June 26, 1915 



HORTICULTUKE 



841 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDDCTED BY 



9^.'^aytAz^ 



Queetlons by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordial'.y received and promptly answered 



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



"If TBln our toil, we ousht to blame the cnltore* not the soU." — Pope. 



LIBRART 



WEW YO«l 



=■ «AK' 



Carnations 



With tlie rush of other Avork do not neglect the car- 

 nations, as the good care they are given from this out 

 will play a hig part in perfecting fine plants for next 

 winter's flowering. Iveep the hoe and the cultivator 

 going; you cannot over-use them. In sandy soil it is 

 an easy matter to keep the surface pulverized and clean, 

 but when it comes to heavy or clayey soil it means 

 work, and in such soil continuous stirring up of the 

 surface is necessary if the plants are to do their best. 

 Eemove the small weeds around the plants, such as the 

 cultivator may be unable to j-eaeh. While they may 

 not do much harm while small a few days of hot 

 weather will develop them into large plants, and while 

 removing them you might loosen the carnations. After 

 every rain a" few hours of sun will pack the surface 

 to such an extent as to fonn a hard crust. Avoid this. 

 If hot and dry weather should set in faithful cultivation 

 is far more important than watering with the hose. Go 

 over the field every few days and pinch back wherever 

 necessary, for you want short stocky plants. 



Cinerarias 



Seeds of Cineraria hybrida started at about this time 

 germinate most readily and with proper attention dur- 

 ing the warmest months of summer are least difficult 

 to work into good stock. It is well to make three 

 sowings — one early in July, another about the middle 

 of August, and the last sowing the middle of September. 

 The two last dates are the best for most growers as 

 they will have them from February on to Easter, which 

 will be late next year. Use fresh seeds of the best strains 

 to be had ; sow on leaf-mold plentifully intermixed with 

 clean, sharp sand; place the trays in a cold frame; keep 

 moist and shaded, but let the sashes be raised a few 

 inches from the start unless unusually cold winds and 

 weather compel their being tightly closed for a time. 

 When the seeds are up lay off the sashes on rainless 

 pleasant nights altogether. Time to transplant is after 

 the seedlings have developed their third leaf. 



Compost Pile 



Keep plenty of good compost always on hand. There 

 is no better time than the present to prepare a nice pile 

 of soil. Whether light or heavy don't handle the soil 

 while it is in a wet state — ^heavy soil in particular. Tliere 

 is nothing worse. Insufficient attention is paid to this 

 matter by many growers. Don't worry or wait with the 

 handling of soil because you haven't the right kind of 

 manure to mix with it. Get the soil and have it on 

 hand. The manure or other fertilizer to Vie used can 



always be added. Select a convenient dry place for 

 the soil pile, and while at it get enough to last until 

 fall for as soon as all the bulbs are planted there will 

 be another chance to do the hauling for winter and 

 spring requirements. Ilea^^ loam or soil of a clayey 

 nature is always improved by handling or turning a 

 pile over. 



Boston Ferns 

 If you wish to make certain side benches pay for 

 themselves during the summer months plant them now 

 with a 3^ inch or 4 inch stock of Boston ferns, and if 

 you have not those sizes take 2-| inch. Allow 12 x 14 

 inches of space between the plants; do not overlook 

 shading the glass a little. They grow and do quite well 

 in the sun when used to it. but better results will be 

 had by slight shading. Another way to grow them dur- 

 ing the summer is to plant them out into a frame but 

 quicker results are obtained indoors with bench culture 

 or when grown on in pots. Do not let them become 

 dry at the roots, as it will always tell on the foliage. 

 Go over them every day so they will be kept moist and 

 give them a good syringing morning and afternoon, 

 keep shifting them as they may need it until you have 

 them in 5, 6 and 7 inch pots, using any good compost. 



Palms 



If rains have washed off considerable of the shading 

 applied to the glass some time ago it will be necessary 

 to use some more whitening on the roof as many palms 

 are quite easily scorched. Go over the old stock, re- 

 move every defective leaf, clean the base of the plants 

 and wash both sides of the leaves thoroughly. A couple 

 of hosings overhead on clear days should also be given 

 with a carefully directed pressure which will not only 

 help to keep the foliage clear of dirt but also will assist 

 materially in preventing the spread of scale. Air freely, 

 now that the days are so warm, and keep plenty of 

 moisture in the atmosphere. If there are large palms 

 that need rc[)otting get at them now. If larger pots 

 are not required remove some of the old soil from the 

 roots and replace with fresh. For a compost use fibrous 

 loam three parts, well-rotted cow manure one part, and 

 about a 5-inch pot of bone mea^ to a barrow load. 



Painting 



A few timely reminders for winter prepaialion will 

 not be out of place here now that we are having plenty 

 of hot dry weather when paint will dry in with a few 

 hours of exposure it behooves us to make haste and get 

 all our outside and inside painting done. Place all the 

 houses in as good condition as possible as there is 

 nothing so bad as leaky and drauglity houses. 



Next Week: — Asters; Callas; Clirysaiith .iinims: Adiantunis; Panslcs; Solanums, 



