July 31, 1915 



HOKTICULTUKE 



129 



NOTES ON CULTURE OF FLORISTS^ STOCK 



CONDCCTKD BT 



QuesUonB by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on thU page will be cordlaKy received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Farrell. Such commanlcatlons should Invariably be addressed to the office of HOBJ.Il-Uiji.utti!.. 



"If vain uur toil, ne oueht to blame the culture, not the %a\\."—l'opt. 



Antirrhinums 



For winter or spring flowering the antirrhinums are 

 an excellent and profitable crop. For early flowering, 

 through November and December, it is necessary to 

 bench the plants about the first week in August. I find 

 they do best with a minimum of 48 to 50 degrees in 

 winter. Plant a foot apart each way if the stock was 

 raised from cuttings. Pinch back the shoot as it pushes 

 up to flower and allow four to five shoots to start from 

 near the ground. Eub out all weak, useless growths. 

 Three or four good spikes to a plant will pay better 

 than three times that number of inferior ones. Stake 

 the plants to keep them erect and rub off the side growths 

 on flowering stems. 



Aspidistras 



It is a good plan to propagate a lot of aspidistra, as 

 they are bound to come in very useful. Break up densely 

 grown clumps leaving two or three leaves with each 

 piece. For these divided pieces you can use 4 or 5-inch 

 pots. Give them fibrous loam three parts, well rotted 

 cow manure one part. Place in a house where they can 

 be shaded and kept rather close and they will soon start 

 new roots, after which place them near the glass and 

 do not keep them too densely shaded. AVhen started 

 now they will make fine stock for early spring sales. 

 They do fine in a temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees 

 at night. 



Chrysanthemums 



Faithful attention to cultural details of apjiarently 

 little importance is essential to success with chry.^anthe- 

 mums under glass. The ver)' first and main aim should 

 be to encourage a healthy faultlessly clean and withal ex- 

 uberant growth of the plants before the buds are actually 

 forming. All this stock, even the latest made and 

 benched lots, is now or should be by this time well 

 forward in growth, needing daily attention to watering, 

 weeding, syringing, staking and tying while the earliest 

 planted should have its conipleti' scheme of stake, string 

 and wire support fully adjusted, mulched to prevent 

 rapid drying out of soil and cli>sely watched as regards 

 formation and eventual taking of buds. See that all 

 houses have plenty of ventilation at all times. Fumi- 

 gate once a «eek or not later than every ten days for fly. 



Next Week: — Calhis; Carnations; Cattleyas; 



Lorraine Begonias 



These will need lots of attention from this out. Give 

 them a place quite close to the glass wHch should not 

 be too heavily shaded. Where possible give them shade 

 during the hottest hours of the day with a lattice that 

 can be removed after 3 or 4 P. M. and need not be 

 put on again until 9 o'clock in the morning, or may 

 be left off entirely on cloudy days. Wlien given this 

 treatment it is surprising how much more stocky and 

 better the plants will be by late fall. Give them a 

 shift before they become pot bound until they are in 

 their flowering size. Use a compost of equal parts of 

 fibrous loam, leaf mold and well decayed cow manure. 

 Keep the air humid by wetting dowTi paths and beneath 

 tlie benches. When tlie plants begin to crowd give them 

 ■A fresh stand with plenty of room between for light and 

 air. Ventilate so as to avoid any sudden fluctuations 

 in the temperature. 



Sweet Peas 



Do not buy cheap seed but be sure to get the best 

 that is on the market. For early flowering seed should 

 be sown by the end of this month. If the space on the 

 benches is not ready sow in 4 or a-inch pots and then 

 plant out in four or five weeks. The best place to grow 

 these along is in a cold frame where they can have 

 plentv of air and be handy for water and syringing. 

 They" can be kept shaded until they come up which I 

 think is better to hasten germination, but after that they 

 will need full sun. To do well they should have at least 

 eight inches of soil, but where you have a solid bed 

 ]ilant them there and you will never regret it. Whetiier 

 in bencli or solid bed give them a rich compost. They 

 will grow very well in fibrous loam two parts, well rotted 

 cow manure one part., and a little bone meal. Just as 

 soon as they show any signs of climbing give them 

 supports. 



Manure for Winter 



It takes some time to get a pile of good manure so 

 it is always better to start early about this work. The 

 grower who always makes it a point to have plenty of 

 good manure in his shed for future use can rely on 

 having fine crops. So turn this over in your mind now 

 and make plans for later on. 

 Primulas; Seeds to Sow; PropaKatlng Sand. 



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