July 3, 1915 



HOETICULTUEE 





NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTBD BY 



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



by Mr. Farrell. Such commuiilcatlons should Invariably be addressed to tlie office of HORTICULTUKB. 



"If vain our toll, we ou^ht to blame the cnltore, not the soil." — Pope. 



Asters 



It is unwise to figure on sufficient rainy spells at this 

 season of the year and nuuh safer in this case to rely 

 on the hose for aster success than on the heavens until 

 the first center bud appears, however, not much water- 

 ing will be necessary and should not be applied unless 

 the first part of the season proves uncommonly dry. 

 But as soon as the buds begin to form and right along 

 through the entire picking season great quantities of 

 water are needed for the bringing forth of large and 

 perfectly formed flowers, such as alone will make the 

 growing of asters profitable. Where the field is a large 

 one this could not be done anyway. The best plan then 

 to follow is to water one part or section of the field 

 one day, another the nest day and so on, until at the 

 end of four or five days the entire field has been gone 

 over, when, should the weather continue dry, the process 

 should be repeated. 



Callas 



Callas that have bloomed or been growing all winter 

 should have a rest during the summer, which allows 

 them to recuperate up new vigor for another season's 

 flowering. They will ripen up better when placed in a 

 warm sunny position until they need to be shaken out 

 again the last of July or the flrst half of August when 

 they can be potted up. Calla tubers are so inexpensive that 

 it hardly pays to raise one's own stock, but if a quantity 

 of the smaller offsets are planted out in rich ground 

 they will increase in size surprisingly and can be potted 

 up early in September, if carefully lifted, so as to keep 

 the roots intact. Well watered and stood for a few days 

 in partial shade they will grow right ahead and soon fill 

 the pots with roots, or they can be planted in 3-ineh 

 pots and later shifted into 5-inch and plunged out of 

 doors and they will make strong plants by end of Sep- 

 tember. 



Chrysanthemums 



Those who grow chrysanthemums in the house from 

 first to last can give them better attention at all times. 

 Do not neglect giving them a good syringing early 

 every morning, which will allow the foliage time to dry 

 out nicely before night-fall, but during dark or cloudy 

 weather keep the plants as dry as possible. Tt should 

 always be remembered that these plants will never stand 

 humid or stagnant atmosphere. So first of all see that 

 they have plenty of fresh :iir. During the hot weather, 

 damping down will be necessary two or three times 

 a day on the walks or paths. Go over the beds every 



Next Week :— Carnations; Calceolarias; Easter Lilies 



day and water the dry places. Do not let the plants 

 get overrun with fly before using effective means to keep 

 them under control. 



Adiantums 



Now is the time to make new beds of adiantum for 

 future cutting. No asparagus, no matter how soft and 

 feathery will ever take the place of adiantum and every 

 retail grower who can provide a house in which he can 

 maintain a temperature not less than 60 degrees during 

 zero weather, should devote some bench room to its 

 culture. Stocks out of 2i inch pots is all right but 

 better and quicker results will be obtained by making 

 use of larger plants. The present is as good a time as 

 any to prepare for jjlauting out, and even if you should 

 not get as large and as fine fronds as your wholesaler 

 supplies, you will appreciate having a good number of 

 plants to cut from next winter. The adiantum like 

 most members of the fern family, flourishes in mellow 

 loam. This with a fair amount of well-rotted cow 

 manure and a little sharp sand will do nicely. Provide 

 good drainage and allow about one foot of space between 

 the plants. 



Pansies 



To have pansies for winter flowering now is the 

 time to make a sowing. Sow broadcast in a cold 

 frame where the soil has been worked and raked until 

 it is fine and mellow. Sow not too thickly, cover with 

 fine soil and press firmly all over with a board, then 

 water gently witli a fine hose. Keep shaded until they 

 begin to come up. When seedlings have made growth 

 so they can be nicely handled they can be transplanted 

 into other frames. The soil .should be made rich and 

 quite a bit of leaf mold mixed in. They can be planted 

 from 6 to 8 inches apart each way. The pansy is quick 

 to germinate and during the few days intervening be- 

 tween sowing seed and the little plants showing through 

 the ground keep the beds constantly moist. Evening 

 and morning watering may not be enough. Water ten 

 times if necessary and never let the surface of the bed 

 become parched. 



Solanums 



In order to iiave these in good sized plants by the 

 fall they will want constant attention. Wliere they are 

 planted out go over the ground every week and hoe and 

 cultivate them. Keep the plants pinched back regu- 

 larly so they will form bushy plants. Those that are 

 grown under pot .ulture will want shifts from time tf> 

 time. 



Mignonette; Orchids; Kepalrlng Boilers and Piping. 



