June 12, 1915 



HORTICULTURE 



777 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDUCTED BV 



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Questions by our readers In Hue with 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 HORTICULTURE. 



"It vain our toll, we ougrht to blame the culture, not the soil." — Pope. 



Asparagus plumosus. 



This fine decorative greeii will need considerable more 

 head room than sniila.x, also more depth of soil, and this 

 should he heavily enriched as they are very greedy 

 feeders. A depth of at least 9 to 12 inches is none 

 too much for plumosus. For a compost use equal parts 

 of rather heavy loam and some old cow manure which is 

 well decomposed. Stock out of 4-inch pots, if sturdy and 

 thrifty is the right sort to use. Beds thus planted should 

 yield good returns for at least four to six years. The 

 plants can be set from 10 to 13 inches apart in the 

 rows and about 1.3 to 18 inches between the rows. As 

 soon as the new growth asstunes the character of a 

 climber Bilkaline strings can be supplied. Keep the 

 surface of the soil loose and free from weeds. Syringe 

 every day in order to keep the foliage fresh and bright. 

 Give ventilation whenever possible as this tends to keep 

 the young growth firm and strong. 



Increase Begonias. 



This is a good time to work up a good lot of begonias. 

 Cuttings taken from the new side growth and those 

 coming directly from the base of the flowering begonias 

 will make tlie most satisfactory plants and those of the 

 Rex class come fine from leaf cuttings. An ideal place 

 to propagate these begonias is on a bench in some well- 

 sliaded house not too near the ventilators, and where a 

 reasonable amount of humidity can be kept up. Give 

 the proper shading and watering and they will soon 

 root and can then be potted into small pots, using a 

 compost of new loam, leaf mold and sand in equal parts. 

 When they fill these pots they should be given a good 

 portion of well decayed cow manure, leaf mould and 

 loam in equal parts. Ventilate so the air of the house 

 will not be violently disturbed by air currents. 



Cold Storage Lilies. 



Lilium speeiosum rubrum is a very good lily to grow. 

 It produces quite a few buds which open one after the 

 other, making it last some weeks from the first open 

 hud until the last. Pot some at intervals using 6-ineh 

 pots and giving proper drainage in each one. Place 

 them out in a cold frame. Give them enough of water 

 to keep them moist and when they show signs of root 

 action and top growth they can be brought into the 

 house and forced on. They will need lots of watching 

 during the liot weather so that they do not become 

 dry at the roots. Give them a good syringing every 

 morning and afternoon until the flowers begin to open. 

 Keep them fumigated for green fly. 



Poinsettias. 



'i'iiis is time to propagate poinsettias. Such as are 

 rooted now will produce bracts a foot or more in 

 diameter and be suitable either for benching or making 

 up later into large pans. Poinsettias that were started 

 early should now have some fine material for propa- 

 gating purposes. Don't break them ofE the wooded 

 stem but use the knife and let one or two eyes of the 

 soft wood remain on the plants to give more cuttings 

 again in about four weeks. Pot off just as soon as the 

 roots liaved formed. A common error is to leave cut- 

 tings too long in the sand after being rooted. Pot into 

 a compost of stiff loam mixed with about one-third 

 its quantity of well rotted cow manure. Keep close and 

 moist for a few days, then air more freely. If con- 

 venient and suitable greenhouse bench space is not at 

 disposal, spread a coating of coal ashes in a cold frame 

 and grow them there. By keeping them covered with 

 glass and not giving too much ventilation, they will 

 come along in good shape. 



Transplanting Large Palms. 



When on a well appointed commercial place, plants 

 become too large and heavy to be handled by one or 

 perhaps two men, too unwieldy to be of any use for dec- 

 orative work where they might be made to earn their 

 living, it is time that they should be disposed of either 

 for ready cash or as commodities of exchange. As long 

 as they need not be handled or moved about, all is well, 

 but when a plant finally gets cramped for head room 

 and a change of position, perhaps a radical rearrange- 

 ment all around becomes necessary. When very large 

 plants must be transplanted the work is usually put 

 off until early in the fall, this being considered the best 

 time for all such operations, but just now is as good as 

 any for this work. Give all these palms a good rich 

 compost for when they once become large they are very 

 rank feeders. See that they have plenty of good drain- 

 age and work the compost well around the old ball. 

 This work can be done outside where there is plenty of 

 room to work. These large palms will be better to 

 remain outside until the fall. Give them a place where 

 they have the shade from some large trees. See that 

 they have plenty nf water and syringing. 



Planting Out Stock Plants. 



Now that all bedding out is done, look to the stock 

 plants for the production of cuttings next winter. All 

 such plants as geraniums, heliotrope, ivies, lobelias, sal- 

 vias, etc., should be planted out in a good piece of 

 ground aiul given rare during the summer months. See 

 that each kind is labeled true to name. 



Next week— Eucharis Amazonica; Miles; Orchids; Starting Cycas Sterna; Vlncas and Ivies; Weeds and Cultivation. 



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