm fibrous loam two parts, 

 leaf mold two parts, and one part cow manure, and see 

 that they have ample drainage. Spray them overhead 

 and wet down the walks and walls. Give a weekly fumi- 

 gation to keep them clear of the persistent aphis. 

 Those that are plunged outside in a cold frame should 

 have some lath shade. Where you use sashes see that 

 tlicy are raised up from 8 to 10 inches bottom and top, 

 and during hot days give a spraying overhead two or 

 three times a day, and keep them as cool as possible. 



Fancy Caladiums 



In order to bring out their liigh colors they must not 

 be grown in a too mucli shaded position. They need a 

 little protection from the direct sun under glass, but it 

 should be comparatively light. They will want careful 

 ventilation to harden them up before being used for 

 decoration. They will now need more water at the roots. 

 Look them over at least twice a day. As the pots become 

 well filled with roots, use a litle liquid manure once in 

 four or five days. In summer they succeed well in an 

 ordinary greenhouse and should not be moved direct 

 from a warm, moist home to a cool draughty position, 

 or wilting will result. After midsummer, when flower- 

 ing plants are none too abundant, the fancy caladiums, 

 with their beautifully colored leaves are extremely use- 



ful. For room decoration and on piazzas where not too 

 exposed or windy, these caladiums stand remarkably well. 



Marguerites 



The early-propagated portion of the coming season's 

 stock should now be far enough advanced to require 4 

 and even 5-inch pots. Use turfy loam three parts and 

 decomposed manure one part. They should get their 

 final shift by the last week in July and be kept pinched. 

 It is better to keep them growing on in pots during the 

 summer as they make more compact plants by having 

 their root room restricted. Size and vigor are only im- 

 parted by good summer treatment, which is always a 

 jjermanent gain to this winter flowering stock. See that 

 they have plenty of water at the roots and syringing. 

 When pots become filled with roots liquid manure should 

 be given once a week. These pots can be plunged some- 

 where outside where they will be handy for water. 

 Older or left-over plants from last spring can now be 

 planted out and will furnish cuttings for fall propaga- 

 tion. 



Winter Flowering Stocks 



In recent seasons considerable space has been devoted 

 to their culture. For early winter flowering now is the 

 time to malce a sowing. Take pains to obtain the best 

 strain of seed in the market. Sow in pots- in a mixture 

 of new loam and leaf mold with some sand. Give a good 

 watering some little time previous to sowing the seed. 

 Cover the seed very lightly, finishing by pressing the 

 surface even all over. Place under a cold frame and 

 shade until the young seedlings begin to appear when 

 they should have full sun. When large enough to handle 

 pinch or pot off and keep on shifting until they are in 

 5-inch pots. Late in the fall they will show their buds 

 and you then can distinguish the singles from the 

 double ones, . . The single buds are always long and 

 pointed, while the double are short and stubby. 



Syringing 



Do not fail in giving all stock under glass a daily 

 syringing, at least during the hot summer months. All 

 plants are troubled with insect pests, and a daily syring- 

 ing done every bright morning will effectually keep 

 down red spider, thrips, etc. It also helps during spells 

 of torrid weather to lower the temperature of the houses. 



Next Week — Asparagus Plumosa; Propagating Begonias; Cold Storage Lilies; Poliisetllas; TrMiisplnntlng Large P.Tims; Plant- 

 out Stocl; Plants. 



